Museum of the Future and Dubai Municipality launch Urban Future Week

The Museum of the Future, in partnership with Dubai Municipality, inaugurated Urban Future Week, welcoming thought leaders, officials, experts, decision-makers and participants from the UAE and around the world. The event highlights how innovation is transforming urban governance and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of cities in the face of digital and climate transitions.

Held on 10–11 November under the theme ‘Redefining the Future of Cities and Communities - Co-creating Our Future City’, the two-day event features speakers from around the world, offering a global platform for practical dialogue and forward-thinking urban solutions. 

The programme includes specialised sessions, workshops and interactive showcases that underscore Dubai’s position as a global centre for smart urban planning and future-city design.

Al Dahak: The UAE is developing a global model for urban sustainability rooted in innovation governance and technology to enhance wellbeing

Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, delivered a keynote address during Urban Future Week, emphasising that the UAE is developing a global model for urban sustainability built on innovation, governance and the use of technology to enhance community wellbeing.

Her Excellency said: “Our leadership in the UAE has adopted a human-centred path to development, which forms the foundation of our national strategies and projects.
We are designing a future where innovation becomes the bridge reconnecting us with the ecosystems that sustain life. This commitment is reflected in our urban planning, where green building standards and energy-efficient infrastructure enhance comfort, health, and safety in our homes and workplaces, while supporting efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change for our shared future.

For decades, economies have relied on resource consumption to drive growth. Today, we understand that this path is no longer viable, and that we can achieve prosperity without harming the environment. Together, we can forge a future, where cities can thrive in harmony with our planet, and most importantly with each other.”

Bin Ghalita: A platform to explore urban governance and smart city management
His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said in his opening remarks: “Urban Future Week provides a platform to explore the future of urban governance and smart city management, and to strengthen government integration to transform challenges into opportunities that advance Dubai’s position as a model city of the future.

“In an era of rapid global transformation, we are guided by the vision His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who reminds us that “the future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. It isn't something you await, but rather create.”
His Excellency stressed that government integration is a key pillar in achieving Dubai’s vision to be the world’s best city to live, work, and visit, and in cementing its position as the most beautiful, vibrant, and human-centred city globally.

He added: “Through this event, Dubai Municipality reaffirms its firm commitment to enhancing agile governance models and developing forward-looking municipal practices grounded in innovation and sustainability. Our focus is on transformative shifts, from smart cities to predictive cities, and on designing quality-of-life experiences that place people at the heart of all urban planning and projects, ensuring an integrated urban experience that enhances the wellbeing, happiness, and quality of life of Dubai’s residents.”

Belhoul: Dubai is a global laboratory for designing the future of cities and sustainable urban governance.

His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said:
“This event, organised by the Museum of the Future in collaboration with Dubai Municipality, reflects the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration in building more resilient cities ready for the transformations ahead.

“In a world facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities in technology, governance, climate and society, foresight and experimentation are essential tools for designing practical, real-world solutions.

“In partnership with Dubai Municipality, we are bringing together experts and thought leaders from around the world to develop urban models that are more integrated and human centred. We aspire for the outcomes of this event to act as a launchpad for new projects and partnerships that will help cities adapt and grow, further reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global platform and living laboratory for shaping the future of sustainable urban governance.”

Urban Systems, Governance and Innovation
Day One of Urban Future Week, held under the theme ‘Urban Systems, Governance & Innovation’, explored ways to strengthen cities’ readiness for the future by enhancing institutional resilience and building adaptive, responsive systems.

Participants discussed strategies to enhance governance, decision intelligence, and anticipatory planning for the future of key sectors.

Key Discussion Themes
The sessions covered major themes including future readiness, digital infrastructure, smart systems, and the integration of open data, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics to support local decision-making, highlighting the role of experimental governance models in improving quality of life and service efficiency.

Urban planning experts and programme directors presented papers outlining solutions to strengthen institutional resilience, assess urban service readiness, and accelerate cross-sector responses through decision-intelligence frameworks. The discussions also addressed integrating digital infrastructure with local governance to enhance operational efficiency and adopting participatory design approaches that engage communities and the private sector in shaping public spaces. Case studies from Dubai showcased emerging trends in sustainability and urban technology through projects that reflect the city’s forward-looking vision.

Urban Future Week Speakers
Day One also featured a distinguished lineup of experts and leaders including H.E. Matar AlHemeiri, CEO of Digital Dubai Government Establishment; Major General Khalid Al Razooqi, Director, General Department of Artificial Intelligence, Dubai Police; Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President at TECOM Group PJSC; Yasser Ahmed, Vice President, Digital Energy, Schneider Electric Gulf Countries; and Ahmed Bukhash, Founder, Archidentity.

Day Two: Digital Cities and the Future of Communities
The event continues on its second day (Tuesday, 11 November) under the theme ‘Digital Cities and the Future of Communities’, highlighting the role of digital systems, innovative design, and public-private partnerships in creating more connected, inclusive, and resilient urban environments. The day features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and interactive presentations.

A Global Meeting Point for Innovation
Urban Future Week serves as a global meeting point for policymakers, communities, and economic sectors to drive innovation in cities and design more intelligent, human-centred environments. The event aims to generate tangible outcomes, including the enhancement of public-private collaboration, the launch of new initiatives in smart infrastructure and sustainable urban planning, and the development of a comprehensive impact report summarising key ideas and recommendations to support decision-makers in shaping more adaptive and future-ready urban policies,  aligned with the UAE’s national priorities and Dubai’s vision as a global platform for building the cities of the future.