Dubai Future Forum 2025 is once again capturing global attention as futurists, innovators, leaders and thinkers gather at the Museum of the Future to explore ideas that will shape the world of tomorrow. Led by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the event highlights Dubai’s commitment to designing a future built on innovation, collaboration and long term readiness. With more than 2500 participants from nearly 100 countries and over 200 speakers, the Forum has become one of the most important international platforms dedicated to future studies.
This year’s Forum reinforces a clear message. The future must be designed with shared global ideas and proactive planning. From advanced technology to community development, the event brings together a rich diversity of perspectives aimed at addressing challenges and unlocking opportunities for future generations.
Dubai’s Strategic Vision for Future Design
In his opening remarks, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that designing the future has become a strategic priority for nations and organizations worldwide. He noted that long term planning is essential for ensuring sustainable progress, economic stability and human well being.
His Highness highlighted that Dubai’s approach to future design is rooted in global partnerships, optimistic thinking and readiness to embrace new opportunities. The emirate continues to work with international experts and institutions to imagine possibilities, design forward looking solutions and translate ideas into practical outcomes.
Dubai’s rise as a global hub for innovation is supported by its focus on encouraging creative problem solving, empowering talented youth, partnering with leading international organizations and building an ecosystem that supports innovation across all sectors.
The Growth and Evolution of Dubai Future Forum
Since its launch in 2022, the Dubai Future Forum has grown into a major global event for future studies. The Forum was envisioned as a place where global voices could meet, exchange ideas, examine key priorities and develop strategies that can reshape societies.
Every edition brings fresh insights and broader participation. Today, the Forum is recognized worldwide as a leading gathering for futurists, government leaders, academics and innovators who aim to create a better future. The 2025 event continues this upward momentum by focusing on emerging opportunities and the importance of foresight in today’s complex world.
Celebrating Global Excellence Through Dubai Foresight Awards
A key highlight of the Forum is the Dubai Foresight Awards. These awards honor global leaders who are redefining future thinking across three areas. Change makers, people focused foresight and planetary foresight. The awards recognize projects that contribute to long term resilience, sustainability and creative solutions for the future.
Foresight Change Makers Category
This category celebrates initiatives that reshape how societies engage with future planning.
The first place award went to a project that showcases the value of indigenous community wisdom as a guide for future planning. A second place recognition went to a youth based project that empowers young leaders to imagine future possibilities. The third place award was given to a European initiative that encourages the use of foresight as a daily tool for planning and decision making.
Foresight for People Category
This category focuses on projects that strengthen communities and improve overall quality of life.
The first place award recognized an initiative that integrates artificial intelligence within urban systems to support healthier and longer lives. The second place award went to a project from Southern Europe that uses foresight to build stronger social unity. The third place project worked to promote cooperation between different generations and encourage long term collaboration.
Foresight for the Planet Category
These awards highlight efforts to protect ecosystems and promote environmental sustainability.
The winning project developed a future oriented strategy for protecting a major biodiversity region. A climate focused project from the United States received second place for creating new tools to explore different climate scenarios. The third place recognition went to an agricultural project that aims to strengthen environmental resilience and ensure sustainable food production.
The Dubai Foresight Awards highlight how global efforts in foresight can support a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Training and Empowering Future Leaders
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also attended the graduation ceremonies for two important talent development programs. The FEEL Program and the Dubai Future Experts Program. Both initiatives prepare leaders who can navigate rapid technological changes and contribute to future focused decision making.
FEEL A Disruptive Futures Program
The FEEL Program, developed by the Dubai Future Academy, provides advanced training in future studies. It gathers professionals from around the world and equips them with tools to understand emerging transformations and apply foresight in their fields.
This year’s cohort included participants from a wide range of backgrounds. Executives, policymakers, entrepreneurs and innovators. Selected from hundreds of applicants, the graduates completed a four week program focused on scenario design, global trends and strategic thinking.
His Highness encouraged the graduates to use their new skills to support research, innovation and entrepreneurship in their communities and industries.
Dubai Future Experts Program
The Dubai Future Experts Program is the world’s first government led foresight capacity building initiative. It is a collaboration between the Dubai Future Foundation and the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai. The program empowers Emirati talent working across government to become experts in future studies.
The fifth cohort included participants from multiple government entities in Dubai. They underwent extensive theoretical and practical training in long term planning, scenario building, data analysis and global trend forecasting.
His Highness highlighted the importance of such programs in strengthening Dubai’s global leadership and supporting the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Key Themes and Discussions from Day One
Day one of the Dubai Future Forum 2025 featured a wide range of sessions, keynote speeches and panel discussions. These sessions explored global transformations, the role of future studies and the significance of preparing for uncertainty.
Foresight Insights
Experts discussed how research, data and scientific alliances can enhance the ability of countries to plan for long term challenges. The discussions stressed the need for strong foresight systems.
Exploring the Unknown
Futurists examined the disruptions driven by artificial intelligence, climate change and technological advancement. Speakers discussed how societies can convert uncertainty into opportunity.
Empowering Societies
A major focus was placed on education, inclusivity, community development and youth empowerment. Participants agreed that strong societies are essential for achieving sustainable progress.
Reimagining Health
Sessions looked at the future of proactive medicine, personalized care and the transformative potential of digital health technologies.
Optimizing Systems
Speakers explored how governments, industries and economic models can evolve to support innovation and sustainable development.
Engaging Workshops and Immersive Experiences
The Forum also included interactive workshops that allowed participants to learn through practical activities. Topics included understanding public perception of the future, exploring the power of imagination, examining future migration patterns and learning global foresight methods.
Participants also experienced immersive environments through augmented reality and virtual reality activities. These experiences allowed visitors to explore different future scenarios, visualize new possibilities and experiment with ideas in interactive formats.
Expectations for Day Two
Day two of the Forum is expected to further expand discussions on a wide range of future focused themes. These include the development of future cities, advancements in space exploration, environmental sustainability, youth led innovation, resource resilience and building global readiness.
Each session aims to move from discussion to action, encouraging participants to turn ideas into practical long term strategies.
Why Dubai Future Forum 2025 Matters
Dubai Future Forum 2025 demonstrates that shaping the future requires global cooperation and collective effort. As rapid technological and social changes continue to influence the world, it is essential for countries and institutions to collaborate and explore forward looking solutions.
The Forum serves as a global platform that supports innovation, strengthens partnerships and encourages proactive planning. It reflects Dubai’s vision of becoming a leading force in future design by bringing the world together to address complex challenges.
Through Dubai Future Forum 2025, the emirate continues to reinforce its role as a global center for innovation where ideas are not only imagined but actively developed and applied.
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