Dubai to Train New Generation of Future Disruptors Through ‘FEEL’ Program

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (July 4, 2025) — The Dubai Future Academy, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), has opened applications for the second edition of “FEEL: A Disruptive Futures Program,” aimed at training local and global talent to navigate disruption and enhance future readiness.

Applications are open until July 31 at dubaifuture.ae/feel-2025.

The four-week program, which begins Oct. 20, will be led by world-class experts. It targets executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and specialists, offering tools to anticipate and leverage transformative change. Participants will explore Dubai’s innovation ecosystem through interactive workshops, strategic field visits, collaborative projects and networking with global thought leaders.

“The ‘FEEL: A Disruptive Futures Program’ helps participants keep pace with rapid transformations across all sectors driven by advances in technology and innovation,” said Abdulaziz AlJaziri, deputy CEO and chief operations officer at DFF. “The second edition focuses on uncovering future opportunities and transforming them into tangible realities, supporting prosperity, sustainable development and enriching human capital.”

The program provides training in futures foresight, advanced technologies and critical thinking, preparing participants to anticipate emerging trends and innovations.

The first edition in 2024 drew nearly 1,500 applications from about 100 countries, with 42 participants from 15 nations ultimately selected. Over four weeks, they engaged in 33 interactive workshops, hands-on experiences and discussion sessions.

Global experts

This year’s participants will engage directly with leading global experts, including:

Prof. Oussama Khatib, recipient of the Great Arab Minds Award for Technology, Stanford University
Prof. Sohail Inayatullah, Tamkang University, Taiwan
Alyaa Al Mulla, founder, Longevity Think Tank
Dr. Steven Novella, associate professor of clinical neurology, Yale School of Medicine
Dr. Brad Stanfield, preventive medicine specialist, University of Auckland
David Bucca, founder and CEO, Change Foods
Guillaume Verdon, founder and CEO, Extropic
Prof. Paul Newman, founder, Oxford Robotics Institute
Dr. Mohammed Qassem and Dr. Heba Shehadeh, Dubai Future Foundation

Experts will lead sessions on robotics, autonomous vehicles, longevity and health optimization, lab-grown foods, futures foresight and the development of advanced AI chips.

Exclusive visits

Participants will also make strategic visits to innovation hubs such as the Technology Innovation Institute, Micropolis (autonomous vehicle manufacturer), the Sustainability and Innovation Centre at Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park, Dubai Future Labs and other key sites.

These visits aim to provide firsthand exposure to the UAE’s latest technological advances and help participants engage directly with transformative innovations.

Dubai Future Academy continues to focus on empowering leaders and talent with future-focused skills to keep pace with global trends and challenges.

For more information or to apply, visit www.dubaifuture.ae/feel-2025.