Dr. Amna Al Dahak Inaugurates Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit in Abu Dhabi
The UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment opened the fourth edition of the prestigious summit, convening over 3,000 global leaders to advance resilience and sustainable growth across government, business and academia.
The fourth edition of the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit commenced today at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the distinguished patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, with Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, presiding over the opening proceedings. Uniting more than 3,000 participants encompassing governmental representatives, business leaders, investors, academics and international experts, the summit operates under the overarching theme ‘Resilience for a Sustainable Future’.
Over its two-day duration, the summit examines the multifaceted challenges and opportunities inherent in fortifying economic and institutional resilience, securing energy systems, advancing sustainable investment and infrastructure development, and harnessing innovation and emerging leadership to construct adaptive economies and societies capable of responding to global transformation.
In her opening address, Dr. Al Dahak emphasised the foundational role of thoughtful policy design, strategic infrastructure development and meaningful partnerships in establishing systems capable of sustaining food, water and energy security. She articulated the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to advancing the enduring vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose pioneering work in resource conservation remains central to national strategy. The UAE’s trajectory encompasses bolstering food security, ensuring water resilience, accelerating the transition to clean energy and pursuing the ambitious Net Zero 2050 target, recognising economic diversification and emissions reduction as mutually reinforcing endeavours.
Dr. Al Dahak further underscored the summit’s significance as a catalyst for translating shared priorities into actionable partnerships amongst governmental, commercial, investment and educational institutions, positioning resource conservation and resilience as integral components of investment frameworks and development strategies. Notably, the opening session featured an engaging leadership dialogue with students from UAE schools, reflecting a commitment to nurturing youth engagement in shaping sustainable futures and equipping emerging generations with requisite knowledge and capabilities.
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, characterised resilience as fundamental to sustainable prosperity amid contemporary global transformations. The summit, she noted, establishes a vital platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange amongst international leaders, strengthening collaborative efforts and developing pragmatic solutions that enhance institutional preparedness whilst generating enduring sustainable value.
Day one programming addressed institutional resilience, energy security, investment frameworks and infrastructure advancement, with particular attention to the evolving role of future leaders navigating rapid transformation. Recognition ceremonies celebrated executives selected for the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders 2026 list, honouring their contributions to advancing environmental responsibility and sustainable practices within their organisations.
Subsequent sessions examine sustainable investment mechanisms, emerging industries, renewable energy development and natural capital preservation, exploring opportunities emerging from economic and technological evolution to establish more sustainable growth paradigms.
Source: WAM