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27 & 28 November 2023
Dubai Future Forum
2023 Edition
The 2023 Edition of the Dubai Future Forum built on the 2022 ambition of being “the world’s largest gathering of futurists.” In 2023, the UAE hosted COP28 at the Dubai EXPO site; so naturally one of the themes of this Edition focused on Regenerating Nature. Climate, food and nature-related topics and content permeated throughout the two days and were closely tied to youth and to indigenous populations – representing future generations and examining diverse ways of reflecting about the future and contributing to the sustainability of our planet and to building a better tomorrow for its ecosystems.
With over 2,500 participants from varied future-focused sectors and from close to 100 countries, the 70 sessions of the 2023 Edition spanned across three additional themes: Empowering Generations, Transcending Collaboration and Transforming Humanity. The Forum also hosted sessions under Foresight Insights where traditions and methodologies of foresight met innovation, where new alternative futures sparked and flourished and where lessons were shared from local governments practicing foresight, igniting pathways towards a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow.
OUR SUCCESS IN NUMBERS
2,500
Participants from varied future-focused sectors
150+
Speakers
70
Sessions and Workshops
100
Participating top global institutions specialised in foresight and future studies
Representation from 100+ Countries
Our Distinguished Speakers Included
Dr. Angela Wilkinson
World Energy Council
Bruce Friedrich
The Good Food Institute
Dr. Ismahane Elouafi
Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research
Agricultural Research
H.E. Ohood Al Roumi
Minister of State for Government Development & Future, UAE
Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen
Openwater
Prof. Pascale Fung
Hong Kong University of
Science & Technology
Science & Technology
H.E. Khalfan Belhoul
Dubai Future Foundation
Dr. Aaron Maniam
University of Oxford
Joanna Lepore
McDonald's Corporation
Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi
Emirati astronaut & Member
of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission 2023
of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission 2023
Dr. Paul Salem
Middle East Institute
James Pomeroy
HSBC
*whurley
Strangeworks
Dr. Sophie Howe
“World’s First Minister for the Unborn”
Sinead Bovell
WAYE
Alice Ruhweza
WWF International
Prof. Marc Buckley
ALOHAS Regenerative Foundation
Sarah DaVanzo
Pierre Fabre Foundation
2023 Themes
REGENERATING NATURE
Our future is undoubtedly centered around minimizing environmental risks, amplifying Nature’s capacity to restore itself and having a positive impact on crucial environmental ecosystems and habitats. This would not only create a more stable, healthier planet for humanity but it would also elevate Nature’s overall standing in this world.
EMPOWERING GENERATIONS
The global population will continue to grow for another three generations. It will be non-trivial to empower societies by offering solutions to humanity’s most complex and universal needs, optimizing systems they rely on, safeguarding against risks that could make societies more fragile in the face of crises and extending individual and collective potential for growth, development and well-being.
TRANSCENDING COLLABORATION
Individually we can achieve only so much. Collaboration, with a twist, is the way forward. Enhanced problem-solving, learning and innovation by redesigning collaborative structures and processes among humans, including different generations, between humans and machines, and between machines.
TRANSFORMING HUMANITY
This is the power to radically change ways of life by replacing the models that countries, communities and individuals live by – if they don’t work. These new models enable individuals and communities to innovate, improve and aid the transformation of humanity to new digital and non-digital realities.
