More than 100 speakers from around the world will explore the role of young people in building the knowledge economy of the future at the upcoming Knowledge Summit in Dubai, UAE.

Organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) the fifth Knowledge Summit will take place on December 5 and 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of MBRF chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Summit bears the theme: “Youth and the Future of the Knowledge Economy” and tackles the topic of the knowledge economy.

Jamal bin Huwaireb, MBRF’s CEO, said: “Speakers at the 2018 Knowledge Summit include influential experts from all around the world specialising in the foundations and components of the knowledge economy, as well as specialists with insight into the youth sector in the Arab region and the world. Each speaker brings a wealth of experience to the Summit, as well as success stories in their respective fields.”

He will speak at the Summit’s opening ceremony, which will bring him together with Mourad Wahba, assistant administrator and director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at (UNDP). The session will include revealing the results of the Global Knowledge Index 2018 and honouring winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award (MBRKA).

In the session titled “The Youth: Leaders of Change towards a Knowledge Economy”, Princess Sumaya Bint Al Hassan, chair of the Princess Sumaya University for Technology; Mohammad Abu Rumman, Jordan’s Minister of Culture and Youth, and Syed Saddiq, Youth and Sports Minister of Malaysia, will discuss ways to develop young people’s talents to empower them to face challenges and build the economy of the future today.

Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, director general of the National Media Council (NMC), meanwhile, joins Sheikha Fawz Al Sabah from Crowd Creative House; Abdel-Mohsen Salama, head of the Egyptian Press Syndicate; and Ali Jaber, dean of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Communication at American University of Dubai (AUD) and Group TV director at MBC, to explore the topic of “Media and How It Influences and Gets Influenced by Knowledge Economy”.

Speakers also include Prof Dr Boris Cizelj, president of the Knowledge Economy Network, in a session titled “Knowledge Economy Between Past, Present and Future”. Meanwhile, Laureates of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Knowledge Award are also on the list of speakers, along with David Bennett, member of the Advisory Committee of MBRKA.

In addition, Dr Habib Al Mulla, executive chairman of Baker & McKenzie Habib Al Mulla; Dr Mansoor Abdul Rahman Al-Osaimi, director of the Legislation Department – The General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee; and Ludmila Yamalova, managing partner at HPL Yamalova & Plewka; convene in a panel discussion on The Role of Legislation in Empowering Knowledge Economy, while Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises; Dr Shams Kassim-Lakha, chairman of the Board at UCA; and Shiza Shahid, co-founder of Malala Fund; take part in a session titled “Good for Knowledge”.

The Future of Knowledge Model is the topic of discussion for the panel bringing together Leif Edvinsson, Professor of Knowledge Capital at Lund University, Sweden; and Prof. Jan Sturesson, strategic advisor, International Public Speaker, and founder of RESTING – Advice from the Future. Meanwhile, Simon Galpin, managing director at Bahrain Economic Development Board; and Khalifa Al Shamsi, chief digital services officer at Etisalat Group; take part in a session moderated by Tom Goodwin, EVP of Innovation at Zenith Media; tackling the subject “Digital Economy and Knowledge Economy: Rivalry or Alliance?”.

A session titled “Digital Libraries and the Future of Knowledge Economy” brings together Dr Khaled Abdelfattah Mohamed, director of DDL & Digital Content; Dr Abdulla Al-Hefeiti, dean of Library at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST); Dr Detlef Klomfass, JTM executive director; and Dr. Saud Al Salahi, director General of Saudi Digital Library.

Raed Safadi, chief economic advisor at the Department of Economic Development in Dubai; Adam Greenfield, urbanist and author; and Dr Boris Cizelj, president of the Knowledge Economy Network, debate the “Knowledge Economy in Future Cities”.

The choice of theme for the Knowledge Summit 2018 reiterates MBRF’s commitment to synchronising the Summit with the UAE Government’s plans and strategies, which consistently seek to empower the youth and engage them in national development plans. The Summit brings together decision makers and experts to explore new ideas and global trends, as well as their role in the decision-making process and effect on people’s lives. – TradeArabia News Service