SARA ALZAABI (DUBAI)
Global cooperation, responsible AI and future leadership took centre stage at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the Global Future Leaders in Dubai.
At the opening plenary, Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Principal Chairman of the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Leaders, highlighted the need for a new approach to leadership amid rapid global transformations.
Reflecting on the UAE's 18-year partnership with the World Economic Forum, he asked: “Today, we ask: How do we lead a future where the rules are constantly changing?”
He stressed that traditional approaches to leadership must evolve as geopolitical, technological, and environmental developments reshape the world.
“For it is not just the world that has changed; the very rules of change have shifted,” he said.
Al Gergawi identified major transformations involving shifts in geopolitical power: Advances in artificial intelligence, and changes in resources, energy and climate.
He also outlined five essential qualities for future leaders: anticipating change, learning and adapting continuously, exercising wisdom, building partnerships and translating vision into results.
“Artificial intelligence and technology do indeed grant us greater capabilities, but it is wisdom that determines how we use those capabilities,” he said.
He also stressed that leadership must be judged by its contribution to society.
“True leadership is measured not by the magnitude of decisions, but by their impact on people's lives.”
Al Gergawi highlighted three new initiatives: a global centre for future opportunities to translate ideas into practical projects; a $1 million annual challenge engaging 10,000 Global Shapers in developing smart community solutions; and Future 20, recognising 20 leaders under 30 with the potential to drive change over the next two decades.
Resilience before Crisis
Alois Zwinggi, President & CEO of the World Economic Forum and Principal Chairman of the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Leaders, stressed the importance of empowering young leaders to address today's global challenges.
“For too long, the world has spoken of young people as leaders of tomorrow. But tomorrow is not a serious enough word for the responsibilities they already carry today,” he said.
He called for stronger cooperation between generations and responsible technological progress, envisioning a future “where AI expands human agency, where growth carries dignity, not division”.
Zwinggi also highlighted the importance of preparing for future challenges and ensuring young people have a greater voice in decision-making.
He called for a world “where resilience is designed before crisis arrives, and where the voices closest to the future are closest to the decisions.”
AI for Good
The focus on responsible leadership extended to AI governance, with Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, outlining the UAE's approach during a session titled “Trust Test for Agentic AI.”
Al Olama emphasised that trust in autonomous systems depends on the nature of the decisions they make and their potential consequences.
“I think the first question we need to ask is do we trust humans?” he said.
He explained that the UAE is prioritising lower-risk applications, including passport renewals, while taking a cautious approach to decisions that affect people's livelihoods and opportunities.
Outlining the country's ambitions, he said: “50% of government services need to be delivered by agents in the next two years.”
However, he stressed that implementation must reflect the risks involved.
An assessment found that around 70% of government services have some tolerance for AI-related errors, while the remaining 30% carry risks beyond acceptable levels.
To strengthen accountability, Al Olama revealed a federal oversight mechanism designed to monitor autonomous AI systems.
“We have an agent control tower on the UAE federal government side that every agent needs to plug into,” he said. The system records agents' actions and supports continuous audits by both humans and AI.
He said the UAE prioritises improvements in people's quality of life over productivity gains or financial savings. “If you are able to improve people's quality of life by deploying that agent, then you're moving in the right direction,” he said.
Al Olama also outlined clear boundaries for autonomous decision-making, particularly where people's welfare could be affected. “To us, if human livelihood is going to be affected by the agent, then it's a red line,” he stressed.
He also highlighted the responsibility of technology developers and the importance of public awareness in building confidence in AI.