
18 - 21 November 2024
FORUM x DUBAI
This year, the Dubai Future Forum extends beyond the iconic Museum of the Future, expanding its reach across the city with a series of exclusive events before and after the main forum on November 19 and 20. Taking place at unique venues throughout the city from November 18 to 21, these events are designed to bring together futurists and thought leaders in more focused and intimate settings, fostering deeper collaboration and fresh, innovative exchanges.
In addition to these high-level discussions, local residents and citizens are presented with the opportunity to engage with the global futurist community, ensuring a more inclusive dialogue about the future that resonates throughout the city.
In addition to these high-level discussions, local residents and citizens are presented with the opportunity to engage with the global futurist community, ensuring a more inclusive dialogue about the future that resonates throughout the city.

- By Invitation Only
The Hopeful Dinner: A Listening Experience
- 18 Nov
- 7:00pm
- Jameel Art Centre
These days hope is scarce. And yet it is an essential resource for building a more beautiful future. On the eve of the Dubai Future Forum, a gathering will take place to explore the history, power, and meaning of hope, and discuss how leaders in business, government, and civil society can produce it. 
Curated by:


- Open to the Public
More Than Words: What is the Future of Storytelling?
- 18 Nov
- 5:30pm - 6:15pm
- A1 Space at Alserkal Avenue
Humans have always told stories. The importance of passing along meaningful messages through narrative — whether through spoken word, expressive art or modern media — is indisputable. As technology evolves and increasingly holds the potential to augment our capacity for expression, what is the future of storytelling? And how can we develop techniques for expression that have a positive impact on humanity?
Speakers
- Glenn Gainor, Film Producer
- Amani Al-Aidroos, Head of Content and Production
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Exclusive to Dubai Future Forum participants
The Future of Diplomacy
- 18 Nov
- 3:00pm - 4:30pm
- Fiker Institute, Alserkal Avenue
A series of roundtable discussions bringing together thought leaders, diplomats, and policymakers to explore the evolution of diplomacy amid rapid global changes.
Speakers
- Dubai Abulhoul, Fiker Institute
- Sophie Howe, First Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
- Olga Tarasov, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
- Sara Sabry, First African and African Female Astronaut
- Adriana Marais, Proudly Human
- Ariel Muller, Forum for the Future
- Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Sunway University Malaysia
- Adam Kahane, Reos Partners
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Open to the Public
Futurescape: Cinema Beyond
A selection of films that explore futuristic worlds, technological advancements, and the challenges ahead through cinematic storytelling. The films aim to inspire audiences to imagine possible futures and provoke discussions on how we can shape a better tomorrow.




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- Open to the Public
Nomadic Futures: Reimagining Cultural Narratives
- 18 -21 Nov
- Full day
- The Courtyard, Al Quoz
Hosted by Samar Younes this public engagement weaves together multi-temporal intelligences through AI-generated portraits of future ancestors, an avant-garde camel cover, and the interactive ‘Breaking Bread’ workshop—where participants reimagine future cultural exchange through textile narratives inspired by the Silk Road. This immersive experience maps how human ingenuity, machine learning, and ancestral wisdom can symbiotically reshape our understanding of transcultural identities and collective futures, while amplifying diverse voices from the global south.’
To sign up for the ‘Breaking Bread’ workshop that will be taking place on 18 November, 3-6pm, please use the link below to register. The art showcase will be made available for viewing throughout the day, from 18 to 21 November.
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Exclusive to Dubai Future Forum participants
Taste of Tomorrow
- 19 Nov
- 6:30pm
- BOCA Restaurant, DIFC
Our food traditions are evolving in response to climate change, and the goal is to create resilient food systems by adapting traditional recipes and ingredients to future climates. This is a ticketed dinner event with Chef Patricia Roig.
Speakers
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Exclusive to Dubai Future Forum participants
ALAF (Latin Futures Association) Official Debut
- 19 Nov
- 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- DFA Auditorium, Emirates Towers
This event marks a pivotal moment for ALAF, showcasing the ‘Latin American way’ of foresight by blending traditional methods with ancestral knowledge for future well-being.
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Open to the Public
Ancient Wisdom, Future Vision: Crafting Tomorrow Through Ancestral Stories
- 21 Nov
- 1:00pm - 3:00pm
- A1 Space at Alserkal Avenue
Explore how imaginative visions rooted in cultural heritage can pave the way for future innovations at Ancient Wisdom, Future Vision, a thought-provoking event curated and moderated by futurist Ingrid LaFleur, founder of The Afrofuture Strategies Institute. The event features visionary artists Saks Afridi, Mounir Ayache, and Pierre-Christophe Gam as they present their projects, each one inspired by ancestral stories, spirituality, and myth-making. From Afridi’s project Space Mosque, reimagining the power of prayer, to Gam’s TOGUNA World: The Dream Manifesto and ILE-IFE, which delve into African future-dreaming, and Ayache’s video game weaving Moroccan folktales into a surreal narrative set 1000 years into the future, each artist uses speculative storytelling to craft future artifacts and frameworks. Through narrative presentation, film and participatory activities, these artists will showcase how myth-making can inspire transformative futures. Join us for an inspiring exploration of how ancient wisdom can inform and shape bold, resilient futures.
Speakers
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Open to the Public
An Algorithm for Love
- 21 Nov
- 10:00am
- Diplomacy Lab
As A.I. imposes itself on all aspects of life, can smart machines become our
soulmates and life-long companions? Can algorithms learn how to perform the
most noble and complicated of human emotions and fall in love!?
Join us in this intriguing discussion with Dr. Ashraf Fagih, an Academic & Sci-Fi Novelist and moderated by Alexander Thomas, an author from The Dreamwork Collective
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.

- Exclusive to Dubai Future Forum participants
Shifting Terrains: Exploring Climate-induced Migration Through Food
- 21 Nov
- 9:00am - 12:00pm
- East West Atelier, The Courtyard
A sensory workshop where foresight practitioners confront climate migration through the Transform methodology, using food preparation to reflect on adaptation, resilience, and climate-induced displacement.
- We are at full capacity for this event. Registration is now closed.