UAE Participation At Davos 2026 World Economic Forum Highlights Global Cooperation And Development

The United Arab Emirates concluded its participation at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, held from 19th to 23rd January, after announcing new global partnerships, policy roles and knowledge initiatives that aim to support sustainable development, economic stability and long-term resilience worldwide.

The Forum brought together more than 3,000 leaders, senior officials and executives from public and private sectors, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue." The UAE delegation, led by H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, ranked as the fifth-largest international delegation.

The UAE delegation engaged in sessions on artificial intelligence, digital government and smart systems, as well as discussions on humanitarian issues tied to economic and development stability, including food security, health, water and broader humanitarian action, reflecting the Forum’s focus on dialogue and shared responsibility among countries and institutions.

Officials highlighted that the UAE used Davos 2026 to examine global shifts, share expertise and look at new opportunities that could support prosperity for societies. Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stressed that discussions addressed major development challenges from proactive angles, aligned with changing global conditions and collective duties.

Al Gergawi added, "Global leadership, competitiveness, international trust, and the UAE’s development-driven approach are a national asset that inspires nations and peoples. These are experiences we are keen to share with countries around the world and with international institutions."

During the meeting, the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum announced a new phase of their strategic knowledge partnership. Both sides signed a memorandum of understanding to host the annual Global Future Councils meetings in Dubai for the next five years, and launched the Global Strategic Intelligence Programme to support agile, forward-looking decision-making.

Several additional collaborations were confirmed at Davos 2026, covering health, water, technology and artificial intelligence. These agreements aim to help governments and organisations prepare for future risks, design smarter services, and coordinate international responses to complex economic and social challenges through targeted programmes and specialised centres based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and the World Economic Forum agreed on the next phase of their partnership to advance smart health systems and healthy longevity. The initiative reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position in preventive and personalised healthcare, and seeks to apply advanced technologies to improve health outcomes and strengthen the resilience of healthcare systems.

World Economic Forum 2026 UAE participation: economic leadership and private sector role

The UAE’s presence in Davos 2026 underlined the contribution of the private sector, with more than 100 participants from the delegation, including government representatives, founders and chief executives of leading national companies. Their involvement in sessions and events supported knowledge exchange, regional and global partnerships, and highlighted the private sector’s role in national economic growth.

The UAE also released the third edition of the TradeTech Report, which tracks progress in integrating advanced technologies into global supply chains. The report is a central element of the TradeTech initiative, launched in Davos in 2023 in partnership between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and the World Economic Forum.

During the Forum, it was announced that H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, has been appointed Chair of the International Business Council for a two-year term, becoming the first figure from the Middle East to hold the position, which reflects the UAE’s growing role in shaping global economic policy.

The International Business Council, a strategic advisory body of the World Economic Forum, brings together around 100 chief executive officers from leading global companies across sectors, and functions as a platform for dialogue between senior business leaders and policymakers, supporting debate on international economic priorities, regulatory trends and future market conditions.

The Technology Innovation Institute, the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, announced the creation of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Advanced Technologies in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. The centre joins the Forum’s global network focused on Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, and will contribute research and expertise from the UAE to that network.

In artificial intelligence, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the World Economic Forum signed a cooperation agreement to establish the Abu Dhabi Centre for the Future of Artificial Intelligence. The initiative supports the UAE’s position as a global hub for AI-related research, and aims to strengthen international collaboration on responsible and effective AI deployment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Economic Forum to deepen institutional cooperation for the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will host later this year. The agreement underlines joint commitment to public-private collaboration and faster progress on water-related efforts aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Across these announcements and engagements, the UAE’s participation at the World Economic Forum 2026 demonstrated an emphasis on dialogue, partnership and practical initiatives, linking government, business and research institutions to address global challenges in areas such as technology, health, trade and water security, while supporting sustainable development efforts within the UAE and internationally.

With inputs from WAM