DUBAI, October 12, 2026 — The World Economic Forum [WEF], in collaboration with the Government of the United Arab Emirates [UAE], will hold its inaugural Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders in Dubai from October 13 to 15.
The meeting will bring together more than 500 emerging and established leaders and experts to discuss global challenges, technological change and strategies for building resilience amid uncertainty.
Participants will include 15 ministers and nearly 150 chief executive officers and board chairs, alongside members and alumni of the WEF’s Young Global Leaders community, Global Shapers and Social Innovators. Leaders from government, business, academia, science, technology and civil society will also attend.
The three-day meeting will focus on the impact of artificial intelligence [AI] and other emerging technologies on jobs and economic opportunities, as well as economic uncertainty, geopolitical changes, climate challenges and other issues expected to shape the coming decade.
The discussions will draw on findings from the WEF’s Youth Pulse 2026, which highlights both persistent concerns among young people and continued optimism about the future.
Alois Zwinggi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the WEF and Principal Chairman of the meeting, said the event would give emerging leaders a greater role in decisions affecting their future.
“The decisions we make today will shape the world the next generation inherits. Emerging leaders should have a voice in those decisions, not just live with their consequences,” Zwinggi said.
He said the meeting would bring together different generations and perspectives to develop practical ideas for addressing long-term challenges.
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi, who is also a Principal Chairman of the meeting, said the event reflected the partnership between the UAE Government and the WEF and their commitment to international cooperation.
“At a time of rapid technological, economic, and geopolitical transformation, preparing future leaders is more important than ever,” Al Gergawi said.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Montenegro Prime Minister Milojko Spajić; UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi; Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and entrepreneur Fadel Adib; Dubai Future Foundation Chief Executive Officer Khalfan Belhoul; and BlackRock Switzerland Chair Mirjam Staub Bisang.
The programme will be organised around six themes: geopolitical uncertainty; technological disruption; economic resilience and prosperity; leadership; science and innovation; and climate and nature.
Sessions will examine issues including the use of agentic AI, human-machine collaboration, changes in global trade and economic policy in an increasingly uncertain environment.
The meeting will also launch Future20, a group of 20 next-generation leaders working on issues related to growth, innovation and resilience.
The WEF is also expected to release new research, including a Leadership Commitment Framework and analyses of AI applications for sustainable development and data-centre infrastructure optimisation in the Middle East and North Africa.
Outcomes from the meeting will feed into the WEF’s ongoing work, including its Strategic Intelligence activities in Geneva and preparations for the Annual Meeting 2027 in Davos-Klosters.
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