Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation Announces 6th Annual Knowledge Summit in November

The sixth annual Knowledge Summit, an initiative of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), takes place November 19–20, 2019, at the Dubai World Trade Center, it has been announced. This year’s summit theme is ‘Knowledge: The Path to Sustainable Development.’

Organized under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and with directives from MBRF Chairman H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Knowledge Summit is a premier world-class event. The Summit will convene top experts and decision makers from around the world to exchange expertise and best practices and showcase solutions to the most pressing sustainable development challenges.

The event seeks to implement the leadership’s vision of empowering people in a knowledge-based society, while spurring comprehensive, people-centered development. Topics for discussion include: the role of knowledge in addressing sustainable development challenges such as poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate change; promoting innovation and sustainable consumption; and providing solutions for protecting the environment and ensuring peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

“Knowledge is the ultimate goal for us at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, and is an indispensable requirement for improving people’s lives,” said MBRF CEO His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb. “The sixth annual Knowledge Summit ref lects this commitment, exploring sustainable development goals with experts and decision makers to identify local and international challenges, propose solutions for them, and develop effective instruments to ensure widereaching sustainable growth.”

“Sustainable development in the UAE began at the country’s inception, pioneered by our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Our wise leadership continues along the same path, building a country of tolerance and generosity, a nation that has become exemplary in all sectors,” H.E. bin Huwaireb added. He noted that the UAE’s pioneering role in working to implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as evidenced by its contribution to various UN Development Program (UNDP) projects and initiatives.

The MBRF CEO went on to explain that the UAE has set up an integrated ecosystem to drive the national economy’s shift toward sustainability. It has launched a bundle of initiatives, chief among them the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan, the UAE Vision 2021, and the UAE Green Growth Strategy, which seeks to build a sustainable future for the coming generations.

The SDGs—also known as the 2030 Agenda—are a set of 17 goals through which the UN articulates a vision and call for action to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. The SDGs were approved by all 193 UN member states, including the UAE. They are divided into four main themes—environmental, social, economic, and partnerships— and contain 169 targets and 233 indicators.

The Knowledge Summit will showcase several models and success stor ies in sustainable development with a view to advancing progress in implementing the SDGs. Furthermore, some government agencies in Dubai will showcase their experiences and achievements in the field.

Discussion sessions are planned on energy, global partnerships, health and water, women’s empowerment, sustainable education, gender equality, and building healthy communities. The Summit will showcase several countries’ plans to promote renewable energy, build resource-based economies, achieve high productivity through diversification, and embrace innovation when building sustainable cities and combating climate change.

The Summit agenda also includes a presentation on the Global Knowledge Index 2019, a joint UAEUNDP project that measures the current state of knowledge around the world, enabling country comparisons in various sectors. And there will be a ceremony honoring the winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, which recognizes individuals and institutions from around the world who have made significant contributions to the global canon of knowledge.

To register for the Summit, please visit the official website: https://knowledgesummit.org