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

The CEO of Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, Jamal bin Huwaireb, emphasized the importance of knowledge in helping Middle Eastern societies navigate uncertainty at a recent UN General Assembly event. He argued that knowledge is a vital force that allows countries to turn challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.

Huwaireb stressed that the goal should be to emerge more resilient, prepared, and capable of learning, rather than simply returning to the status quo. The remarks were made during a conference titled "Knowledge as a Crisis Compass," organized in collaboration 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, set to take place in Dubai in November.

The global outlook, as discussed at the UNGA, is bleak, with no consensus or breakthrough on resolving global conflicts. Economic, climate, geopolitical, and technological challenges have raised concerns among diplomats and officials. Huwaireb noted that the central question today is not how to respond to crises after they occur, but how to anticipate them, mitigate their impacts, and transform lessons into new opportunities for development and innovation.

To achieve this, Huwaireb highlighted two initiatives that could advance this mission. The first is the Future Skills Academy, a project developed jointly by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and the UNDP, launched during the UNGA in 2024. This initiative aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet labor market demands and the rapid changes shaping the contemporary world.

The second initiative is the Global Knowledge Index (GKI), a tool that can assess the state of knowledge and its foundations in countries while monitoring their strengths and weaknesses that impact their ability to anticipate and respond to transformations. By providing measurable data and indicators, the GKI can assist policymakers in identifying priorities and directing investments in knowledge, skills, education, and innovation, ultimately enhancing societies' capacity to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

Huwaireb concluded that ensuring knowledge becomes accessible to every individual, society, and nation is a collective responsibility.