Knowledge can help Middle East prepare for uncertainty, says CEO of Dubai-based foundation

Middle East leaders must embrace knowledge to anticipate, adapt and prepare for uncertainty, asserted Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, on Friday. During an event at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Huwaireb emphasized knowledge as a vital catalyst enabling nations to turn challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.

He stressed that societies cannot revert to the pre-existing state of affairs, but must emerge stronger, better prepared and more adept at learning from experiences.

The remarks came during a conference, "Knowledge as a Crisis Compass," organized in conjunction with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States and the UAE Permanent Mission for the UN. This discussion precedes the Knowledge Summit 2026 scheduled for November in Dubai.

The gloomy outlook from the UN General Assembly has highlighted the global lack of consensus or breakthrough in resolving conflicts. The convergence of economic, climate, geopolitical, and technological challenges has intensified worries among diplomats and officials present in New York City, who fear further instability.

Mr Huwaireb reiterated that the central question now is not how to respond to crises post-occurrence, but how to anticipate them, mitigate their effects, and turn the lessons into new avenues for development and innovation. He pointed to two initiatives as potential avenues for achieving this goal.

The first is the Future Skills Academy, a joint venture by MBRF and the UNDP launched at the UN General Assembly in 2024. This program aims to equip individuals with skills and knowledge necessary to meet labor market demands and the rapid transformations reshaping today's world. The second is the Global Knowledge Index (GKI), which provides measurable data and indicators to assess the state of knowledge in countries, monitor their strengths and weaknesses, and help policymakers identify priorities and allocate resources for knowledge, skills, education, and innovation. This, in turn, strengthens societies' capacity to build a resilient and sustainable future.

Mr Huwaireb emphasized that building resilient societies necessitates developing institutions that continuously learn, anticipate transformations, and adapt swiftly. He concluded by stating that ensuring knowledge becomes accessible to every individual, society, and nation is a collective responsibility.