Next Tuesday, the Annual Meetings of the Global Future Leaders 2026 will kick off, organised by the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation. The event will be hosted in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from 13 to 15 October, bringing together over 700 leaders and experts from 90 countries. Participants will include government ministers, officials, and more than 300 young global leaders, along with representatives from business, academia, sports, and cultural sectors. This global platform aims to anticipate rapid transformations while addressing their challenges and opportunities, fostering innovative solutions to shape the future of development, economy, technology, society, and sustainability. The outcomes will contribute to the agenda of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos 2027.
Focus Areas and Collaborations
The meetings will feature over 60 sessions and interactive discussions, alongside laboratories dedicated to future opportunities and specialised experiences. Focused on six strategic themes, the discussions will centre around artificial intelligence and technology, human capabilities, sciences, discovery and innovation, economics, geopolitical security and trade, human prosperity and leadership, as well as climate, nature, and sustainability.
A Gathering of Global Leaders
This event will unite a select group of government leaders, decision-makers, CEOs, experts, thinkers, and innovators from across the globe to deliberate on the transformations reshaping economies, societies, and governance. They will work on developing proactive visions and solutions to enhance readiness for these transitions, enabling nations and institutions to efficiently adapt and turn emerging challenges into opportunities for growth, innovation, and development.
Strengthening International Dialogue
The meetings are a continuation of a robust partnership spanning over 17 years between the UAE government and the World Economic Forum. This collaboration has bolstered international dialogue on future issues, facilitated the anticipation of transformations, and shared Emirati visions and expertise in global conversations, including at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
Proactive Solutions for Future Challenges
The approach of the meetings reflects a shift from merely forecasting transformations to proactively addressing them. It emphasizes enhancing readiness and developing solutions and opportunities that benefit governments, institutions, and communities, ultimately contributing to the establishment of more resilient and adaptable models to cope with rapid changes.
Insights from Leaders
Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chair of the Annual Meetings of Global Future Leaders, stated that these meetings exemplify an enduring partnership with the World Economic Forum, enriching international discourse and shaping future agendas. He expressed that the platform will allow leaders and experts from various sectors to exchange insights and develop proactive solutions, empowering countries and institutions to enhance their preparedness for rapid transformations.
He highlighted the need to transition from reactive responses to proactive measures, cultivating innovative decision-making and fostering governments that are more flexible, economies that are more competitive, and societies that are more prepared for change.
Addressing Global Transformations
Alois Zwingi, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, noted that the meetings would advance practical ideas and partnerships aimed at creating a future that is more resilient and adaptive for all. He commended the cooperation with the UAE government in organising these meetings and related international platforms designed to enhance the journey towards building a better future.
He added that the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders will bring together promising leaders and their more experienced counterparts to explore the challenges and opportunities that will define the coming decades, creating a global, inclusive platform that embraces leaders from different sectors, regions, and generations.
Concluding the Meetings
The Annual Meetings of Global Future Leaders are set to explore six key themes tied to significant transformations that will impact humanity’s future. Participants will engage in sessions and interactive dialogues to examine the effects of rapid advancements in technology, science, economy, and society. The focus will be on crafting more proactive visions and policies that can effectively address forthcoming changes. Future opportunity laboratories will enable participants to move from discussion to practical solution development, testing new ideas and models for tackling future challenges, thus strengthening their ability to prepare for transformations and seize arising opportunities.
This gathering will attract government leaders, CEOs from international institutions, experts, academics, thinkers, and innovators from all over the world, including members of the World Economic Forum communities, young global leaders, changemakers, and social innovators.
Hosting the Annual Meetings of Global Future Leaders 2026 in Dubai underscores the UAE’s status as a global hub for international dialogue and a leading platform for anticipating the future and creating opportunities. It also represents a continuation of a strong track record in hosting major global events and quality initiatives that bring together governments, companies, and international institutions around shared agendas for sustainable development and innovation.
• 700 global leaders and experts gather to anticipate transformations and shape future solutions.