UAE and WEF extend 17-year governance partnership to 2026

Dubai will host the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders 2026 from 13 to 15 October, an event organised by the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum in cooperation with the Dubai Future Foundation. The meeting is notable less for its scale than for what it represents: a partnership between the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum that has now run for more than 17 years.

That institutional continuity is the framing both principals have emphasised. Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Principal Chairman of the meeting, said the event reflects the durability of the relationship and translates the commitment of both parties to advancing international cooperation and global dialogue on the future of development. According to the organisers, the partnership has produced a series of specialised international forums focused on anticipating the future and shaping its agenda, and has consistently brought UAE perspectives into global dialogues, including the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.

Al Gergawi positioned the gathering as an open global platform for exchanging perspectives and identifying solutions that enable nations and leaders to respond to rapid change. In remarks directed at how decision-making itself is organised, he said the meeting supports the development of more innovative decision-making models, the adoption of proactive approaches, and the creation of more resilient governments, competitive economies, and prosperous, future-ready societies. Discussions, he added, will centre on the issues with the greatest bearing on the world’s future, including artificial intelligence and technology, economics, geopolitical challenges, leadership, and climate and sustainability, alongside a range of issues tied to the future of societies, economies, and governments. The meeting’s outcomes are intended to equip participating leaders with tools and perspectives to transform emerging challenges into opportunities for growth, innovation, and development.

From the World Economic Forum side, Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO and co-Principal Chairman of the meeting, described the event as a venue where emerging and established leaders will examine the challenges and opportunities that will define the coming decades. By connecting leaders across sectors, regions and generations, he said, the meeting will help advance practical ideas and partnerships for a more resilient future for all.

Meanwhile, the three-day programme is expected to draw more than 700 global leaders and experts from government, business, academia, sport, and culture for strategic dialogue, experiential learning, and practical collaboration. Participants include policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, innovators and members of the World Economic Forum’s next-generation communities, alongside government leaders, business executives, international organisations and experts from around the world. Also attending are members of the Forum’s Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers, and Social Innovators communities, as well as young Arab leaders from the Great Arab Minds initiative, a component organisers say strengthens Arab talent’s contribution to global dialogue and future-focused solutions.

Structurally, the meeting is organised around six core themes: Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Human Agency; Science, Discovery and Innovation; Economic Growth; Geopolitics, Security and History; Leadership, Business Innovation and Human Flourishing; and Climate, Nature and Sustainability. The programme combines strategic dialogue with formats including ideation labs, immersive simulations, Betazone sessions, and podcast recordings, designed to help leaders move from foresight to action. Sessions will examine global transformations and the proactive policies needed to navigate rapid advances in technology, science, and innovation.

For readers tracking institutions and accountability, the agenda’s emphasis on proactive policy, decision-making models, and resilient governments places the meeting squarely within the wider conversation about how public institutions adapt to technological and geopolitical change. Further details of the programme are available at https://www.emirates247.com/uae/700-global-leaders-gather-in-dubai-for-global-future-leaders-meeting-2026-uae-wef-partnership-oct-13-15/6583. Organisers say hosting the meeting reinforces the UAE’s position as a global hub for dialogue, innovation, and future readiness, building on its record of convening international stakeholders and empowering future leaders. Whether the 17-year partnership’s next chapter yields concrete governance outcomes, or remains a platform for dialogue, is the question the October gathering will begin to answer.