10 October 2026
More than 700 leaders and experts from government, business, academia, sport and culture will meet in Dubai from 13 to 15 October 2026 for the first Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders. The three-day meeting is organised by the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in cooperation with the Dubai Future Foundation. It is built around six themes, from artificial intelligence and economic growth to geopolitics and climate, and brings in members of the WEF Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers and Social Innovators communities. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) confirmed the dates and the line-up on 10 October 2026.
What the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders is
The UAE Government and the World Economic Forum announced the new format on 30 June 2026. According to WAM, it builds on a partnership that started with the Global Agenda Councils in 2009 and continued with the Global Future Councils, whose work fed into the agenda of the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos. The October release describes the partnership as spanning more than 17 years.
The new meeting shifts the focus from expert councils to leaders of different generations. In the words of the organisers, it is designed to foster dialogue, collaboration and joint action across generations of global leaders and to help them move from foresight to action.
The meeting has two principal chairs:
- Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs;
- Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum.
When the format was launched in June, WEF Co-Chairs Larry Fink and André Hoffmann also commented on it, stressing the role of emerging leaders and dialogue between generations.
Who is coming to Dubai
WAM lists the following groups of participants:
- government leaders and senior officials;
- business executives, including chief executives of international companies;
- heads of international organisations, experts, academics and innovators;
- members of the WEF Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers and Social Innovators communities;
- young Arab leaders from the Great Arab Minds initiative (the June announcement also named the Young Arab Leaders initiative);
- representatives of academic, research, cultural, sporting and artistic institutions.
The organisers have not published a full list of speakers or the venue in their releases. The total of more than 700 participants is the figure given by WAM.
Six themes of the programme
The agenda is structured around six core themes:
| Theme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Human Agency | AI, technological disruption and the role of people |
| Science, Discovery and Innovation | research and new technologies |
| Economic Growth | economic resilience and growth models |
| Geopolitics, Security and History | geopolitical uncertainty and security |
| Leadership, Business Innovation and Human Flourishing | leadership and new business models |
| Climate, Nature and Sustainability | climate and sustainable development |
Besides panel discussions, the programme includes ideation labs, immersive simulations, Betazone sessions and podcast recordings. According to Al Gergawi, the discussions will cover the issues with the greatest bearing on the future of societies, economies and governments.
How it compares with the 2025 meetings
In October 2025 Dubai hosted the Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity, also organised by the UAE Government and the WEF. WAM reported then that the meetings ran until 16 October 2025 and brought together more than 700 experts from 93 countries in 37 councils covering technology, economy, society, environment, governance and health.
The 2026 meeting keeps a similar scale of more than 700 participants, but changes the audience. Instead of thematic expert councils, the core is formed by leaders from government and business together with the next generation of leaders from the WEF communities.
What this means for companies in the UAE
The releases do not announce new regulations, fees, licences or visa procedures. This is a dialogue platform, and the rules for setting up and running a company in the UAE stay as they are. For business, the meeting is a signal of the topics the UAE Government puts on its agenda together with the WEF: AI and technology, economic growth, business innovation and sustainability.
These are the same areas where company formation in the country is growing. In mid-2026 the number of new-economy companies in the UAE reached almost 125,000, up 37% in a year, as we covered in our article on the growth of UAE new-economy companies.
If you are planning to use the week of the meeting in Dubai for business meetings, check the basics in advance:
- visiting the UAE for meetings and events is possible on a visit visa or visa-free entry, depending on your passport;
- signing contracts, invoicing clients and hiring staff in the UAE requires a licensed company, on the mainland or in a free zone;
- the business activities on the licence should match what you plan to do, especially for AI, technology and consulting projects;
- a corporate bank account usually takes longer than the licence, so it is worth preparing the documents early;
- for founders who want to stay in the country, a residence visa is issued after the company is registered.
How Atlant Capital can help
We handle company setup in Dubai and other emirates: we help choose between a mainland and a free zone licence, select the exact activities and prepare the documents. We also arrange work visas and residency for founders and staff after registration. If you are only starting to compare options, our UAE company formation guide explains the steps, timelines and documents.
Conclusion
From 13 to 15 October 2026 Dubai hosts the first Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders, a new format of the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum organised with the Dubai Future Foundation. More than 700 leaders and experts, including members of the WEF next-generation communities, will discuss six themes, from AI and economic growth to geopolitics and climate. The meeting does not change any business rules in the UAE; it sets the topics of a dialogue in which the country positions itself as a host for global discussions on the future.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM).
FAQ
What is the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders?
It is a new annual meeting organised by the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum in cooperation with the Dubai Future Foundation. The format was announced on 30 June 2026 and builds on the Global Agenda Councils launched in 2009 and the Global Future Councils, whose work informed the agenda of the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.
When and where is the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders 2026 held?
The first meeting takes place in Dubai from 13 to 15 October 2026 and lasts three days. The principal chairs are Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum.
Who takes part in the Global Future Leaders meeting in Dubai?
More than 700 leaders and experts from government, business, academia, sport and culture. They include members of the WEF Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers and Social Innovators communities and young Arab leaders from the Great Arab Minds initiative. The programme covers six themes, including AI, economic growth, geopolitics and climate.
Does the meeting change any rules for companies in the UAE?
No. The official releases do not announce new regulations, fees, licences or visa procedures. Company formation, licensing and residency rules in the UAE remain unchanged; the meeting is a platform for dialogue on technology, economic growth, business innovation and sustainability.
