The National’s Future Forum gathers the best and brightest minds

This year The National celebrates its 10th anniversary by looking to the future.

Beginning tomorrow, The National launches a year of informed discussion and analysis that identifies the changes and challenges ahead, and examines how the UAE can best take advantage.

We open with The National’s Future Forum, a gathering of some of the brightest and best minds at Manarat Al Saadiyat, just a short step from that shining symbol of optimism, Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National, said: “For newspapers in today’s world to be relevant, they must be present in print, online and in person. Ten years since the launch of The National and our successful relaunch last year with a digital focus, the Future Forum is an opportunity to bring great minds together to look to the future.

“Our readers can be assured that they can come to us to learn about what is relevant and compelling in this fast-paced world. Societies and industries are witnessing an age of uncertainty, but opportunities are also abundant if we invest in what matters. The news industry is no different and the team at The National is both prepared for and excited by what the future holds,” she said.

Each of those speaking at the Future Forum offers a unique perspective into their field.

They include: Tom Fletcher, former British diplomat and Special Adviser to the President at the Emirates Diplomatic Foundation; Loubna Hadid, founder and chief executive of Decenture, a socially conscious Blockchain enterprise; and Olivier Oullier, president of Emotiv, a world leader in mobile neuroinformatics.

Others taking part are: Jassim Alseddiqi, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Financial Group; Reuben Abraham, chief executive of the IDFC Institute, an Indian think tank; Gavin Esler, award-winning broadcaster and journalist, and columnist for The National; and Christian Broughton, editor of

The Independent in London. Full coverage of the event will be streamed on The National’s website and on Facebook live. There is also a dedicated website that will draw together all our coverage of

The National Future Forum.