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FEEL : A Disruptive Futures Program
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About the Program

Spanning four weeks, this global training program is aligned with Dubai's strategy to enhance individuals' readiness to prepare for and lead the future. The program aims to elevate the participants' intellectual and experiential capacities. It includes keynote speeches by world-renowned global and local visionaries and experts in a wide range of fields, experiences in forefront disruptive innovations, and visits to national tech labs and major innovative organizations.

FEEL is more than a leadership programme — it’s a long-term investment in shaping future-ready mindsets. With this initiative, we are building both national and global capacity, preparing a new generation of leaders to navigate uncertainty, anticipate change, and act with purpose. Successful leadership is no longer about forecasting the future — it’s about experiencing it, and actively experimenting with it, firsthand. By embedding innovation and foresight at the core of decision-making, FEEL empowers individuals with the tools, insights, and connections to drive impact across governments, industries, and societies.”

His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation
Who we are looking for?
This program is tailored for the world’s movers and shakers: mid to top-level executives, entrepreneurs bursting with ideas, innovators at the forefront of change, thought leaders shaping the narrative, policymakers crafting our future, government officials driving progress, industry specialists with deep insights, angel investors ready to bet on the next big thing, and venture capitalists fueling groundbreaking ventures.

Professional Background

Mid to top-level executives, entrepreneurs, change-makers, thought leaders, policymakers, investors, industry experts, or venture capitalists

Nationality

Open to all nationalities with a global mindset and international perspective

Leadership Experience

Minimum of 5 years in a leadership role with demonstrable impact and achievement

Language Proficiency

Fluent in spoken and written English to facilitate collaborative discussions and networking

Time Commitment

Ready to commit for the whole duration of the program (1 full month) with full engagement

Fees AED 45,000 per participant

Program Objectives
01

This program develops the next generation of visionary leaders where participants will gain cutting edge insights in futures foresight and Emerging Frontiers & Moon Shot Innovations from world renowned experts.

02

Participants will be immersed in hands-on experiences with exclusive field trips to Dubai's innovation hubs and labs.

03

Participants will get exposure to groundbreaking technologies where they will internalize and feel the impact of these advancements.

Immersive Experiences
Lab visits and hands-on experiences
Field trips and industry visits
Practical Projects with positive impact
Activities focusing on health and longevity
Networking Opportunities
Our World Class Facilitators

Prof. Oussama Khatib

Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Robotics Center

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Prof. Sohail Inayatullah

UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies, IIUM – Tamkang University, Metafuture.Org, IIUM

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Dr. Steven Novella

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Yale University

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Prof. Paul Newman

President, Founder & CTO of Oxa

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Dr. Firas Khatib

Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

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Dr. Mohamed Qasem

Dean of the Dubai Future Academy

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Dr. Heba Chehade

Foresight Lead, Dubai Future Foundation

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Dr. Brad Stanfield

Medical Doctor, University of Auckland

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Dr. Guillaume Verdon​

CEO and Founder of Extropic

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Dr. Valentyn Volkov

Co-founder, Scientific Partner of XPANCEO

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Dr. Alexey Slobozhanyuk

Advisory Board Member at XPANCEO

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Ben Nowack

CEO of Reflect Orbital

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David Bucca

Founder and CEO of Change Foods

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Andrea Prazakova

Founder & CEO of Brain Gym

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Meabh Quoirin

CEO and Co-Owner of Foresight Factory

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Adam Ashcroft

Founder and CEO of the Advantage Coach

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Alyaa Al Mulla

Founder of Longevity Think Tank

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Edward Salmon

CEO & Founder of PINKFISH

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Dima Boulad

Head of Design Research, Dubai Design Lab

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Turan Malik

Chief Strategy Officer, Dubai Future Foundation

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Dima AlSrouri

Founder & Director at Biospheric City Lab and MycoSphere

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Quddus Pativada

Founder & CEO of ASI

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Omar Al Suwaidi

Lieutenant Colonel Deputy Director of Future Foresight Center, Dubai Police

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Amer Abdulraoof

Executive Director, Special Projects Department, Dubai Future Foundation

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Saeed AlFalasi

Executive Director, Dubai Future Foundation and Director, Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence

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Nader Al Bastaki

Managing Director, Dubai Future District Fund

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Isabella Pirolo

Senior Projects Manager at the Dubai Future Foundation

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Jan Neutze

Director of Sandbox at the Dubai Future Foundation

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Ola Issa

Principal, Najmara

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Eman Ebed Alkadi

Head of Foresight Networks

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Cedric Betis

Wellness Advisor & Consultant at the Dubai Future Foundation

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Tiago Henriques

EMEA Head of AI/ML, Customer Engineering, Google Cloud

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Ahmad El Sayed

Public Sector Lead – Google Cloud – UAE, Levant and North Africa

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Stephan Muller

Marketing Director for WHOOP

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Field Trips
Museum of the Future
Dubai
Future Labs
Joby
Aviation
DEWA's Sustainability and Innovation Centre
Technology Innovation Institute (TII)
Micropolis
Robotics
Application Stages
The program’s selection process aims to embrace diversity in perspectives and backgrounds, recognizing that the richest learning comes from converging different ideas and experiences. This is where the magic happens—where a melting pot of visions and expertise sets the stage for unparalleled success and innovation.
Our selection journey is thorough and comprehensive. It is designed to ensure that every participant is both a contributor and a beneficiary of the rich learning ecosystem we’ve curated. Here’s how it unfolds:
Application Stages - Animated
1
Apply for the Program
Kickstart your adventure by throwing your hat in the ring. Show us what makes you tick and why you're ready to take this leap.
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2
Profile assessment and Interview
Next, we dive into your details through background checks, assessments and interviews. We come to know you beyond the paper. We will understand your passions, achievements, and how you envision your future.
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3
Onboarding
Once you've cleared the previous steps, you're officially part of the family. At this stage, you sign an NDA and an agreement to commit to the program. Our onboarding process is your bridge into this exciting new world, setting you up for success from day one.

Registration is now closed.

Application Deadline

10 August 2025

Program Start Date

20 October 2025

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Oussama Khatib

Roboticist and a professor of computer science at Stanford University
Oussama Khatib received his PhD from Sup’Aero, Toulouse, France, in 1980. He is Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Robotics Center (SRC). His research focuses on methodologies and technologies in human-centered robotics, haptic interactions, artificial intelligence, and human motion synthesis. Professor Khatib is President of the International Foundation of Robotics Research (IFRR) and an IEEE Fellow. He is Editor of the Springer STAR and SPAR series, Springer Handbook of Robotics, and Springer Encyclopedia of Robotics. He is a recipient of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Pioneering Award, the George Saridis Leadership Award, and the Distinguished Service Award. Professor Khatib is recipient of the Japan Robot Association (JARA) Award, the Rudolf Kalman Award, and the IEEE Technical Field Award. He is Knight of the French National Order of Merit and a member of the United Sates National Academy of Engineering. Professor Khatib is recipient of the 2024 Great Arab Minds Award.
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Prof. Sohail Inayatullah

UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies, IIUM - Tamkang University, Metafuture.Org, IIUM
Professor Sohail Inayatullah is the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, IIUM. He is a political scientist/futurist at Tamkang University, Taipei and an Associate at Melbourne Business School, the University of Melbourne. In 2021, he was Futurist-in-Residence (virtual) for the Government of Abu Dhabi. From 2011- 2014 he was an Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Policing, Counterterrorism, and Intelligence, Macquarie University, Sydney. In 1999, he was the UNESCO Chair in European Studies at the University of Trier, Germany. He is listed in the top 2 percent of the world’s scientists as measured by the highest impact of citations.

Inayatullah has authored and co-edited twenty-eight books, including: Understanding Sarkar (2002), CLA 3.0: Thirty Years of Transformative Research (2022); From Anticipation to Emancipation (2022); The End of the Cow and other Emerging issues (2022); Futures Thinking in Asia and the Pacific (2020) and What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight (2015).
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Dr. Steven Novella

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Yale University
Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Yale University Dr. Novella has been active in scientific skepticism since founding the New England Skeptical Society in 1996. He is an internationally recognized science communicator who has spent years investigating paranormal claims, conspiracy theories, and exposing pseudoscience. He is the host of the award-winning science podcast, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, which tackles science news and controversies in an engaging and entertaining format. He authors the award-winning NeuroLogica blog, which covers neuroscience, general science, scientific skepticism, critical thinking, and the intersection of science with the media. He is the founding and senior editor and regular contributor to Science-Based Medicine, an influential medical blog dedicated to issues of science and medicine. He is the author of three books, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe about critical thinking and science, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Future about futurism and technology, and the audio book, The Skeptics’ Guide to Alternative Medicine. He has produced two video courses for The Teaching Company, including Medical Myths and Your Deceptive Mind. Dr. Novella is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Yale University, with subspeciality certification in neuromuscular and headache medicine. His knowledge of neuroscience has been critical to his work in promoting critical thinking.
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Paul Newman

President, Founder & CTO of Oxa
Paul Newman is Co-Founder & CTO at Oxa, the universal autonomy software company. He creates and leads teams building the technology that will drive the next generation of autonomous vehicles.His pioneering approach to autonomy is being successfully harnessed for real-world application at Oxa – on roads in four continents, down mines, across warehouses and around airports. With a global reputation as a creator and innovator of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, Paul is also bp Professor of Information Engineering at the University of Oxford, and Founder of the Oxford Robotics Institute.
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Dr. Firas Khatib

Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Firas Khatib is interested in engaging the public to help us solve difficult scientific problems, such as by harnessing the collective brainpower of humans worldwide to tackle critical problems posed in computational biology. Since 2008, Firas has been the lead scientist on the protein folding citizen science game Foldit. The long term goal of this citizen science project is to utilize the combined power of humans and computers in order to build accurate models of disease-related proteins by introducing a new approach: distributed computing driven by human intuition.
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Dr. Mohamed Qasem

Dean of the Dubai Future Academy
Dr. Mohamed Qasem is Dean of the Dubai Future Academy. He previously worked in the Electronics department at the College of Technological Studies (CTS) at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). He specialises in Artificial Neural Networks and Deep Learning, and his expertise are in optimization and data compression. He also worked as a consultant to the Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) advancing science communications. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Digital School in the United Arab Emirates. He was selected by Nature Middle East as one of six science communicators to follow. He communicates science through his public lectures delivered around the world, TV programs, the Sciware podcast and his social media accounts.
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Dr. Heba Chehade

Foresight Lead, Dubai Future Foundation
Dr. Heba Chehade is a Foresight Lead at the Dubai Future Foundation, where she uses research and innovation to explore, develop and unpack globally relevant futures for growth, prosperity, and well-being. Heba also makes policy recommendations that focus on future possibilities, grounded in comprehensive research and multidisciplinary narratives. In her role at the Dubai Future Foundation, Heba identifies and analyses signals that shape future opportunities across various sectors, including the economy, engineering, environment, government, health, manufacturing, social sciences, and technology. Besides leading and advising on related strategic projects, programmes and initiatives, her research interests include the nexus of innovation, business and society.
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Brad Stanfield

Medical Doctor, University of Auckland
Dr Brad Stanfield is a Family Medicine Physician based in Auckland, New Zealand. He is deeply committed to advancing preventative care—helping patients avoid preventable conditions through proactive, evidence-based strategies. These strategies help people look and feel much younger than their age. Dr Stanfield runs a YouTube channel, now followed by over 275,000 subscribers, where he shares the latest clinical guidelines, research findings, and practical health tips to empower both patients and healthcare professionals. His research portfolio includes multiple peer-reviewed studies, and he is presently leading a clinical trial exploring the effects of Rapamycin combined with exercise on muscle performance and sarcopenia in older adults—to address age-related decline in muscle function.
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Guillaume Verdon

CEO and Founder of Extropic
Gill Verdon founded Extropic, an AI hardware company, in 2022 to meet the demanding power and computation requirements of generative AI. Extropic is commercializing a novel approach to computing called thermodynamic computing, resulting in far more energy-efficient and performant processors for AI. Gill is also known under his pseudonym “Beff Jezos” online, spearheading a techno-progressive movement known as “e/acc”, where he initiates conversations on civilizational progress and technology’s impact on society. Previously, Gill spearheaded physics and AI research and development at Alphabet X, where he co-created TensorFlow Quantum (TFQ) in collaboration with NASA and Google. Gill did his PhD work and earned his Masters of Mathematics from the Institute for Quantum Computing and Perimeter Institute at the University of Waterloo.
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Valentyn Volkov

Co-founder, Scientific Partner of XPANCEO
Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov is a globally recognized physicist and optics innovator, ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists with over 250 publications, an h-index of 43, and more than 10,000 citations. His research explores how nanostructured materials can be engineered to enable new capabilities in optics, sensing, and seamless human–device interaction. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Aalborg University (Denmark) in 2003. After holding academic positions across Denmark, including the University of Southern Denmark, he transitioned to frontier innovation in wearable photonics and quantum sensing. Since 2021, Dr. Volkov has served as co-founder and scientific partner at XPANCEO, where he leads the development of a revolutionary smart contact lens – an invisible, weightless computing platform integrating augmented vision, biosensing, and ambient interfaces. He also directs XPANCEO’s Emerging Technologies Research Center in the UAE. His work spans 2D materials, van der Waals heterostructures, metasurfaces, and ultra-thin optics for applications in displays, solar energy, and biosensing. At FEEL, he will share how advanced optical materials are enabling a new generation of seamless computing – from enhanced night vision to real-time health monitoring – paving the way for embedded, human-centered technologies.
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Alexey Slobozhanyuk

Advisory Board Member at XPANCEO
Dr. Alexey Slobozhanyuk is a physicist, inventor, and deep-tech innovator with over 15 years of experience advancing electromagnetic materials and their real-world applications. He founded a health tech startup developing next-generation MRI systems for early breast cancer detection and serves as a Scientific Advisor at XPANCEO, a UAE-based company building seamless smart contact lens computing. He holds a PhD in Physics from the Australian National University and has led global R&D programs across Australia, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. His research focuses on microwave metamaterials, wireless energy transfer, and medical diagnostic technologies. Dr. Slobozhanyuk has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers, filed 8 patents, and was ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier. He co-founded a nanophotonics research department with over 450 scientists and has played a key role in shaping innovation strategies at leading institutions. A graduate of the FEEL 2024 program at the Dubai Future Foundation, he brings the perspective of a first-generation graduate and explores how electromagnetic materials—once confined to academic labs—are now powering moonshot innovations in imaging, sensing, and healthcare.
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Ben Nowack

CEO of Reflect Orbital
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David Bucca

Founder and CEO of Change Foods
David Bucca is the founder and CEO of Change Foods, a precision fermentation food tech company creating animal-free nature-identical milk proteins including bioactive human proteins. David’s a passionate food industry professional with expertise in alternative proteins, and who was previously an aerospace engineering leader at Boeing for over 13 years. Following a career change in 2016 motivated by his mission to create more sustainable, ethical, and innovative food systems, he became a founding director of Food Frontier, an innovative think-tank & industry accelerator for alternative proteins in Australia/NZ. He also became the COO of a hemp foods startup, and subsequently the APAC manager for a U.S. plant-based meat company. David holds a graduate certificate from Melbourne Business School, a double degree in Aerospace Engineering and Applied Science from RMIT University, and a Commercial Pilot License for Airplanes.
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Andrea Prazakova

Founder & CEO of Brain Gym
Andrea is a Human-Centered AI, ESG & Longevity Practitioner, TEDx speaker, and founder of BrainGym and Space Uncensored podcast. She specialize in AI, biohacking, ESG and the New Space Economy, with three decades of leadership in global banking, tech, and ESG. She is a Forbes Tech Council contributor and host of Space Uncensored, with certification from MIT, Harvard, Insead’ Blue Ocean Strategy Institute and Stanford d. School.
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Meabh Quoirin

CEO and Co-Owner of Foresight Factory
Meabh Quoirin is CEO and Co-Owner of Foresight Factory, a global leader in using data-driven foresight for transformational impact. As a LinkedIn Top Voice, she partners with over 200 brands across a range of sectors, including FMCG, automotive, alcohol, and travel, to showcase how foresight can fuel growth and drive innovation. With a 50-strong team in London and New York, Meabh specializes in decoding consumer behaviors and emerging trends, helping leaders make strategic decisions that future-proof their businesses and unlock new opportunities. Their insights set the standard for brands navigating an unpredictable world. A sought-after public speaker, Meabh frequently delivers keynotes at events like TEDx and Dubai Future Forum. She also lectures at Dublin University and serves on Advertising Week’s Advisory Board, combining academic depth with practical expertise.
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Adam Ashcroft

Founder and CEO of the Advantage Coach
Adam Ashcroft is the leading Dubai based business coach whose mission is to break down the complexity of life so that you can be at your best. With over 20 years of global leadership experience developing and growing companies, Adam created “The 3Ps to Succeed”, “The 7 Steps for Success” and “The Advantage Success Playbooks”. Adam is an author, motivational speaker and acclaimed leadership coach.
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Alyaa Al Mulla

Founder of Longevity Think Tank
Alyaa AlMulla is the Founder of Longevity Think Tank and a leading force behind the longevity movement in the UAE. As an entrepreneur and public policy-maker, she advises the private sector, investors, and government on enhancing healthspan, wellbeing, and the longevity economy through innovative policy frameworks. She led the workplace wellbeing initiative under the UAE’s National Program for Happiness & Wellbeing and has contributed to projects designing environments that support human longevity. Alyaa recently co-authored the Dubai chapter in “Longevity Hubs: Regional Innovation for Global Aging” (MIT AgeLab, MIT Press), highlighting the city as a regional longevity hub. She lectures at the Geneva College for Longevity Science and was previously a Visiting Senior Lecturer in Positive Psychology at the University of East London. Alyaa holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and was a fellow at Oxford’s Institute of Population Ageing. She has also served on the World Economic Forum’s Future Council on Human Enhancement and Healthy Longevity.
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Edward Salmon

CEO & Founder of PINKFISH
Edward Salmon aka PINKFISH is an experienced leader in the future technology and AI space working across The Middle East, Europe, US and APAC. He holds an honours degree in Economics and graduated top of his class from the Oxford University AI Programme. After a back injury a few years ago and at the time unable to play sport, Ed took up music as a new way to channel his energy and has since become a very well regarded DJ/Producer with millions of streams and is ranked in the top 2% of artists globally. Edward’s work explores the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of music and entertainment and is a frequent speaker at leading tech and music industry events.
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Dima Boulad

Head of Design Research the Dubai Design Lab
Dima Boulad is the Head of Design Research the Dubai Design Lab, an action lab under Dubai Future Foundation that harnesses the power of design & creativity to place Dubai among the world’s most liveable cities. With over 15 years of experience in the Design field, she has partnered with both public and private organizations to tackle complex social issues using human-centered and planet-friendly design approaches. Dima’s passion lies in humanizing cities by creating experiences, strategies and policies that foster an inclusive urban environment.
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Turan Malik

Chief Strategy Officer, Dubai Future Foundation
Turan Malik is Chief Strategy Officer at Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), where he leads the organisation’s efforts to identify and unlock future opportunities that position Dubai a decade ahead of global trends. He oversees strategy, all capital allocation, and complex strategic initiatives that drive impact across emerging sectors, societal priorities, and government operating models. At DFF, Turan’s team runs the trends and opportunity analysis process, converting global signals of change into practical initiatives that create long-term economic and social value for Dubai. He also serves on the Dubai Future District Fund Investment Committee, ensuring capital is deployed to catalyse future-focused sectors and ventures. Prior to DFF, Turan was Executive Director of Strategy at Dubai Holding, where he steered group-wide strategic programs across hospitality, real estate, media, leisure, entertainment, and new ventures. Earlier, he spent over a decade in management consulting and brand strategy in the UK and UAE, advising governments and leading companies on transformation, growth, and innovation.
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Dima AlSrouri

At the intersection of cities and nature, Dima is a creative thought leader and a catalyst for sustainable transformation, fusing urban strategy, design and sustainability into transformative interventions. Her work moves across scales and disciplines, transported by systems thinking and fueled by a deep- rooted expertise from years of practice across public and private sectors, and enriched by academic research. Dima brings a unique depth of expertise that bridges the science of cities, circular systems, and biomaterials. She leads Biospheric City Lab, a boutique platform dedicated to imagining cities as living ecosystems, while teaching Urban Planning & Development as an adjunct lecturer at the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, inspiring a new generation of city shapers. In parallel, Dima founded MycoSphere, a Dubai-based biotechnology company that crafts mycelium materials from locally upcycled waste, through unlocking the hidden potential of fungi to power a regenerative future.
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Quddus Pativada

Quddus Pativada is the Founder & CEO of ASI, the AI company building the world’s leading agent platform, MyASI. He founded ASI at 17, while still in high school, assembling a team of PhDs and former Apple and Palantir engineers. Since then, he has led ASI to surpass billion-dollar labs such as OpenAI and Genspark on the GAIA benchmark, the global benchmark for AI agents. ASI has raised millions from GSV Ventures, Character, and Mark Cuban, and is working with governments and enterprises to deploy sovereign AI agents that transform education, policy, back-office operations, and more.
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Omar Al Suwaidi

Lieutenant Colonel Deputy Director of Future Foresight Center, Dubai Police
A strategic leader and expert in Future Foresight, with extensive experience in analyzing global trends, signals, and emerging challenges to anticipate their impact on institutional readiness. Demonstrates strong capability in leading foresight initiatives that enhance organizational agility and resilience through continuous environmental scanning, scenario planning, and proactive response strategies. Skilled in translating complex global insights into actionable policies and programs that prepare the organization for future transformations. Responsible for building and managing strategic partnerships with research centers, universities, and government entities to strengthen collective foresight capabilities and promote innovation. Actively fosters a foresight-driven culture across all levels of the organization, ensuring that forward-thinking perspectives are integrated into decision-making, strategic planning, and operational frameworks. In addition to foresight leadership, brings complementary expertise in Strategic Planning, encompassing the formulation and execution of institutional strategies, alignment of goals with key performance indicators, and continuous performance evaluation to sustain long-term excellence and institutional competitiveness.
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Amer Abdulraoof

Executive Director, Special Projects Department, Dubai Future Foundation
Amer Abdulraoof is the Executive Director of the Special Projects Department at Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), where he has played a pivotal role since joining in 2016. He has been instrumental in launching and leading several of Dubai’s flagship initiatives, including the Dubai Future Forum, Dubai 10X, and the Museum of the Future. Amer’s career reflects a deep commitment to shaping Dubai’s innovation ecosystem, with contributions spanning the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, the 3D Printing Strategy, and national programs such as One Million Arab Coders and Dubai Future Accelerators. Before joining DFF, Amer served at the Prime Minister’s Office, where he helped establish the World Government Summit. He continues to advance future-oriented projects such as Prototypes for Humanity and serves on key national committees driving digital transformation and emerging technologies. Amer holds a Master’s in Management from the University of Technology Sydney and a Bachelor’s in Management from the American University in Dubai. He is also a graduate of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development.
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Saeed AlFalasi

Executive Director, Dubai Future Foundation and Director, Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence
Saeed Al Falasi serves as the Executive Director of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and Director of the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI). With 24 years of experience in digital transformation, emerging technologies, and business innovation, he is spearheading several strategic initiatives under DCAI that drive responsible AI adoption and innovation across sectors, including the Chief AI Officers (CAIO) Program, the Dubai AI Seal, AI Week, the One Million Prompters, the Future of AI in Government Services Accelerator Program, the Global Prompt Engineering Competition.
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Nader Al Bastaki

Managing Director, Dubai Future District Fund
NaderAlbastakiis the Managing Director of the Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), where he leads the strategic vision and operational execution of Dubai’s flagship evergreen venture capital fund. His focus is on delivering long-term value through an investment approach that is both globally benchmarked and locally contextualized. Nader plays a pivotal role with DFDF in ecosystem building—fostering collaboration between founders, fund managers, policymakers, and global investors to elevate Dubai’s position as a global innovation hub. Beyond capital allocation, he engages with government stakeholders and policymakers to shape an enabling regulatory environment that supports innovation and venture activity. His leadership is anchored in a mission to connect global capital with regional innovation and to empower the next generation of transformative technologies and business models. Prior to joining DFDF, Nader led strategy at the Dubai Future Foundation, where he contributed to a range of initiatives and strategies aimed at driving social, technological, economic, and environmental impact for the Emirate of Dubai. Nader was also at Dubai Tourism, where he co-established the Strategic Partnerships department and launched an Advanced Analytics team, delivering both strategic collaborations and operating leverage, exemplifying his ability to drive collaborative value creation across public and private sector entities.
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Isabella Pirolo

Senior Projects Manager at the Dubai Future Foundation
Isabella Pirolo is Senior Projects Manager at the Dubai Future Foundation’s (DFF) Future Foresight and Imagination team, which she joined in 2023. In her role, she works on research projects that provide insights to foresee and better navigate the future, and she is leading the work on the future of food. She contributes to the curation of the Dubai Future Forum, and she is part of the UAE Centre for Fourth industrial Revolution (UAE C4IR). From 2020 to 2022, she served as a diplomat at the European Union Delegation to Singapore, overseeing initiatives on industrial policy, digitalization, sustainability, climate policy, renewable energies, foresight, and research and innovation in Southeast Asia. Previously, she held policy-making roles for the European Union in Brussels related to industrial policy, sustainability, and foresight. Between 2012 and 2014, she worked in the private sector on the development of space research projects. Isabella studied law and specialized in diplomacy and international affairs.
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Jan Neutze

Director of Sandbox at the Dubai Future Foundation
Jan Neutze brings over two decades of global experience at the nexus of innovation, technology policy, and regulation. He has built and led multidisciplinary teams in international organizations, the public sector, and in industry. Jan currently heads Sandbox Dubai, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation focused on regulatory modernization, which enables innovative companies to test new technologies and business models under regulatoryexemptions in Dubai. Previously, Jan served as Vice President for EU Government Affairs at Illumina, a leading global biotech company, and spent over a decade in senior roles at Microsoft in Europe and the United States, with a focus on geopolitical issues and new regulatory approaches. He began his career in transatlantic think tanks in Washington, D.C., before joining the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General in New York. Jan studied law in Muenster, Germany and holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
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Ola Issa

Principal, Najmara
Ola Issa is an educational leader, strategist, and the founding Principal of Najmara, one of the region’s most innovative learning communities, rooted in a regenerative, human-centredphilosophy. Ola is passionate about creating learning environments that feel sacred, inspiring, and alive with possibility. She works at the intersection of education, design, and systems thinking, building a model that integrates future competencies, regenerative design, and research-informed practice. Beyond school leadership, Ola is shaping conversations about the future of learning, championing human-centred, culturally rooted approaches that bridge global innovation with traditional wisdom. She collaborates with thought leaders, partners, and networks to push the boundaries of what learning can be — for learners, families, and society.
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Eman Ebed Alkadi

Head of Foresight Networks
Eman Ebed Alkadi is the lead curator and project manager of the Dubai Future Forum, the flagship annual event of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), held at the Museum of the Future. She joined the DFF’s Future, Foresight & Imagination team in 2022. Prior to this, she worked with Eurasia Group in their New York and London offices; with the Crown Prince Court’s Office of Strategic Affairs in Abu Dhabi; and with Adam Smith International on development projects in Georgia, Afghanistan and Yemen. Eman studied politics and economics at Queen’s University in Canada and completed her Masters in comparative politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is a mother of three and enjoys running by the beach and baking in her free time – a skill she picked up when she established a cloud kitchen and catering business in Muscat.
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Cedric Betis

Wellness Advisor & Consultant at the Dubai Future Foundation
Cedric Betis is a global expert in sports, health, and wellness with over 25 years of international experience. As the founder of Becan Wellness Solutions, he advises governments, private institutions, and global brands on wellness strategy, innovation, and commercial growth. He has led projects with organizations such as Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai Holding, Dubai Future Foundation, and Kerzner International, driving initiatives at the intersection of wellness, technology, and urban development. Cedric also serves on the Dubai Sports Council Strategy Council and the Dubai Future Council on Health & Wellbeing, and acts as Wellness Advisor to the Dubai Future Foundation. In recognition of his leadership, Cedric received the International President Award from the Institute for Health & Productivity Management (IHPM) for advancing workplace wellness across the Gulf region.
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Tiago Henriques

EMEA Head of AI/ML, Customer Engineering, Google Cloud
Tiago is an AI Technology Executive and recognized thought leader with over 16 years of experience in Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Distributed Systems, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. As the Head of AI/ML Technology Practice for Google Cloud, he leads a team of technical specialists empowering organizations to adopt transformative AI solutions that address complex business challenges and drive business outcomes across Europe, Middle East and Africa. His extensive career spans roles at major technology companies, including Microsoft where he served as Technical Leader in the AI Global Blackbelt team, and Amazon Web Services as Senior Solutions Architect. He has also worked as a Founder and CTO, giving him firsthand experience in both enterprise and startup environments. Focused on delivering tangible AI value, Tiago excels in working with Executives aligning transformative technology with strategic organizational use cases, encompassing both business outcome and robust technical solutionning. A recognized thought leader in the AI space, Tiago regularly shares his expertise as a keynote speaker at international conferences and as an educator at leading institutions, including his role as Invited Professor for the Master in Big Data & Analytics at EAE Business School and Guest Lecturer at the Universitat de Barcelona. Tiago is driven by a passion for translating AI cutting edge capabilities and innovation into measurable business outcomes and large societal impact. Leveraging his extensive expertise in the field, he provides strategic counsel to startups and venture capitalists on navigating the technological landscape. He also lends his broad expertise as an angel investor and through occasional select advisory board roles.
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Ahmad El Sayed

Public Sector Lead - Google Cloud - UAE, Levant and North Africa
Dr. Ahmad is Google Cloud’s Public Sector Lead for the UAE, Levant, and North Africa, where he helps governments harness the power of AI to reimagine public services. Prior to Google, Ahmad worked for IBM, SAP, and BAE Systems, he has led major AI projects globally (Europe, MEA, APAC). He is a recognized keynote speaker, a published author, and holds a Ph.D. in AI and Machine Learning, with his research published in major international conferences and books.
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Stephan Muller

Marketing Director for WHOOP
While Stephan Muller is half Dutch, half Indian, he has spent the last 20 years in Dubai, and calls it home. He grew up playing competitive sports, starting with tennis and football at a young age. He excelled at tennis and ended up playing Division 1 college tennis in the US followed by a few professional tournaments. His love for sport and marketing led him to work for one of the biggest brands in the world: Nike. He spent 6 years focused on all things marketing related: campaigns, activations, content, influencers, and the list goes on. After Nike, Stephan became the head of events at Porsche Middle East, an HQ for 27 countries in our region. More recently, Stephan started a marketing agency called Uncommon, focused on helping sport, health and wellness brands scale in the Middle East. Today, Stephan has become the Marketing Director for WHOOP, leading the charge in the region to help the brand grow and fulfill its full potential.