The coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a wave of change affecting every aspect of life from work to social interaction to education. In a Business Council videoconference held on 9 June 2020, Dubai’s leading strategic thinkers, Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation and Noah Raford, Futurist-in-Chief and Chief of Global Affairs at Dubai Future Foundation, charted a path forward while also sharing foresight into the broader future of business globally. Titled, “The Post-Pandemic Future: A Discussion on the Future of Work, Entrepreneurship, and Education,” the videoconference provided attendees with guidance in navigating the challenges and opportunities of a post-pandemic world.

Drawing from the Dubai Future Foundation‘s series of reports on “Life after COVID-19,” Mr. Belhoul and Dr. Raford shared the importance of organizational agility in an era shaped by remote work, while also emphasizing the importance of in-person interaction to spurring innovation. The panelists then spoke to the future of the U.A.E.’s regulatory framework governing the use of VPN and VoIP platforms for business communication and touched on the future of fintech in the U.A.E.. Conversation also focused on what the future holds for Dubai’s startup ecosystems, including Dubai Future Accelerators. Throughout the videoconference, Mr. Belhoul and Dr. Raford urged the Business community to view the  Dubai Future Foundation as a lab for the U.A.E. and for the world. 

The Dubai Future Foundation, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum in 2016, is a leading authority in designing and reimagining the future of Dubai. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Dubai Future Foundation has collaborated with government and private entities to create a vision and road map for the Emirate. 

The video call was attended by over 200 senior executives from leading American and Emirati companies as well as by U.S. and U.A.E. government officials. 

Find a video of the event here.

This videoconference comes as part of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s ongoing series, “Looking Ahead: Conversations with U.S. and U.A.E. Business and Government Leaders.” For more information about this series and an exciting slate of upcoming events, please contact the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council’s head of communications Mary Zuccarello at mzuccarello@usuaebusiness.org.