Global Future Councils 2025: 700+ Experts Shape Cybersecurity

Scheduled for October 14-16, 2025, in Dubai, the Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity represent a major international convening organized by the UAE Government in partnership with the World Economic Forum. This high-level gathering will bring together more than 700 experts from 93 countries to engage in critical dialogue and foster cooperation aimed at forecasting future trends and tackling rapidly evolving global challenges across vital sectors.

His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and co-chair of the Global Future Councils, emphasized the nation’s dedication to this initiative. He stated that under the leadership of the UAE’s President and the directives of the Vice President and Prime Minister, the country is firmly committed to championing global dialogue. This cooperation is seen as essential for accelerating progress, empowering communities, and enabling active participation in shaping what lies ahead. He described this approach as a fundamental tenet of the UAE’s strategic vision, which is clearly demonstrated through its impactful role in fostering international action.

The world is navigating a period of rapid transformation, driven by the swift evolution of artificial intelligence and technology. These changes are further complicated by escalating cybersecurity threats, a complex geopolitical landscape, economic transitions, and shifting social structures. In this context, the Global Future Councils act as a crucial reference point. They are designed to shape future-oriented thought, develop tailored solutions for upcoming challenges, and provide a prominent platform for sharing knowledge. This facilitates international cooperation and helps turn shared visions into tangible realities.

The long-standing partnership between the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum has been instrumental in developing these meetings into a key platform for building a better future. Insights generated here often become central pillars of the official agenda for the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos. This reflects a shared vision to institutionalize future foresight and establish an open-ended international partnership. The goal is to transform ideas into tangible opportunities and develop solutions that support sustainable development while preparing communities for anticipated future developments.

H.E. Al Gergawi stressed that shaping the future is a collective global endeavor that no single nation can achieve alone. It requires coordinated joint efforts among governments, organizations, and stakeholders from every sector.

Echoing this sentiment, Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, affirmed that the world is facing an unprecedented convergence of political, economic, social, environmental, and technological challenges. This reality makes strengthening international cooperation and integrating cross-disciplinary efforts absolutely indispensable for solving urgent future issues. He described the Global Future Councils, hosted in the UAE, as a leading platform that assembles distinguished thought leaders to forecast global transformations and outline innovative solutions for a more sustainable and prosperous world. He noted that the strategic partnership between the UAE and the Forum presents an inspiring model of international cooperation founded on a shared vision and a commitment to exchanging expertise.

A significant feature of the 2025 meetings is the concurrent hosting of the Annual Cybersecurity Meeting alongside the Global Future Councils, a first for the event. This underscores the platform’s importance in providing an open space for dialogue on areas that profoundly impact lives and futures. The cybersecurity meeting itself is a pivotal event, acting as a dedicated platform to drive cooperation toward a more secure and resilient cyberspace. It will convene over 150 leading cybersecurity experts and more than 90 speakers from business, government, international organizations, civil society, and academia.

This edition of the Global Future Councils will also see the formation of new councils and the induction of new members. This infusion of fresh expertise from leaders with diverse backgrounds is intended to broaden the community’s horizons and amplify its influence.

A notable addition to this year’s agenda is the launch of Output Labs. These labs will bring together specialists in global economics, digital security, and climate to develop new insights and pathways. They aim to provide world leaders with a deeper, more holistic understanding of fundamental challenges. The labs will feature workshops that convene members from multiple councils, fostering a multidisciplinary approach designed to generate novel insights and pave the way for deeper future collaboration.

The councils’ activities are also set to engage wider communities by welcoming new figures, high-ranking executives, and entrepreneurs from the Middle East and North Africa region, alongside regional sustainability leaders. This is part of a concerted effort to enhance both regional and global impact.

The agenda is further enriched by a network of Collaboration Clusters, which will organize workshops on diverse themes. These include a session by the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (GRIP) focused on establishing smarter guidelines for agile government legislation. Another session, led by the UAE Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), will explore the role of multicultural robots in everyday life. Other scheduled events include a Strategic Intelligence Activation, the Food Innovation HUB National Leadership Council Meeting, and panel discussions on Trade Tech and Digital Health with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

The Global Future Councils mark an advanced stage in the impactful strategic partnership between the UAE and the World Economic Forum. Both entities are building upon over 16 years of constructive collaboration in organizing these annual meetings. Throughout this period, 900 councils have been held, engaging 12,000 officials, experts, and specialists from across the globe to deliberate on the issues that most significantly affect people’s lives and futures.

(Source: Economy Middle East)