UAE concludes participation in 2025 World Economic Forum: Highlights and impact

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully concluded its participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, which took place from January 20 to 24. The UAE delegation actively engaged in discussions on global challenges and explored new opportunities for international cooperation.

The UAE delegation, led by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), was among the largest at this year's Davos. The forum's theme, "Cooperation in a Fractured World," strongly resonated with the UAE's commitment to sustainable development and leveraging advanced technologies for transformative solutions.

Comprising over 100 CEOs, private sector representatives, and government officials, the delegation underscored the UAE's dedication to fostering international partnerships and contributing to global progress at both regional and international levels. Her Highness Sheikha Latifa attended key sessions and discussions at the forum, showcasing the UAE's developmental achievements and exchanging views with international counterparts on priority areas.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa met with prominent figures, including Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the interim Prime Minister of Bangladesh, former Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra, and Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, she visited art and cultural exhibitions, exploring the intersection of art, culture, and technology in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stated, "The UAE's successful participation at the World Economic Forum, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reinforces its commitment to building strong international partnerships and promoting sustainable development."

Al Gergawi further added, "At each World Economic Forum, we build upon previous collaborations. The increased participation of UAE state-owned and private sector companies demonstrates their crucial role in achieving national goals and highlights the UAE’s support for the business environment." The UAE government strongly supported its private sector at the 2025 Davos Forum, with state-owned and private sector companies making up the majority of the UAE delegation. This highlights the sector's significant role in the UAE's sustainable economic growth and fosters valuable international partnerships.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) pledged AED 36.7 million (USD 10 million) to the UNHCR to support sustainable projects for forcibly displaced communities. This brings MBRGI’s total contributions to UNHCR projects since 2021 to AED 163.6 million. Given the growing need for support, the ongoing collaboration between MBRGI and UNHCR is crucial for sustaining aid to displaced populations globally.

The UAE and the World Economic Forum signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (GRIP). GRIP will develop a Legislative Future Readiness Index and Global Regulatory Innovation Guidelines, while also facilitating a network of experts and policymakers. This initiative aims to build legislative capacity, share knowledge, and foster dialogue, thereby enhancing the UAE's appeal as a hub for businesses seeking supportive regulatory environments.

The UAE and the World Economic Forum signed a cooperation agreement to promote the adoption of future technologies globally. By leveraging the UAE Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (UAE C4IR), overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), this collaboration will foster cooperation and development of emerging technologies, solidifying the UAE's position as a global hub for Fourth Industrial Revolution innovation.

DFF also partnered with the World Economic Forum to develop a global index measuring the future readiness of public and private sector organizations. This index will assess their ability to adapt and capitalize on future opportunities. DFF contributed its expertise and research gained from developing the “Dubai Future Readiness Index” to support this global initiative.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the World Economic Forum to advance smart health systems globally. Their joint initiative aims to leverage public-private partnerships to drive digital technologies, data, and artificial intelligence to maximize healthcare efficiency and improve patient outcomes. DoH joins a network of leading institutions accelerating this digital transformation, aligning global progress with local healthcare strategies.