News

The fourth edition of the Dubai Future Forum, regarded as the world’s largest gathering of futurists, opens tomorrow at the Museum of the Future. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), the event will run from 18 to 19 November.

Organised by the Dubai Future Foundation, the Forum will convene more than 2,500 experts, decision-makers, and futurists, along with representatives from 100 global organisations. Over 200 speakers will participate across more than 70 sessions focused on five themes: Exploring the Unknown, Empowering Societies, Reimagining Health, Optimising Systems, and Foresight Insights.

This year introduces dedicated Learning Days on 17 and 20 November, developed with regional and international partners. These sessions cover foresight and global security, strategic philanthropy, wearable technologies, urban resilience, and the future of media. A closed-door roundtable hosted by Arab News and the Dubai Future Foundation examined how the media sector can adapt amid rapid technological change, with emphasis on governance, policy, and trust in the age of artificial intelligence.

Additional Learning Day programmes explored global security through foresight tools, the future of philanthropic impact, advances in wearable technologies, and the resilience of cities facing climate challenges.

The Forum’s opening day will feature remarks by Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation. A headline session, “Navigating Change: Leadership in the Age of AI and Global Transformation,” will include Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, and Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. Panel discussions will address long-term governance, regenerative societies, economic resilience, proactive medicine, changing consumer behaviour, and developments in global research.

In parallel, the Prototypes for Humanity – Dubai Future Solutions Exhibition 2025 opened today at AREA 2071 in Emirates Towers. The exhibition showcases 100 projects selected from more than 3,000 submissions representing participants from over 1,200 universities in 120 countries. Five innovators will be recognised at the conclusion of the exhibition.

The Forum will also announce the inaugural Dubai Foresight Awards, which honour contributions across three categories: Foresight Change Makers, Foresight for People, and Foresight for the Planet. The opening day will host the Future Stories Awards Ceremony, recognising writers whose work encourages future-oriented thinking.

Dubai Future Forum 2025 is supported by strategic partners including Dubai Municipality and Emirates Global Aluminium, alongside international organisations, creative institutions, and universities.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Emirates is moving into the next phase of its multi-year fleet retrofit, preparing 111 aircraft - 60 Airbus A380s and 51 Boeing 777s - for upgraded cabins and new onboard technology beginning August 2026. The programme, one of the largest of its kind, will introduce redesigned seating, an updated onboard lounge for the A380, a fully refreshed in-flight entertainment system, and enhanced connectivity through Starlink.

The work will be carried out by Emirates Engineering in coordination with Airbus, Safran, Recaro, Panasonic, Starlink, and UUDS. These partners will supply new Business Class seating, premium-economy designs, economy seats tailored for long-haul travel, and Panasonic’s Astrova entertainment platform, which will be installed on all aircraft included in this phase.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, said the project reflects the carrier’s commitment to keeping product standards aligned across its wide-body fleet. He noted that the goal is to match the innovations currently entering service on new aircraft, including upgraded seating privacy, improved charging options, and redesigned cabin features.

Business Class cabins on both aircraft types will be fitted with Emirates’ newest seat generation, inspired by the Safran S-Lounge design introduced on the A350. Premium Economy will feature Recaro seats with mechanical recline, leg and footrests, and 13.3-inch screens. Economy cabins will adopt Safran’s Z400 long-haul seat with an eight-way adjustable headrest.

The Astrova entertainment system will bring 4K OLED screens, HDR10+ capability, spatial audio, and high-capacity USB-C charging. Bluetooth pairing and Panasonic’s Arc 3D moving map will also be standard. Emirates will link these features with its Skywards programme to support content recommendations based on viewing history.

Starlink connectivity, already confirmed for the fleet, will be installed in parallel with the cabin work to accelerate rollout across global routes.

The retrofit programme has expanded several times since it was first announced in 2021. Emirates now plans to refurbish 219 aircraft in total. So far, 76 have been completed, with each A380 undergoing about 22 days of work and each Boeing 777 about 18 days. Two aircraft are delivered back into service each month.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, attended the opening ceremony of the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM Dubai 2025). The gathering, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, marks the first time the conference is hosted in the Middle East, Africa, or South Asia.

The ceremony took place at Al Wasl Plaza in Expo City Dubai, where a 20-minute production used 2D and 3D projections, live performance, and original music to present Dubai’s development from its founding on Dubai Creek in 1833 to its current role as a regional cultural center. Presented by Dubai Culture and Expo City Dubai, the event used the plaza’s 360-degree projection surface to recount the city’s early settlement, maritime economy, growth into a trading hub, and emergence as a diverse urban center.

Sheikha Latifa noted that the production reflected Dubai’s longstanding emphasis on cultural exchange and praised the collaboration between the participating institutions and creative teams. She highlighted the contributions of the artists and designers whose work connected the city’s past with its contemporary identity.

The ceremony was attended by several members of Dubai’s ruling family, regional dignitaries, senior officials, and Dr. Emma Nardi, President of ICOM.

Directed by Amna Abdullah Abu Alhoul, the show was created by a team of Emirati and international artists, including poet Ali Al Khawar, composer Fayez Al Saeed, vocalist Fatma Al Hashemi, narrator Huda Al Fahad, and cultural content director Reem Abdullah Al Ghaith. Expo City Dubai’s creative team produced the performance following extensive historical research into Gulf maritime records and regional archives.

The production transformed Al Wasl Plaza’s 130-metre dome using 252 laser projectors, more than 813 lighting units, 27 sound arrays, and over 150 speakers, blending traditional Emirati rhythms with contemporary orchestral elements. Organised with the support of Expo City Dubai, du, and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, the event welcomed delegates of ICOM Dubai 2025 and underscored Dubai’s continued focus on culture, innovation, and international exchange.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai International Chamber has reported significant growth in foreign business engagement during the first nine months of 2025, underscoring the emirate’s appeal as a destination for global investment.

Between January and September, the chamber facilitated the relocation of 261 companies to Dubai, a 65 percent increase from the 158 companies recorded in the same period in 2024. Of these, 44 were multinational corporations, up from 40 last year, marking a 10 percent rise. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accounted for 217 of the new arrivals, an 84 percent increase from the previous year.

H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai International Chamber, emphasized the institution’s focus on attracting high-value foreign investment and expanding opportunities across key sectors in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). He noted that the chamber’s international network assists Dubai-based companies in entering overseas markets while showcasing the emirate’s competitive advantages to global business communities.

In line with the Dubai Global initiative, which aims to establish 50 international representative offices by 2030, the chamber opened five new offices in Dhaka, Cape Town, Bengaluru, Bangkok, and Toronto. These offices organized 376 roundtable meetings during the first nine months of 2025 to promote Dubai as a global business hub and facilitate foreign investment.

The chamber’s international network functions as a strategic link between Dubai and global markets, supporting two-way investment flows and helping companies expand from the emirate into 30 priority international markets. The offices also provide insights into Dubai’s business environment, assisting multinational companies in establishing a local presence and leveraging the city as a gateway to broader markets.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Alexander Agafiev

Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) has launched a new framework allowing companies registered in the DWTC Free Zone to issue multiple classes of shares, a move aimed at enhancing capital structuring and corporate governance. The initiative provides businesses with greater flexibility to scale, attract investment, and innovate, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global business hub and supporting the emirate’s economic agenda, D33, which seeks to double the economy by 2033.

Under the framework, companies can now offer a variety of share classes beyond ordinary shares, including preference, founder’s, restricted, and tiered structures such as class A/B/C/D shares. These shares can be structured in a company’s Memorandum of Association to define rights and restrictions related to dividends, voting powers, transfer conditions, and redemption or conversion options, while safeguarding minority shareholders. The framework also includes governance measures designed to maintain transparency and protect shareholder interests.

Abdalla Al Banna, vice president of Free Zone Regulatory Operations at DWTC Free Zone, described the reform as a step toward “setting a new industry standard for capital structuring in the region.” He emphasized that flexible corporate structures enable companies to balance control, raise capital, and retain talent while supporting Dubai’s vision as a leading global business destination.

The differentiated share classes allow companies to attract investors with varying risk profiles, protect founders’ long-term vision, support family office succession planning, and incentivize employees through equity-based compensation. Ordinary shares remain the default, but companies now have the option to adopt more complex structures to support sustainable growth.

This framework complements recent expansions within DWTC Free Zone, including the 2024 extension to One Za’abeel, a sustainable development by the Investment Corporation of Dubai. The Free Zone offers full foreign ownership, simplified licensing, a 0% corporate tax rate, and regulatory support, hosting businesses across more than 40 sectors.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai will host the 12th edition of the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIACC) on November 16, 2025, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The event, organized by the UAE Ministry of Defence, will convene more than 100 official delegations, making it the largest gathering of air force chiefs and commanders since the conference began in 2003.

Major General Rashed Mohamed Alshamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, said all preparations are complete. Scheduled a day before the Dubai Airshow 2025, the conference provides a platform for senior air force leaders, defence officials, and manufacturers to address emerging challenges in air and space defence.

“The conference serves as a council for air and air defence forces shaping the future of air and space superiority while exploring strategic deterrence tools in an era of rapid technological change,” Alshamsi said. He emphasized the UAE’s commitment to military readiness, defence coordination, and joint operations that support regional and global security.

The 2025 conference theme, “Hypersonic Edge,” focuses on future operational concepts for airpower, technological superiority, and multi-domain integration. Participants will discuss hypersonic technologies, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, air and space integration, the evolution of the future fighter, military alliances, and the UAE Air Force’s readiness for innovation and strategic partnerships.

DIACC’s agenda includes high-level panel discussions and strategic sessions supported by major global defence and aerospace companies. Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement is the National Industry Enablement Partner, EDGE Group is the Strategic Partner, and Airbus serves as Premium Partner. Platinum sponsors include Northrop Grumman, RTX Collins Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin, with Gold sponsors such as Saab Technologies, MBDA, Dassault Aviation, Thales, Boeing, and General Atomics.

Since its inception, DIACC has become a global forum for air force commanders to discuss trends in air and space warfare, anticipate future tools of conflict, and strengthen international defence collaboration.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

DP World and the DP World Tour have announced an extension of their title partnership through 2035, solidifying one of the most significant agreements in professional golf. The renewed deal ensures that DP World remains both Title Partner and Official Logistics Partner for more than a decade, marking the largest agreement in the Tour’s history.

The original partnership, established in 2022, saw the rebranding of the European Tour to the DP World Tour. Since then, the Tour has expanded to 42 tournaments across 26 countries, featuring record prize funds and a growing global audience. The collaboration has played a central role in positioning golf as a more international and accessible sport.

Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour, said the extended partnership reflects both commercial success and operational integration. “DP World’s expertise in global logistics has become essential to our tournament operations,” Kinnings said. “Their renewed investment demonstrates confidence in the Tour’s growth, our fan engagement, and the long-term potential of the game.”

Yuvraj Narayan, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of DP World, said the extension reinforces the company’s belief in sport as a connector of markets and communities. “This long-term commitment underlines our vision to make golf more inclusive and sustainable,” Narayan said, citing initiatives such as the DP World India Championship, which will return in 2026 with plans to become a regular fixture on the Tour calendar.

As part of the agreement, DP World will remain Title Partner of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai - the season-ending Rolex Series event that crowns the Race to Dubai Champion - and will serve as Official Partner to an additional 15 tournaments each season.

Both organizations will continue joint programs that broaden access to golf, including DP World’s Second Life initiative and global Clubhouse programme, which refurbish equipment and repurpose shipping containers into community facilities.

DP World’s association with the Tour began in 2009 as a presenting partner of the Race to Dubai finale. The renewed partnership represents the latest phase in a long-term collaboration linking global trade and professional sport.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai Municipality has opened registration for the fifth season of the Farmers’ Market, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Emirati farmers and advancing local agricultural sustainability.

The initiative, which gathers Emirati farmers and local producers on a single platform, allows participants to showcase their products directly to residents and visitors. It also provides comprehensive support to enhance farm productivity, expand local agricultural output, and strengthen sustainable farming practices - key pillars in Dubai’s long-term environmental and economic strategy.

The market will return to Quranic Park in Al Khawaneej from December 6, 2025, to February 8, 2026, operating every Saturday and Sunday. The previous season saw a 49 percent rise in visitor numbers, underscoring the market’s growing appeal as a community hub that connects consumers with local produce in an engaging, family-oriented setting.

This season, 41 Emirati farmers and 16 local producers and agricultural suppliers are set to participate, offering a diverse range of fresh and organic goods. The initiative aligns with Dubai Municipality’s broader mission to empower local farmers through training programs, advisory services, and logistical support - efforts that collectively reinforce food security and responsible consumption.

“The Farmers’ Market is more than a venue for trade; it is a civic experience that strengthens community ties, supports national production, and promotes sustainable lifestyles,” said Mohammed Ahli, Acting Director of the Public Parks and Recreational Facilities Department at Dubai Municipality.

The upcoming season will feature educational workshops, interactive sessions, and cultural activities designed to engage visitors of all ages. Registration for interested farmers and producers is now open on the Dubai Municipality website with submissions due by November 20, 2025.

The previous edition welcomed over 102,000 visitors, providing an essential platform for local farmers and producers to connect directly with consumers and highlight the importance of supporting homegrown agriculture.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai’s economy continued its strong upward trajectory in the first half of 2025, with gross domestic product rising 4.4% to AED 241 billion. In the second quarter alone, the emirate’s GDP increased 4.7%, reaching AED 122 billion, according to official data.

Growth was broad-based, led by human health and social work activities, which expanded 20% in the first half of the year, contributing 1.4% to GDP. The construction sector added AED 16 billion in value, growing 8.5% year-on-year and accounting for 6.7% of the emirate’s GDP. Real estate activity rose 7% in H1, financial and insurance services grew 6.7%, and information and communications expanded 5.3%. Accommodation and food services increased 4.9%, aligned with a 6% rise in international visitors to 9.88 million. Wholesale and retail trade, the largest sector, contributed AED 57.4 billion to GDP, up 4.4%. Other sectors collectively grew 1.8%.

Dubai’s leadership attributed the performance to long-term planning, strategic public-private collaboration, and policies fostering innovation and competitiveness. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that the growth reflects the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, noting the role of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) in translating strategic objectives into measurable outcomes.

Officials highlighted Dubai’s resilience and adaptability in a shifting global economy. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said the results underscore the city’s ability to attract investment, talent, and enterprise while advancing homegrown capabilities. Digital Dubai’s leadership pointed to the role of digital transformation and technology adoption in supporting sustained growth.

The Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment is recalibrating GDP and other key indicators to align with international standards, integrating new administrative and field data to provide a more accurate and transparent picture of the emirate’s economic performance.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Alexander Agafiev

Alexander Agafiev is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.