In a world marked by rapid political, financial, social and technological transformation, staying ahead requires insight and foresight. Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for innovation and business means that nowhere is more relevant for global leaders in business and policy to chart the path forward. Among the first set of speakers announced are:

Sinan Ulgen, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe and Director, EDAM; Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman, Damac Group;

HE Khalfan Belhoul, CEO, Dubai Future Foundation; Mohammed Alabbar, Founder and Chairman, Emaar;

Luigo Di Maio, Special Representative for the Gulf Region, European Union;

Giorgos Gerapetritis, Foreign Minister, Greece;

Abdulaziz Al Sager, Head, Gulf Research Institute;

Deng Chao, CEO, HashKey Capital: Speaking on the ‘Deep tech at scale’ panel;

Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, International Monetary Fund: From modernizing Lebanon’s tax and customs systems in his role as Finance Minister in 2005-08 to now overseeing the IMF’s work in the Middle East, North Africa, central Asia and Caucasus;

Nasser Saidi, Politician and Economist, Former Minister of Economy and Industry, Former Vice Governor, Lebanese Central Bank, Lebanon;

Yusuff Ali, Chairman and Managing Director, Lulu Group; John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global;

Yusuf Maitama Tuggar OON, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria;

Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, CEO, Saudi Technology Ventures: The largest technology-focused venture capital firm in the Middle East and North Africa region manages a US$800 million fund;

HE Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE and Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (2008 – 2021).

The agenda covers six main themes:

Geopolitics: The Gulf, like every region in the world, finds itself adapting to significant changes on the world political stage after the “global year of elections.” Shifting trade patterns are also leading to new financial and diplomatic alliances, amid a broader shift toward deglobalization.

Economy & Markets: The Gulf is experiencing a renaissance, bucking global economic trends and growing fast – with growth expected to surge to around 4.4% in 2025, more than doubling 2024 projections.

Banking & Finance: The financial services industry in the Gulf is undergoing a significant transformation, fueled by the advances of digital technology. The Middle East public cloud market is expected to reach almost $10 billion by 2027, but challenges remain in the form of data security and privacy concerns.

Technology & AI: A focus on developing technology and AI has been a key plank of the region’s concerted push to diversify beyond oil and gas. Alongside heavy AI investment, there have been significant efforts to develop Arab-language models trained on local datasets.

Climate & Sustainability: The Gulf is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation posing significant challenges. The spotlight is on the region, and its diversification away from oil, with the UAE hosting COP28

Business Leadership: Social, political, and economic upheaval have been a constant theme around the world, and with it has come an increased need for leaders to steer a steady course and rebuild trust.

Celebrating AlUla’s timeless landscapes, deep heritage, and flourishing creative scene, the calendar offers a thoughtfully curated blend of heritage, music, art, wellness, sport, gastronomy, and community experiences, reinforcing AlUla’s emergence as one of the region’s most inspiring year-round destinations.

The AlUla Moments 2025-2026 launches in September with the return of AZIMUTH the annual music  event to mark the Saudi National Day weekend, uniting global and regional music talent with immersive performances, and cutting-edge visuals in a celebration of culture and creativity beneath AlUla’s vast open skies.

October brings a renewed focus on wellness, movement, and heritage with the return of AlUla Wellness Festival, a week-long celebration of balance and transformation. Alongside daily yoga sessions, guided meditations, and live performances, the programme introduces for the first time high-energy challenges including the AlUla Half Marathon Road Race, AlUla 24-Hour Endurance Race, AlUla Duathlon, and Ashar Valley Triathlon, alongside iconic fitness sessions with Les Mills, all inviting participants to push their limits amid breathtaking desert landscapes.

Launching in November, The Ancient Kingdoms Festival invites visitors to ‘journey through time’ and experience AlUla’s spectacular ancient sites and stories, brought to life in exciting new ways. From day-time discoveries to after-dark encounters, visitors can step into the world’s largest living museum to explore the extraordinary landscapes shaped by nature, history, and human legacy at the heart of the Incense Road. Highlights include Hegra After Dark , The Incense Road Experience, the epic Hegra Drone Show ‘Stories from the Sky’, Ikmah After Dark and Hegra Candlelit Classics concerts, featuring world-renowned international artists. An unmissable opportunity for visitors to enjoy close encounters on the sites where history was made, celebrating AlUla’s cultural legacy.

In December, Winter at Tantora returns with its beloved blend of music, gastronomy, and heritage celebration. Opening with a tribute to the Saudi Year of Handicrafts and a performance by acclaimed artist Ahlam, this year’s edition features highlights including Shorofat Tantora, Old Town Culinary Voyage, Tantora Old Town Nights, and exclusive fine dining restaurants with the return of Ducasse and Annabel’s, all set against the enchanting backdrop of AlUla’s historic oasis.

The start of 2026 is marked by world-class sporting events that spotlight equestrian excellence and endurance racing. In January, AlUla Desert Polo returns to the purpose-built sand track near AlUla’s sandstone cliffs, drawing elite players and international attention. Later that month, the AlUla Tour brings top international cyclists to the region for a multi-stage UCI Asia Tour race, showcasing AlUla’s dramatic landscapes and rising status in global sport. In February, AlFursan Endurance AlUla challenges the world’s top riders in one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions, while the AlUla Trail Race welcomes athletes from around the globe to tackle one of the region’s most scenic—and demanding—trail courses.

Returning for its fifth edition in January, AlUla Arts Festival celebrates creative expression across disciplines, transforming the landscape into a living gallery. The festival features the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla, a landmark open-air exhibition placing visionary contemporary artworks by Saudi and international artists in the dramatic desert landscape, and a major new exhibition curated by AlUla’s contemporary art museum in collaboration with the renowned Pompidou Centre, Paris. AlJadidah Arts District will again be animated by performances and programming and will feature an exhibition of contemporary AlUla-inspired design. 

The AlUla Moments 2025-2026 calendar reflects the destination’s evolution into a global stage for creative expression, human connection, and extraordinary experiences. It celebrates what makes AlUla truly unique – its culture, nature, and community – and extends a bold invitation for the world to be part of its revitalizing story.

Experience X is designed to meet the evolving demands of the current market while aligning with the nation’s agenda to nurture and empower its youth. By focusing on internships, du is providing invaluable opportunities for young talent to gain practical experience, understand the professional world, and spark their ambition for a future in various sectors.

The 12-week immersive initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application. The program offers interns structured learning plans tailored to their academic specializations and interests, while fostering both technical and soft skill development. Each intern is paired with a dedicated buddy for mentorship and support, ensuring a guided and enriching experience. Fully integrated into their teams, interns actively participate in meetings, contribute to live projects, and engage in team dynamics, gaining hands-on exposure to professional life and career opportunities.

Participants in the program will benefit from a curriculum that includes professional development, hands-on projects, and mentorship from industry leaders within du. This approach ensures the growth of the interns and the enrichment of the local talent pool, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a sustainable and diversified economy.

Pictured is Fatema Al Afeefi, Chief People & Impact Officer (Acting) at du.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of AlUla’s rugged terrain, the event offers participants an unforgettable journey through a land of dramatic desert canyons, windswept dunes, lush palm-filled valleys and storied monuments carved by time. With distances of 5km, 10km, 21.1km, and 42.2km, the race is open to all – from experienced marathoners to first-time runners looking to challenge themselves in a truly unique setting.

The event routes showcase some of AlUla’s most iconic landmarks. Runners tackling the 5km, 10km, and 21.1km distances will begin their race at Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The full marathon – 42.2km of grit and glory – begins in Hegra and passes by Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building and a symbol of AlUla’s contemporary vision.

AlUla Desert Blaze will offer race kits, refreshment zones and finish-line celebrations, that make every step of the race an unforgettable journey of triumph. The event is a cornerstone of the AlUla Moments calendar, part of an ever-evolving lineup of sports, arts, culture, sports and adventure events that offer visitors rare opportunities to connect deeply with themselves and their surroundings.

Join us for a Future of Marketing Solutions webinar from MMA Global, in partnership with Meta and BAMM Global, to uncover groundbreaking research on how this influential generation connects, consumes, and converts.

 Tuesday, July 15, 2025
 Choose your LIVE session:
→ 12:30 – 1:00 PM BST (7:30 AM – 8:00 AM EDT)
→ 12:30 – 1:00 PM EDT

What You’ll Learn:

Connection = Content 67% of Gen Z share videos to express themselves. Learn how your brand can show up in more meaningful, human ways.

Culture = Curation With 63% curating feeds around personal passions, discover how to use short-form video to reflect Gen Z’s individuality. Discovery = Seamless 78% find brands inside short videos – without clicking – and 76% say they are receptive to hearing about brands from creators. See how creators and Reels can amplify your next product launch.

As temperatures rise across the country, customers are invited to cool down and enjoy one of McDonald’s signature menu items – the Sundae, available in Caramel, Strawberry and Hot Fudge flavors, while supporting a meaningful cause. The special day reflects McDonald’s UAE’s ongoing commitment to the local community, with every Sundae purchase helping to enhance the Red Crescent Medical Center’s medical services.

The Red Crescent Medical Center is the only healthcare facility in the UAE offering free treatments to individuals, regardless of age, gender, or nationality. McHappy Day builds on McDonald’s UAE’s year-round support for the Medical Center, which includes ongoing donation through the in-store kiosks and via the McDonald’s App through Rewards Points.

McDonald’s UAE invites everyone to take part in McHappy Day on June 12 by visiting any McDonald’s UAE restaurant, or order through the McDonald’s App, to enjoy a Sundae and make a meaningful difference.

This is an exclusive opportunity to showcase your most impactful campaigns and gain recognition alongside the industry’s most innovative leaders. 

Have your marketing initiatives: 

Achieved demonstrably superior results, setting new benchmarks for success? 
Pioneered transformative strategies that redefined industry standards? 
Exhibited exceptional creativity, pushing the boundaries of marketing innovation? 

If so, we invite you to elevate your brand’s prestige through the SMARTIES™ KSA Awards, which recognize and celebrate the most groundbreaking marketing campaigns in the kingdom.

Submission On-time Deadline: Secure your advantage by submitting your entry before June 30th, 2025. The final deadline is July 18th, 2025. 

Award Categories: Explore a meticulously designed range of categories, tailored to recognize excellence across diverse marketing disciplines.  To embark on your journey towards industry recognition, please visit here
Showcase Your Marketing Excellence – Submit here!

The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Maurice Lévy, President of VivaTech and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe, and Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, at the Palace of Versailles during the Choose France Summit. This signing symbolizes a new chapter of cross-continental cooperation uniting the ambition of France and the UAE to responsibly shape the global AI agenda. The partnership will emphasize key themes such as AI at scale, sovereign technologies, and trusted innovation ecosystems, underscoring G42’s long-term commitment to building The Intelligence Grid, a globally interconnected ecosystem of infrastructure, platforms, and governance models that power responsible, sovereign, and inclusive AI.

This announcement builds on a week of deepening UAE–France AI cooperation, including G42’s strategic alliance with French open-weight AI leader Mistral AI, collaborative research efforts between Ècole Polytechnique and MBZUAI, the world’s first AI university based in Abu Dhabi, and MGX’s landmark AI investment in France. These partnerships reflect the enduring bilateral trust affirmed by the 2025 intergovernmental agreement between His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

VivaTech 2025 will take place from 11 to 14 June 2025 in Paris, marking the ninth edition of the event.

The highly anticipated event will take place on 22-23 November 2025, at Canadian University Dubai (CUD), in the heart of Downtown Dubai.

At the forefront of this movement is Ayman Yaman, a viral content creator turned entrepreneur, best known for his iconic “What do you do for a living?” videos, which have garnered over 1 billion views and 3 million followers.

Despite still being a university student, Ayman has defied industry norms by co-founding Brand Me Summit, proving that age is no barrier to launching a world-class event.

Alongside his brother Ghazy Yaman, Ayman’s expertise in digital storytelling and personal branding has shaped the region’s entrepreneurial landscape, empowering individuals to turn their presence into powerful platforms.

Brand Me Summit is the first global event dedicated entirely to personal branding as a business and career-defining asset. With the rise of digital CEOs, content creators, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs, the summit equips attendees with cutting-edge strategies to build influence, visibility, and monetizable presence across industries.

This year, AI takes centre stage, exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping content creation, business scaling, and the evolution of digital authority.

“We are bringing together the minds that redefine influence – those who turn ideas into empires and audiences into movements,” says Ghazy Yaman, co-founder and managing partner of Brand Me Summit.

Brand Me Summit’s collaboration with Canadian University Dubai signifies a bold step in bridging academic excellence with real-world innovation. By hosting the summit, CUD reinforces its commitment to providing practical experiences for students and entrepreneurs, helping them lead meaningful ventures beyond the classroom.

Building upon its monumental first edition, Brand Me Summit 2025 is expected to attract over 5,000 attendees and industry pioneers, including entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and media personalities.

Throughout the day, graduates and early-career creatives will have their work reviewed by our senior creatives, copywriters and strategists. Alongside the one-to-one reviews, we’ve added some insightful sessions on different topics, such as:

• Disruption® thinking
• The power of strategy in creative work
• Crafting standout social content
• Interview & career best-practices

All participants receive a certificate, and the strongest portfolio wins an internship at TBWA\RAAD.

Registration link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dad2/1677855.