During her participation at Davos 2025, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Head of International Affairs at the Presidential Court and Group CEO of 2pointZero, underscored the UAE’s commitment to global collaboration and innovative solutions for food systems transformation and sustainable development.
Almheiri participated at Davos 2025 as part of the UAE delegation led by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. She engaged in two prominent panel discussions, contributing valuable insight and highlighting the UAE’s proactive role in addressing critical global challenges.
Almheiri encourages global cooperation in Food systems transformation
In a panel discussion titled “Breaking Down Food” at Davos 2025, Almheiri stressed the urgency of integrating nutrition into the food, climate and agriculture ecosystems. She spoke alongside Johan Westman, CEO at AAK, Ana Luísa Virgínia, chief financial officer at Jerónimo Martins and David John Haines, CEO at Flora Food Group. The event opened with remarks by Chirag Paswan, Minister of Food Processing Industries for the Government of India.
“Food systems transformation is one of the critical challenges of our age”, but if successfully implemented it could “unlock shared economic growth and prosperity,” she stated. Almheiri added that it could also increase the resilience and food security for hundreds of millions of people, reduce the negative impacts of climate change and improve the nutrition, health and well-being of everyone.
She cited the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action as a landmark achievement that has helped increase nutrition as a central component of global climate action. She also emphasized the power of partnerships and innovation in driving progress.
Almheiri also noted the successful UAE-Gates Foundation Partnership, which included the AIM for Scale joint venture aimed at mobilizing finance and scaling up action in developing nations. “I am convinced that such partnerships are critical for leveraging innovation in global food systems projects. What one partner lacks, the other contributes. When working in tandem, towards a shared vision, this approach is extremely powerful,” she added.
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Private sector’s role in driving climate action
During the panel “Leaders for a Sustainable MENA: Climate, AI, and Finance” at Davos 2025, Almheiri also discussed innovative partnership models and pathways for collaboration between international and regional stakeholders. She highlighted the crucial role of government-led frameworks, dynamic value networks, green finance mobilization, capacity-building programs and technology adoption in empowering businesses to actively participate in the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
She spoke alongside high-profile participants including Noor Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development of Bahrain and Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development, as well as Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Climate Envoy, Saudi Arabia.
“Governments play a vital role in creating the policy clarity necessary to mobilize the private sector in support of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 2PointZero is a very good example, as a private company operating globally, we contribute to these frameworks by aligning our investments with the objectives of NDCs,” she stated.
She added that 2PointZero helps catalyze private-sector solutions that align with national climate targets and demonstrate measurable progress toward reducing emissions across sectors. “This alignment between national strategies and private-sector action drives real progress toward emissions reductions, as businesses can directly contribute to achieving national climate goals,” she added.
