The UAE government and the World Economic Forum launch a new phase of the comprehensive strategic partnership

The UAE government and the World Economic Forum launched a new phase in their comprehensive strategic partnership, which strengthens the frameworks of bilateral cooperation and expands its areas to include developing partnerships between the government and private sectors, organizing meetings of global future councils, and enhancing the UAE’s participation in the various activities of the forum, which reflects the depth of the continuous and years-long partnership between the two sides.
The signing of the strategic partnership extension agreement took place in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, during an official event organized by the two sides, as part of the fifty-sixth session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and member of the World Economic Forum’s Leadership Council, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, and the CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borg Brende. The signing was also witnessed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BlackRock, the Interim Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Economic Forum, Larry Fink, and many senior officials from both parties.
Al Gergawi stressed that the strategic partnership between the UAE government and the World Economic Forum embodies the directions and visions of the UAE under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” to expand frameworks of international cooperation and develop partnerships with influential global organizations, in areas aimed at building future opportunities and enabling governments and societies to participate in shaping the future.
He said that the process of positive cooperation between the UAE government and the World Economic Forum, extending for about 25 years, succeeded in creating a broad international movement centered on people and aimed at the future. Through years of hard work and positive partnership, it was able to establish innovative trends in various vital sectors, based on a shared conviction of the importance of integration between governments, international organizations and private sector pioneers, and the exchange of knowledge and transfer of experiences as a main path to bringing about positive change.
For his part, Borge Brende said that the World Economic Forum’s partnership with the UAE is based on solid trust, a common ambition, and a long-term commitment to formulating future-oriented cooperation models. He explained that this agreement enhances the path of existing cooperation, and at the same time provides the necessary flexibility to innovate and interact with new opportunities as they arise, stressing that the two sides are working together to establish a global platform that brings together leaders to anticipate advanced trends and develop future solutions.
The partnership focuses on strengthening partnerships between the government and private sectors, by expanding bilateral cooperation to address priority societal and economic challenges, developing and implementing projects, and exploring new opportunities for joint cooperation. This axis includes cooperation in implementing the global program for regulatory innovation.
The partnership also extends to enhancing the role of the centers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, accelerating the use of science and technology, and developing qualitative initiatives in the field of the future of water, by stimulating innovation and sustainable partnerships between the public and private sectors. The agreement also renewed the commitment of both sides to organize global future councils for the next five years, so that these councils will continue their pioneering role as an international platform for anticipating and shaping the features of future sectors, with the participation of an elite group of experts and decision makers from around the world.
The agreement includes enhancing coordination and cooperation with the participation of the leadership of the United Arab Emirates in the forum’s activities at the regional and global levels, most notably the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the annual meeting of the New Champions, and other events and forums designated for ministerial levels.