UAE is leading the debate on the future
This country is ideally suited to host a global dialogue about the future of government
This week, the country hosts the fifth World Government Summit with the attendance of high-profile government officials, private sector leaders, policymakers, thought leaders and futurists. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was there on Sunday to share his experiences in government and lead a question-and-answer session on development in the Arab world.
The conference explores some critical questions that affect governments around the world. Among these questions are: what are the challenges of globalisation? How can governments navigate a shifting global economic landscape? How is advanced science shaping the future of governments? Why must countries work together for a greater cause? How can governments strike the balance between privacy and prosperity? How can governments resolve radicalisation?
By acting as a knowledge-exchange hub, the platform can directly influence how governments operate and how policies are shaped in the coming decades. It is natural for the UAE, where people from more than 200 nationalities are employed, to host an event of such scale, with the participation of about 150 countries, as well as leading global organisations.
Global challenges require global dialogue between leaders in all major fields. This week, renowned speakers are present in Dubai to lead the discussion, including Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister; Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Irina Bokova, the director-general of Unesco; and Helen Clark, director of the United Nations Development Programme. Each of these leaders has great insight into the present and a unique vision for the future.
This country’s focus on the happiness and well-being of citizens – through the Global Dialogue on Happiness – also adds to the global conversation and gives other governments another topic to think about. By appointing the world’s first Minister of State for Happiness, the UAE has become a pioneer in a new field of governance. Along with the best minds from around the world, we are building the future.