Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has directed that Dubai Future Week be held from 18 to 21 November 2026, bringing together more than 10,000 participants from across the world's innovation, policy and investment communities.
The event will take place across two of Dubai's most recognisable venues, Emirates Towers and the Museum of the Future, and is organised by the Dubai Future Foundation under the tagline 'For the Human of the Future.'
Who is expected to attend
Organisers expect the week to draw inventors, innovators, experts, investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, technologists and specialists from around the globe. The programme is designed to mix high-level dialogue with hands-on engagement, featuring keynote addresses, debates, fireside conversations, workshops, international challenges and competitions, idea pitches, exhibitions, immersive experiences, closed-door discussions, specialist sessions and public activations.
What sectors will be covered
Dubai Future Week's agenda spans foresight and futures thinking, artificial intelligence, healthcare, education, fintech, logistics and infrastructure, mobility, robotics and automation, policy and regulation, sport, energy, climate and sustainability, and space. The breadth reflects an effort to connect technology discussions directly to sectors that shape daily life and long-term economic planning across the UAE.
The week will also serve as an umbrella for established platforms and initiatives, including the Dubai Future Forum, Dubai AI Week, AI Grandmaster, the Dubai Foresight Awards and the Dubai Future Solutions exhibition, consolidating several of Dubai's innovation-focused events under a single calendar window.
Sheikh Hamdan's remarks
Commenting on the directive, Sheikh Hamdan said: "Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for the world's most ambitious ideas and future-focused visions – a platform where impactful partnerships and initiatives take shape, and a destination for leading minds, experts and future shapers from around the world."
He added: "Dubai calls on the world to embark on a new era of international collaboration that accelerates the use of technology in the service of people and societies. This requires directing investment and strategies towards technologies and innovations that advance human wellbeing, enhance quality of life, and help secure a better future for generations to come."
Why it matters for Dubai
For Dubai residents and businesses, the four-day gathering offers a concentrated window to engage with global experts across artificial intelligence, fintech, mobility and climate technology without leaving the city. With the event set nearly a year in advance, entrepreneurs, investors and specialists in these sectors have time to plan participation in the workshops, pitch sessions and exhibitions once further details on registration and programming are released by the Dubai Future Foundation.