DUBAI, Feb. 2, 2026 —Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, on Sunday attended the Young Arab Leaders Forum, held as a prelude to the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai.
The forum brought together Arab leaders and influential figures from business, entrepreneurship, government, sports innovation, culture and the arts.
Its agenda included keynote addresses and panel discussions by 15 speakers, focusing on the realities facing Arab youth, future opportunities and key challenges, as well as practical pathways to prepare young people for rapid global transformation.
The Young Arab Leaders network includes more than 700 young men and women from across the region. It seeks to foster dialogue on youth empowerment, harness potential across diverse fields and cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of driving progress in future-oriented sectors.
In his opening remarks, Khalfan Belhoul, chairman of Young Arab Leaders, said the network’s launch 20 years ago reflected the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, in empowering youth and encouraging their role in development and shaping the future.
“Arab youth do not merely dream of the future; they have the courage to shape it and the capacity to shoulder its responsibilities,” Belhoul said.
He added that investing in people remains the most valuable investment, stressing the importance of balancing technological advancement with human values. Through the initiative, he said, Young Arab Leaders aims to deliver measurable and tangible outcomes across Arab societies.
Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding in Egypt, spoke in a session titled “The Human Algorithm: Leading at Scale in the Age of AI,” highlighting the need to equip Arab youth with skills to keep pace with technological change.
A session titled “The Multiplier Effect: Aligning Sovereign, VC, and Talent” featured Abdulwahab Alrasheed, former minister of finance and minister of state for economic affairs and investment in Kuwait; Rabea Ataya, co-founder and CEO of Bayt.com; and Walid Mansour, co-founder and co-CEO of MEVP.
H.H. Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, founder and CEO of Etlaq Spaceport in Oman, and Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori participated in “The Space Silk Road: Launching Sovereign Ambition from Arab Soil,” moderated by Mohamed Al Kaabi, executive director of the Ajman Government Media Office.
Other sessions addressed digital and physical design, circular economy models and sustainable development. The forum concluded with a session by Fadi Ghandour, chairman of Wamda, titled “The Post-Infrastructure Leader: Building Grit in an AI-Native World,” focusing on preparing youth for future challenges.
Looking ahead, the Young Arab Leaders initiative aims to roll out future-focused projects and support impactful initiatives by leveraging the expertise of its members to empower the next generation of Arab leaders.
The board of directors includes representatives from across the Arab world, reflecting the initiative’s regional scope and collaborative approach.
