Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Resilience, sustainability, and emerging technologies are key in are reshaping the future of cities in the region, said experts during the second edition of the Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit in Abu Dhabi.
At the opening, Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, said the summit highlights the role of technology, innovation, and collaboration in building more resilient economies, sustainable cities, and prosperous societies, while bringing together leaders and investors to help shape the future.
Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, noted that recent regional challenges had demonstrated the strength of the UAE's long-term planning and investment strategy.
He indicated that electricity and water supplies, oil exports, ports, government services, and businesses continued operating without disruption throughout the crisis.
In turn, this strengthened investor confidence in the UAE's institutions, infrastructure, and leadership.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the summit, Al Olama said preparing for the future rests on two key priorities: diversifying energy sources and leveraging emerging technologies.
"Today, as you can see, the UAE's energy sources include solar, wind, fossil fuels, and nuclear power. This is a crucial element in ensuring the resilience of the country's energy system," he said.
Al Olama added that AI is becoming central to improving efficiency, productivity, and service delivery across sectors.
"I am 100% certain that the way the world operates will change within just one year," he said, noting that the ministry isexploring technologies that could reduce energy consumption in data centres by up to 40%, while also advancing projects related to energy data management and microgrids.
Also speaking to Aletihad, industry experts drew attention to the UAE's and world-class infrastructure and a business-friendly environment.
Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman, Danube Group, said the UAE continues to attract investors due to severel factors.
"The UAE remains one of the best places in the world to live, work, and do business because of its strong infrastructure, connectivity, education system, and business-friendly environment."
He said the country's resilience during recent regional challenges reflects the strength of its leadership and long-term planning.
"Despite regional geopolitical tensions, the UAE has demonstrated exceptional resilience, with businesses, transport networks, hospitals, and essential services continuing to operate normally. This stability reflects the visionary leadership."
Abdulla Al Abdouli, Group CEO, Marjan, said that future urban development must balance innovation, sustainability, and long-term resilience.
"The focus is on creating developments that are equipped with advanced infrastructure, technology, and artificial intelligence while ensuring sustainability, preserving the environment, and maintaining a strong identity."
Carlos Wakim, Chief Executive Officer of Bloom Holding, said the future of urban development will be defined by long-term value, human-centric design, and integrated communities.
"Successful urban development will be defined by long-term value, not scale alone. Cities are evolving rapidly, and developers are increasingly expected to create complete, human-centric environments that support how people live, connect, work, and thrive."
Roudha Al Marri, Managing Partner of Vision United, said the UAE's combination of visionary leadership, world-class infrastructure, and a pro-business environment continues to make it one of the world's most attractive investment destinations: "The next phase of growth will be driven by AI, technology, sustainable infrastructure, tourism, and advanced industries."
Roula Skaff, Sales Manager, at One Development and Feriel Dridi, Sales Director at One Development, said AI is moving beyond traditional smart-home applications and is becoming a key driver of future urban living.
They noted that AI is increasingly being used to understand residents' habits and personalise services; this is while improving efficiency across operations, security and community management.
Further, they said emerging technologies such as drones, air taxis, and AI-enabled mobility solutions could become part of future urban ecosystems, supported by advances in digital infrastructure.
