Under the leadership of Latifa bint Mohammed.. the UAE concludes its distinguished participation in the World Economic Forum “Davos 2026”

The UAE concluded its distinguished participation in the 56th session of the World Economic Forum 2026, in Davos, Switzerland, which was held from January 19 to 23, and is a global platform that annually brings together more than 3,000 leaders, decision-makers, and senior figures in the government and private sectors around the world.

The UAE delegation, headed by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, which is the fifth largest international delegation participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026, participated in discussing many files, topped by the most prominent global challenges and changes, examining the best solutions, reviewing developments, and establishing and strengthening international partnerships, in various economic and development sectors.

The Emirati participation in the forum was characterized by its focus on formulating proactive development solutions that benefit from extensive international experiences and expertise, for the sake of a better reality and future for the world at all levels.

The country participated in major sessions on artificial intelligence, digital government, smart systems, and issues related to major humanitarian and international challenges, especially the economic and development sectors closely related to the stability of societies, and the foundations of sustainable development, such as food security, health, water, and humanitarian work, which embodies the slogan of the World Economic Forum 2026 session, “The Spirit of Dialogue,” and at the same time reflects one of the main constants and values that the UAE is keen to consolidate, especially at the level of international relations. Regional and global, through its permanent initiatives to exchange expertise and successful experiences with all countries and prominent international institutions.

The state’s participation in the work of the 56th session of the forum also reflected the great importance that the private sector has in the country, as the state delegation, which exceeded more than 100 individuals, included, in addition to government officials, a wide range of founders and CEOs of major national companies and private sector institutions in the country.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said: “The UAE has succeeded, through its participation in the World Economic Forum “Davos 2026,” in enhancing constructive international cooperation and exchanging successful experiences and important expertise with countries and international institutions, in areas of national priority, and the most supportive and influential pivotal sectors in efforts to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, and discussing the best solutions to the most important development challenges at the global level with proactive visions that take into account accelerating changes, and accommodate international responsibility towards common issues and files. It anticipates opportunities that are in the interest of the stability and prosperity of countries and societies, in a way that supports international efforts to confront common challenges, and enhances opportunities for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.”

He said, “Leadership, global competitiveness, international confidence, and the UAE’s approach, which has been established through our comprehensive development paths, are a national asset that inspires nations and peoples, and experiences that we are keen to share with all countries around the world and all international institutions.”

The private sector enjoyed qualitative participation in the forum’s sessions and events, which constituted an opportunity to exchange experiences and expertise with many international counterpart companies, international actors and institutions, and to build new regional and international partnerships, and a space to introduce the vision of private sector companies in the country, in a way that contributes to opening broader horizons for their growth, enhancing their successes, and reflecting the reality of this sector as it is a fundamental pillar in the sustainability of the growth of the national economy.

The most prominent outcomes of the UAE delegation’s participation.

During the Forum’s activities, the UAE government and the World Economic Forum launched a new phase of their strategic knowledge partnership, and a memorandum of understanding was signed to organize the annual meetings of the Global Future Councils in Dubai, during the next five years, in a step that reflects the commitment to strengthening cooperation in shaping future directions, supporting global efforts to confront economic and social challenges, and enabling governments to build more flexible and ready development models.

The UAE government, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, also launched, during the meetings of the 56th session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the “Global Program for Strategic Intelligence”, in a qualitative step aimed at enabling governments and institutions to move to more proactive and flexible models in anticipating global changes, and accelerating strategic decision-making, thus enhancing their readiness to deal efficiently and effectively with accelerating transformations.

During the Forum’s activities, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and the World Economic Forum also announced the next phase of their partnership concerned with developing smart health systems and long healthy lives, thus consolidating Abu Dhabi’s global leadership position in preventive and personal health.

During the forum, it was also announced that Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, was appointed Chairman of the International Business Council (IBC), in a step that reflects the leading position of the UAE in formulating global economic policies, and with this appointment, Al-Mubarak becomes the first person from the Middle East to assume the presidency of this high council since its founding, for a period extending for two years, thus leading one of the most important strategic platforms affiliated with the World Economic Forum, and the International Business Council is considered (International Business Council – IBC) A strategic advisory body affiliated with the World Economic Forum, whose membership includes about 100 senior CEOs of international companies from various sectors.

The Forum witnessed the announcement of the Technology Innovation Institute, the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, of the launch of the Abu Dhabi Center for Advanced Technology, in cooperation with the World Economic Forum, to be a new center within the network of global centers affiliated with the Forum and concerned with the technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Economic Forum Foundation, which includes strengthening institutional cooperation in order to support efforts to prepare for the holding of the United Nations Water Conference 2026, which the UAE will host at the end of this year. The memorandum of understanding, which was signed at the Davos Convention Center, is a prominent step in consolidating relations between the UAE and the World Economic Forum Foundation, and confirms the extent of the commitment of both parties to strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors, and mobilizing efforts in various sectors in order to achieve the goals of the conference, with a special focus on accelerating the pace of progress. In water-related actions within the framework of Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the same context, the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence and the World Economic Forum announced the signing of a joint cooperation agreement aimed at establishing the Abu Dhabi Center for the Future of Artificial Intelligence, which reflects the commitment of both sides to support international efforts to enhance readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and to consolidate the UAE’s position as a global center for innovation in the field of artificial intelligence.

The UAE also announced the issuance of the third edition of the Trade Technology Report, which reviews the extent of the development of integrating advanced technologies into global supply chains.

The report is one of the pillars of the initiative TradeTech Which was launched in Davos in 2023 in partnership between the UAE, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, and the World Economic Forum.