Some 700 global thought leaders in business, government and academia are converging on Dubai for the inaugural meeting of the Global Futures Council, the new forward-looking think tank by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Middle East.
The purpose of the event is to “develop ideas and strategies to prepare the world for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with topics including smart cities, robotics and the future of mobility,” the WEF said in a statement.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “Planning for the future is a responsibility shared by governments, private-sector institutions, and international organisations.
“Exploring the future and planning for it is a fundamental element of achieving prosperity and progress for societies. It is the only way to accurately draw scenarios and prepare for the challenges that the world is expected to face in multiple fields and sectors, and, more importantly, to convert them into opportunities that we can capitalise on to improve the quality of human life,” he added.
The event, under the co-chairmanship of Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future of the UAE, will address a wide range of topics, from game-changing emerging technologies such as Blockchain, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, to “systemic” challenges such as the future of the environment, economic growth and cities.
Mr Al Gergawi said: “Our region has played a major role in shaping the future of the world for centuries. Today, the forward thinking and vision of our leadership have succeeded in positioning the UAE as a hotbed for innovation, where planning for the future is at the very core of government. This makes the UAE the ideal destination to host the inaugural global future councils, which strive to find and implement real solutions for the challenges of the future, and flag future opportunities that we can all benefit from.”
Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and executive chairman, said: “As the Fourth Industrial Revolution picks up speed, we must develop new and creative ways of driving economic growth, bringing our communities together and fostering cooperation to tackle the challenges we face head on as a shared humanity.”
Participants at the forum include Gordon Brown, former UK prime minister and now UN special envoy for global education, and Mahmoud Mohieldin, head of the World Bank’s 2030 development agenda.
The councils will also help to prepare the agenda for the WEF’s flagship event in Davos in January.
fkane@thenational.ae
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