The UAE Government, in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF), has announced the launch of the 2025 edition of the Global Future Councils, scheduled to take place in Dubai from October 14 to 16, 2025.
This event marks a continued journey of collaboration between the UAE and the WEF, building on over 16 years of achievements. The councils have convened more than 280 councils, engaging over 6,600 global experts and specialists on topics closely related to human life and the future.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE minister of Cabinet Affairs and Co-Chair of the Global Future Councils, stressed that these councils embody the shared values of both the UAE and the WEF. Their aim is to boost future-oriented thinking and inspire societies to actively engage in the design and implementation of innovative solutions.
“For more than five decades, our relationship with the World Economic Forum has always centred on building an inclusive platform for open global dialogue about the future—with humanity at its core,” remarked Al Gergawi. “This reflects our wise leadership’s commitment to fostering meaningful international cooperation to co-create a better tomorrow.”
“In today’s world, challenges such as technology, geoeconomics, and the environment are interconnected. The uniqueness of the Forum’s Global Future Councils is that they bring together experts from different fields to identify new areas for future cooperation,” stated Børge Brende, president and chief executive officer of the World Economic Forum.
The current term of the Global Future Councils will cultivate thought leadership to help navigate uncertainty, unpack geopolitical tensions, and make sense of an increasingly complex world.
UAE’s role in global economic impact
The 2025–2026 edition of the Global Future Councils will consist of 36 councils, gathering 700 experts from over 580 organizations and institutions across 93 countries.
The councils are structured to ensure a balanced representation—one-third for business leaders, one-third for thought leaders and academics, and one-third for government experts, international organizations, and civil society representatives.
The UAE Government and the WEF convened an introductory meeting for members of the upcoming edition to update participants on the objectives of the new session and outline the key priorities that will guide the councils’ work over the next two years.
During the opening session, Ruqayya AlBlooshi, executive director for International Affairs at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, and Martina Szabo, Head of Knowledge Communities at the WEF, presented the roadmap for the new Global Future Councils.
AlBlooshi highlighted the UAE’s critical role in establishing a diverse and impactful future-shaping network, contributing nearly $8 trillion in global economic value and reaching 683 million people across 158 countries.
“Over the past 16 years, the collaboration between the UAE and the World Economic Forum has led to the creation of hundreds of think tanks and brought together thousands of experts and thought leaders from over 93 countries,” she noted. “Hosting the Global Future Councils in the UAE—and translating their outcomes into impactful, real-world solutions—underscores the UAE’s position as a global hub for communication and collaboration.”
Driving transformative change
AlBlooshi further emphasised the GFCs’ influence on major global events, noting their role in shaping global agendas, addressing international priorities, and delivering tangible results. One notable example was the GFC on Agile Governance, which produced thought leadership that supported the development of innovative regulatory practices, enabling governments to rapidly adapt to emerging technologies across seven countries.
Szabo highlighted the councils’ evolution from their origins in 2008 as “Global Agenda Councils” to the current “Global Future Councils,” and their ongoing contribution to shaping key global agendas, including the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in China, Sustainable Development Impact Meetings in New York, Growth Summits in Geneva, and the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.
She outlined the new objectives of the Global Future Councils, including enhancing cross-disciplinary collaboration, sharing ideas and knowledge, defining and exploring emerging issues and technologies that are expected to have a significant global impact, and establishing data- and evidence-based cooperation between public and private sectors. What truly distinguishes the Global Future Councils is their demonstrated ability to drive real, transformative change across the globe.
Over the past 16 years, the Global Future Councils have convened more than 280 councils, with over 6,600 members from around 100 countries, 1,500+ companies, 800 academic institutions, 600 civil society groups, and 50 international organizations.
