Sharjah 24 – WAM: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, Tuesday attended the opening of the eighth edition of the Knowledge Summit.

The inaugural ceremony was held in the presence of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council.

The summit has been organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Being held under the theme ‘Knowledge Cities and the Fifth Industrial Revolution' at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 22 November, the summit will also feature a virtual session on 23 November. Experts, thought leaders, policymakers, researchers, academics, and entrepreneurs from across the globe have converged in Dubai for the event. The summit highlights Dubai’s eminence as a global catalyst for futuristic development concepts, adoption of new technologies and sustainable growth models.

The summit will highlight the significant role played by the Fifth Industrial Revolution in the development of knowledge cities alongside the fifth-generation technologies that have overhauled conventional business models. Given the indispensable nature of these technologies in shaping the future economic landscape, the event serves as the pioneering global platform for deliberating the implications of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, facilitating the exchange of ideas and knowledge and fostering collaborative efforts to devise innovative solutions that will pave the way for a more empowering and inclusive future for people all over the world.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed said that, driven by its visionary leadership, the UAE has emerged as a pioneer in knowledge-based sustainable development across diverse sectors. The nation has also prioritised investment in human capital and innovation, placing them at the forefront of its ambitious development journey, he said.

Highlighting Dubai’s experience in promoting knowledge, Sheikh Ahmed said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has made knowledge the cornerstone of the comprehensive development driving the city towards the highest levels of global leadership. The city has laid a foundation for enhancing human life and advancing performance across vital sectors critical to people’s progress and well-being. The 8th edition of the summit underscores Dubai's unwavering commitment to fostering a positive dialogue focused on exploring new knowledge horizons and helping societies around the world build a better future that realises the sustainable development goals.”

The summit will see 43 sessions on a variety of subjects including digital health, sustainable tourism strategies, educational transformation tools, building of knowledge cities, the fifth generation of educational technologies, the impact of the fifth industrial revolution on startup entrepreneurship, and the biotechnology industry, cybersecurity enchancements, and media and content creation in the AI era among others. Among other key topics of discussion will be sustainable smart solutions for the future of agricultural food security, visions for sustainable development goals in the age of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, the concept of Human Society 5.0, and strategies for converting waste into fuel, among many others.