The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted two senior executives from Dubai Future Foundation. Mr. Saeed Al Falasi, Executive Director of Future Platforms, and Ms. Jessica Bland, Head of Foresight and Research, met with senior executives representing American ICT, financial services, and infrastructure companies on May 1, 2018 in Dubai. Mr. Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, opened the coffee and conversation session by providing an overview of Dubai’s successful diversification strategies and how U.S. companies continue to play a leading role in these efforts.

Mr. Al Falasi then provided an in-depth presentation followed by a discussion highlighting the latest developments taking place at Dubai Future Foundation. Mr. Al Falasi also stressed the importance of U.S. technologies in the development of Dubai and outlined opportunities for these companies to help address current and future challenges.

“Dubai Future Foundation was created to realize the highly ambitious goals set out by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the most advanced city in the world,” said Mr. Al Falasi. “Many of you are here today because of your belief in achieving these goals, and Dubai is the city that provides your companies a chance to show the world what you are truly capable of.”

L to R: President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, Danny Sebright, with Dubai Future Foundation’s Head of Foresight and Research, Jessica Bland, and the Executive Director of Future Platforms, Saeed Measam Al Falasi

Mr. Sebright added, “American companies’ state-of-the-art technologies combined with Dubai’s absence of legacy infrastructure, have helped modernize the city of Dubai well beyond anything in the region in less than a decade. In fact, I believe Dubai will eventually become the biggest and most important global hub for cutting edge innovation.”

Following Mr. Al Falasi’s presentation and discussion, Ms. Bland provided an in-depth presentation highlighting Dubai’s Museum of the Future. The Museum, opening in 2019, is set to become the world’s largest and most exciting way to discover tomorrow’s trends and opportunities.

Mr. Sebright lauded Dubai Future Foundation’s remarkable achievements before opening the floor to a Q&A session. Attendees were interested in learning more about some of Dubai Future Foundation’s initiatives including Dubai 10X, Dubai Future Accelerators, Dubai Future Academy, and Global Blockchain Council.

Dubai Future Foundation was launched to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Dubai alongside the launch of Dubai Future Agenda as a roadmap for the Foundation to create a medium and long term strategic plan in cooperation with government and private-sector entities.