Come February, more than 4,000 participants from 140 countries descend upon the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, UAE. Yet the annual event cannot be mistaken for just another political or economic meeting.
With discussions and recommendations that challenge governments to develop the best of the best planning for the future of its people, WGS is devoid of any political or populist agenda. It showcases global success stories and humanitarian ideas as a pure depiction of the future of humanity.
The event hosts the crème-de-la-crème of nations’ worldwide. This includes heads of states and governments, experts, specialists as well as top-tier representatives from 16 international organizations. But it goes beyond that. Each participant has in-depth experience in forecasting the future of governments and international strategic planning.
The World Government Summit is the outcome of the futuristic vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It aims to develop a new generation of thinkers capable of developing sustainable solutions and technologies to address the future challenges facing the Arab world.
How do Arab governments benefit?
We need to look beyond our geographical boundaries and learn from the experiences of cities around the globe. In terms of innovations in technology. Reduction in crime rates. Improving happiness among citizens by creating agile public-oriented services in an efficient but adaptive manner.
In designing healthy environments and public spaces that also, address the daily needs of people of determination.
But it all depends on the human. What he or she can do to make, not just their own circle happy, but, also the community and the wider society. In short, we need to think local and global.
But do we really have a world track record that we can be proud of? In terms of Arab experiences. Yes. We can proudly say that we have successful and ambitious Arab minds. But the ideas need to be nurtured and supported in order to create a unique precedence in the global context. We need good planning role models. We also need to raise the self-confidence levels amongst our youth population and encourage them to assume leadership roles in the future.
Return to home
Over the last two decades, the visionary leadership of the United Arab Emirates has constantly motivated and truly succeeded in pushing the youth of this nation to key leadership positions in the country. This, in turn, has contributed to a technological and science Renaissance in the nation. It has driven the Emirati youth to learn different sciences from developed countries and return to their homeland to question, think, add, innovate, rebuild and push other like-minded youth like themselves.
The UAE has created a new culture based on the principle of “think, innovate and achieve first for my nation.” The government has ably succeeded in planting the seeds of love and sacrifice in the hearts and minds of its youth. It has also taught them to open up to the world and not just share the experiences from UAE but to also contribute to the service of the greater humanity.
Thus, the World Government Summit simply reflects that vision of the UAE and its leaders, who are always keen to overcome the known and familiar and to look to the future and plan. This is a country that does not know the word ‘Impossible.’ It is a country that has learned well from the lessons of its the past and taken the experiences to create a deeper and more influential future. A future filled with the principles of tolerance and generosity. The love of all that is good and for all. Year after year.
However, the summit requires a tremendous physical and moral effort to keep the momentum. But the team behind the event persists in retaining the context to the region while constantly keeping an eye on the current global updates and trends. Thus, the World Government Summit is a path-breaking event that explores everything related to the public decision-making and policy sector as well as the technological, economic and humanitarian future of global cities.
The summit is also a great successful tool that has gained global recognition for the UAE as a thought leadership nation and deservedly become a part of the integral roadmap of many governments. Not just in terms of participation but also in the implementation of the recommendations that arise out of the World Government Summit.
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