First organised in 2013, the WGS has served as a platform to promote knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences among policymakers, businesses, and experts in many fields. According to Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, over the past 11 years, the summit has been a place to "incubate" many ideas and honour successfully applied initiatives. The UAE leader believes that through the WGS, the countries can turn people's aspirations into reality.
The UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of WGS said that this year's summit reflects the UAE leadership's vision of shaping the future and promoting positive changes in the world. According to the UAE Cabinet Minister, this WGS attracted more than 4,000 attendees, including more than 20 heads of state and heads of government and leaders of nearly 30 international and regional organisations.
During the WGS, numerous speakers shared insights in many fields at 15 forums, more than 100 dialogue sessions and 23 ministerial-level meetings. Based on the results achieved in this dense programme, the summit plans to publish strategic reports on current practical issues, as well as future development trends.
The WGS agenda focuses on issues of special interest to participating parties. In the context where rapid technology development brings both opportunities and challenges, many countries are accelerating digital transformation and seeking to narrow the digital gap to ensure that the benefits from this effort reach all parts of society, thereby ensuring comprehensive development.
The WGS believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will be one of the factors with the potential to impact many aspects on a global scale. Therefore, the introduction of regulations for AI, the responsible development of AI and keeping up with emerging technology trends will be the tasks facing governments, regional and international organisations, as well as technology companies.
At the event in Dubai right before the WGS, International Monetary Fund (IMF) General Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the current instability puts more pressure on economies recovering from previous economic shocks. In this context, adaptation and innovation are essential for economies to maintain competitiveness. Grasping new technologies and business models to take advantage of growth opportunities is considered a measure to build a prosperous and resilient economy in the near future. These contents are highlighted at many events within the framework of the WGS.
The goal of sustainable development is always on the agenda of multilateral organisations and forums, and the WGS is no exception. According to the WGS, sustainability is reshaping global governance, especially in ensuring food, water and energy security. Awareness of the importance, as well as the effective management and use of these precious resources, needs to be further enhanced by governments, businesses and individuals to ensure long-term prosperity. Within the WGS framework, the delegates also discussed many important areas, such as health, education, and urbanisation.
Current difficulties can only be resolved through commitments and actions with a common vision of bringing the world to a safer and more prosperous future. Starting from this vision, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that the country continues to make further efforts to promote cooperation among governments around the world. Demonstrating the UAE's responsibility, the WGS is a call for all parties to engage in dialogue, share experiences and invest in initiatives to address development challenges and meet people's aspirations for a better life in the future.
