100 diplomats join WGS-hosted 'Ambassadors' Retreat' in Dubai
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi and Omar Sultan Al Olama with dignitaries at the event.
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
Organised by the World Governments Summit in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the "Ambassadors' Retreat" hosted more than 100 ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in the UAE to share their visions on best practices to enhance international cooperation aimed at shaping future governments.
The initiative goes in line with the WGS efforts to provide a platform for diplomatic and WGS leaders to promote cooperation, and facilitate open dialogues that address global developments and proactively address challenges by designing successful innovative solutions.
The Retreat was held in the presence of Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Governments Summit, Ohood Bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future and Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit. The event witnessed participation from UAE government leaders, ambassadors, and representatives of diplomatic missions in the UAE.
During the Retreat, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi stated that the WGS is the largest global platform that transcends political differences and conflicting interests, bringing together governments, entrepreneurs, experts, and specialists in an open dialogue focused on collaboration to shape a better future for societies and and the next generations.
“The World Governments Summit embodies the visions and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to build bridges of communication between countries with the aim of achieving common goals. It further translates the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote constructive cooperation and partnerships in order to enhance dialogue channels and global communication on shaping the future of governments for the good of all societies worldwide” he added.
SHEIKH MOHAMMED'S VISION: Omar Sultan Al Olama highlighted major milestones contributiong to the success of the World Governments Summit.
Al Olama highlighted that, in 2012, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid developed his vision on establishing a global platform for shaping future governments. His Highness called on governments to convene together, and shape future paths that would enable them to find proactive solutions for the most critical challenges facing humanity.
He added that the World Governments Summit has successfully established itself as a global hub for knowledge sharing among governments, with a focus on harnessing innovation and technology to address the global challenges facing humanity. Since its inception, the WGS has hosted over 42,000 participants from more than 140 countries, including over 70 heads of state and governments and more than 2,400 speakers. Participants have joined over 1,800 interactive seminars and workshops, which reflects the global impact of the WGS as a meeting point hosting global government leaders.
“The previous edition of the WGS focused on developing strategic partnerships among governments, international organisations, and private sector innovators. Over 790 speakers participated in the sessions highlighting several key areas, including the future of AI, emerging economies, and the future of global finance. Additionally, 15 forums and 21 high-level roundtables were organised, along with 14 side events. The WGS further launched 39 strategic reports, in collaboration with its knowledge partners, think tanks, academic institutions, and research organisations, aiming to study global trends across various sectors and provide effective strategies for creating innovative government models,” he noted.
The Vice Chair of the World Governments Summit added, “The upcoming edition of the Summit, scheduled on 11 – 13 February, 2025, will discuss various themes including effective governance, finance and economics, crisis management, capacity building, readiness for upcoming health changes, and the new future outlook,” noting that “the event will host more than 110 sessions, witness the launch of 30 strategic reports and the participation from over 200 speakers, 80 representatives from international, regional, and governmental organisations, and more than 6,000 participants.
Interactive discussions
The "Ambassadors' Retreat" organised an interactive roundtable, where ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions shared their thoughts and visions on enhancing international cooperation for shaping the future and enabling a new government work ecosystem.
The roundtable, which included three discussion sessions, aimed to enhance international cooperation, explore innovative solutions for future challenges, and exchange ideas on future diplomatic and government strategies. It covered several key topics, including the role of technology in the architecture of future cities, common factors shaping the emerging global future, and accelerating the impact of the private sector in collaboration with the government.
The WGS team presented key highlights of the upcoming WGS, to be held on February 2025. They engaged with the Retreat participants in discussions to enrich the themes of the global agenda for government priorities and emerging future trends
The Ambassadors' Retreat is an annual initiative organised by the World Governments Summit Organization as part of its global mission to provide a platform for stimulating partnerships and supporting efforts for shaping the future. Within the WGS initiatives focusing on major global trends, it aims to involve stakeholders across various sectors in shaping future directions in fields most connected to human life and the future of societies.
