10th Knowledge Summit Launches in Dubai with Focus on Sustainable Development Through Knowledge Markets

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation has inaugurated the 10th edition of the Knowledge Summit, the world's leading platform dedicated to producing and applying knowledge in service of sustainable development. Organized in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, this year's summit is being held under the theme 'Knowledge Markets: Developing Sustainable Communities' at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event convened numerous ministers, dignitaries, and senior officials, emphasizing the critical importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange among global leaders and decision-makers.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, highlighted during the launch ceremony that over the past decade, the Knowledge Summit has established a strong global standing as an annual gathering for creative minds and decision-makers. He emphasized that the summit has reinforced knowledge's role as a catalyst for human development, ensuring prosperous futures for nations and generations to come. Her Excellency Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, participated in the opening remarks, stating that MBRF's commitment to advancing the knowledge movement aligns closely with the UAE's efforts to build a knowledge-based economy.

Grynspan emphasized that transforming visions into reality requires innovation, courage, and belief in ideas that shape a better future. More information about UNCTAD's work can be found at https://unctad.org. His Excellency Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States, noted that knowledge has evolved beyond academic institutions to become a strategic asset defining countries' positions in the new global order and opening unprecedented avenues for sustainable development. The UNDP's regional initiatives are detailed at https://www.undp.org/arabstates.

The opening ceremony featured the announcement of the ninth edition of the Global Knowledge Index 2025 results, with Switzerland ranking first globally, followed by Singapore in second place and Sweden in third. The UAE led Arab countries in the index, with Saudi Arabia ranking second among Arab nations and Qatar taking third position. The first day of the summit included numerous panel discussions, interactive dialogues, and workshops led by prominent specialists, experts, academics, and decision-makers from around the world.

These sessions explored crucial themes including knowledge markets, the knowledge economy, innovation, sustainability, community development, technology, education, environment, and knowledge governance. The comprehensive approach reflects the summit's mission to address the multifaceted challenges of building sustainable knowledge economies in an increasingly interconnected global landscape. The summit's importance lies in its role as a global platform that translates theoretical knowledge into practical applications for sustainable development, directly impacting policy-making and international cooperation efforts.

The event's significance extends beyond regional boundaries, establishing Dubai as a global knowledge hub while reinforcing the strategic importance of knowledge markets in achieving sustainable development goals. The partnership between MBRF and UNDP demonstrates how institutional collaboration can amplify the impact of knowledge initiatives, creating frameworks that benefit multiple stakeholders across different sectors and regions. The Global Knowledge Index results provide measurable benchmarks for countries to assess their progress in knowledge-based development, offering valuable insights for policymakers and development strategists worldwide.