Sheikh Hamdan invites 500 leaders to discuss future scenarios at Dubai Future Week

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has invited 500 leaders and professionals from five key sectors to share their knowledge and expertise at Dubai Future Week 2026.

Announcing the initiative on X, Sheikh Hamdan said the participants would become partners in advancing the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which places people at the centre of Dubai’s objectives and priorities.

Dubai Future Week will take place from November 18 to 21, 2026, at the Museum of the Future and Emirates Towers. The event will bring together experts, professionals and innovators to discuss emerging trends and explore ways to shape the future.

Dubai Future Week to Bring Together 500 Future Minds

The initiative, titled 500 Future Minds, is one of the eight core concepts of Dubai Future Week. It will bring together professionals from different fields to share their experiences, discuss future challenges and develop ideas that can contribute to Dubai’s long-term development.

The selected participants will take part in a collaborative, one-day experience focused on identifying future priorities, exploring new opportunities and developing commitments for the years ahead.

The initiative aims to encourage cooperation between professionals whose work directly influences communities, the economy and the urban environment.

Five Key Sectors to Participate in the Initiative

The 500 participants will represent five professional groups, with 100 people selected from each sector.

These groups include:

Teachers: 100 educators contributing perspectives on the future of learning and education.

Frontline responders: 100 professionals sharing insights into public safety and emergency response.

Homegrown entrepreneurs: 100 entrepreneurs discussing innovation and business growth.

Economy and finance professionals: 100 experts examining economic changes and future financial opportunities.

Urban planners and architects: 100 professionals exploring the future of urban development and sustainable cities.

Through their combined expertise, participants will examine how technological advancements and wider global transformations could affect their respective industries.

Sheikh Hamdan Highlights Shared Responsibility in Shaping the Future

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that building the future requires collective participation and a shared commitment to improving people's lives.

He said, “Dubai believes that shaping the future is a shared responsibility. It requires collective effort, and our ultimate goal is to build a better future for humanity.”

The initiative reflects Dubai's broader approach to placing people at the centre of development and encouraging professionals across different sectors to contribute to the emirate's future priorities.

Dubai Future Week 2026 to Welcome More Than 10,000 Participants

Dubai Future Week 2026 will take place under the theme ‘For the Human of the Future’ and is expected to welcome more than 10,000 participants.

The programme will explore how people may live, think, innovate, feel and do business in the years ahead. The event aims to encourage discussions about the opportunities and challenges created by emerging technologies and changing social and economic conditions.

The five central questions guiding this human-centred approach are:

How We’ll Live
How We’ll Think
How We’ll Innovate
How We’ll Feel
How We’ll Do Business

These themes will help frame discussions on the future of communities, workplaces, innovation and economic activity.

Initiative Aims to Turn Ideas into Future Priorities

Through the 500 Future Minds initiative, Dubai Future Week will give selected professionals an opportunity to contribute directly to conversations about the emirate's future.

By bringing together educators, frontline responders, entrepreneurs, financial experts, urban planners and architects, the programme seeks to generate practical ideas and commitments that can support Dubai's continued development.

The initiative also reinforces Dubai's focus on collaboration, innovation and human-centred planning as it works towards building a better future for its residents and the wider global community.