Dubai Future Week 2026 to Celebrate Innovation Through Prestigious Foresight Awards
The Dubai Future Foundation will honour the winners of the second edition of the Dubai Foresight Awards during Dubai Future Week, celebrating visionaries and innovators shaping tomorrow's world.
Dubai Future Foundation has announced that the winners of the second edition of the Dubai Foresight Awards will receive recognition during Dubai Future Week, the prominent global gathering of forward-thinking leaders and innovators. The event takes place from 18th to 21st November 2026, with activities hosted across Emirates Towers and the Museum of the Future, uniting a distinguished community of foresight professionals and international experts.
Honouring the theme “For the Human of the Future,” this prestigious awards programme celebrates individuals and organisations from around the world whose exceptional work embodies innovation, visionary thinking and the practical application of foresight methodologies. The rigorous selection process has identified nine outstanding finalists from hundreds of submissions received globally, with three winners to be selected, one representing each of the three distinguished categories: Foresight Changemakers, Foresight for People and Foresight for the Planet.
The evaluation of entries encompasses a comprehensive assessment of originality, innovation, the practical application of foresight tools and methodologies, the measurable impact achieved and the considerable potential for scaling that impact across broader contexts and communities.
The Foresight Changemakers category recognises those who have developed innovative frameworks and tools that have transformed how societies anticipate the future, understand emerging transformations and prepare for them. The Foresight for People award honours projects that translate future visions into tangible benefits for communities, placing people at the heart of foresight through the application of these methodologies to public policy development and societal transformation. The Foresight for the Planet category celebrates those who apply foresight to environmental protection, biodiversity enhancement and climate resilience, translating long-term thinking into practical solutions.
Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, expressed that the awards celebrate leading innovators whose contributions strengthen resilience and future readiness across social, economic and government sectors worldwide. The programme provides participants with a distinguished platform to showcase their work to international experts whilst facilitating meaningful connections and partnerships within Dubai Future Foundation’s broader innovation ecosystem.
Last year’s inaugural edition recognised exceptional achievements across all categories. The Pasifika Futures Report team from Fiji received the Foresight Changemakers award for emphasising Indigenous knowledge in shaping the future of Pacific Island communities. The United Kingdom’s City of Longevity initiative won the Foresight for People award for its distinctive approach to designing cities that support longer, healthier lives. The Congo Basin Futures initiative from Cameroon and France received the Foresight for the Planet award for addressing biodiversity challenges and supporting long-term sustainability.
Dubai Future Week encompasses a comprehensive programme of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions and immersive experiences across eight dynamic platforms, including The Big Stage, The Prototype Floor, The Pitch, The Policy Room, The Challenge, 500 Future Minds and The District.
Source: WAM