Redefining the Future of Cities and Communities

Your City, Your Future

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2 DAYS   I
40+ Speakers   I
4 Workshops   I
8 Panels   I
6 Fireside  |
6 Fireside chats  |
2 DAYS   I
40+ Speakers   I
4 Workshops   I
8 Panels   I
6 Fireside  |
6 Fireside chats  |
2 DAYS   I
40+ Speakers   I
4 Workshops   I
8 Panels   I
6 Fireside  |
6 Fireside chats  |
2 DAYS   I
40+ Speakers   I
4 Workshops   I
8 Panels   I
6 Fireside  |
6 Fireside chats  |
ABOUT

What is Urban Future Week?

Urban Future Week brings the world’s leading city-shapers to the Museum of the Future for two days of bold ideas and collaborative action from 10–11 November 2025. In partnership with Dubai Municipality, the event explores how innovation, governance, and design can create cities that are sustainable, inclusive and ready for the future.

Urban Future Week will reimagine how cities respond to rapid technological, social, and climate change. It will showcase how institutions, communities and technology can unite to build sustainable, inclusive and human-centric cities.
VISION

Urban Systems, Governance & Innovation

Discover how cities can become future-ready by strengthening institutional resilience and operating as adaptive, responsive systems. The day features expert panels and strategic roundtables focused on governance, decision intelligence, and cross-sectoral planning.
VISION

Digital Cities, Placemaking & Community Futures

The second day focuses on cross-sector collaboration and the intelligent systems that will shape the future of cities. Sessions will explore smart infrastructure, AI-driven services, inclusive public design, and the intersection of climate and community.

The day’s highlights include unveiling the HEWI Dubai initiative and showcase the essential role of digital systems, design, and public–private partnerships in building tomorrow’s cities.

Speakers

H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
Director General, Dubai Municipality
H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi
H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi
UAE Minister of Climate Change
H.E. Khalfan Belhoul
H.E. Khalfan Belhoul
CEO, Dubai Future Foundation
H.E. Issam Galadari
H.E. Issam Galadari
CEO, Dubai Healthcare City Authority
Abdulaziz Al Jaziri
Abdulaziz Al Jaziri
Deputy CEO, Dubai Future Foundation
Majed Al Mansoori
Majed Al Mansoori
Executive Director, Museum of the Future
Nasser Bushahab
Nasser Bushahab
CEO, Dubai Municipality's Planning and Governance
Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan
Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan
CEO, Public Transport Agency RTA
Mahdi Amjad
Mahdi Amjad
Founder & Executive Chairman at OMNIYAT Group
Christos Passas
Christos Passas
Director, Zaha Hadid Architects
Ill-Sam Park 
Ill-Sam Park 
Partner, Foster + Partners
Nadia Zaal
Nadia Zaal
Founder and CEO of Zaya
Hamad Al Mansoori
Hamad Al Mansoori
Director-General of the Digital Dubai
Thomas Heatherwick
Thomas Heatherwick
English Designer
Mohammed Al Shehhi 
Mohammed Al Shehhi 
CEO, A.R.M Holding
Abdulla Bin Demaithan
Abdulla Bin Demaithan
CEO & Managing Director DP world
Bader Anwahi 
Bader Anwahi 
CEO, Dubai Municipality's Public Facilities Agency
Anaclaudia Rossbach
Anaclaudia Rossbach
Executive Director, UN-Habitat
Fatma Al Khayat 
Fatma Al Khayat 
Strategic Urban Planner
Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni 
Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni 
CEO of AI, Dubai Economy & Tourism
Martina Mazzarello
Martina Mazzarello
MIT Global Lead, Senseable Lab
Alaa Al Radwan
Alaa Al Radwan
MIT Lab Lead, Senseable City Dubai
Osama Muhra
Osama Muhra
CEO, Axis Group
Eng. Fidaa Al Hammadi 
Eng. Fidaa Al Hammadi 
Director, Strategy and Corporate Development Dubai Municipality
Ahmed Al Mulla
Ahmed Al Mulla
Co-Founder & CEO, ARKAT
Ross Lovegrove
Ross Lovegrove
Designer, Founder
Olivier Blum
Olivier Blum
CEO, Schneider Electric
Al Amira Reem Al Hashemi
Al Amira Reem Al Hashemi
Urbanist, Historian & Author
DFA Representative
DFA Representative
TBD
Senior Rep DEWA
Senior Rep DEWA
TBD
Senior Rep Dubai Police
Senior Rep Dubai Police
TBD
Huda Shaka
Huda Shaka
Project Director, Gehl
Fatma Afghan
Fatma Afghan
Youth Council President, Dubai Municipality
Dr. Georges Kachaamy
Dr. Georges Kachaamy
Director of CRID & Professor of Architecture at AUD
Al Zaina Lootah
Al Zaina Lootah
Architect & Designer
Ahmed Bukhash
Ahmed Bukhash
Chief Architect & Founder, ARCHIDENTITY
Ila Colombo
Ila Colombo
AI Creative Researcher, Artist & CEO at DEOND
May Barber
May Barber
Architect, Strategist, Curator & Educator
Kevin Mitchell
Kevin Mitchell
Author & Professor of Architecture at AUS
Khalifa Al Qama
Khalifa Al Qama
Director, Dubai Future Labs
Sevag Greg Ohannessian
Sevag Greg Ohannessian
Founding Partner at SOMA MATER
Urban Planning Representative Dubai Municipality
Urban Planning Representative Dubai Municipality
TBD
Helmut von Struve
Helmut von Struve
CEO, Siemens Middle East
Eng. Adel Almarzooqi
Eng. Adel Almarzooqi
CEO, Waste & Sewerage Agency Dubai Municipality
Natasha Carella
Natasha Carella
Director, Dubai Design Week
Maitha Ali Al Nuaimi
Maitha Ali Al Nuaimi
GIS Central Department Director, Dubai Municipality

Agenda

10th November: Urban Systems, Governance & Innovationk.
9:15 AM – 9:25 AM
Opening Keynote
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An inaugural address setting the stage for Urban Future Week and its vision for the future of governance and innovation.
SPEAKER
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
speaker
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
Director General, Dubai Municipality
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
KEYNOTE
Humanising Cities through
Regenerative Design
Reimagining cities as  living systems, Thomas Heatherwick explores how regenerative design can create joyful, biodiverse spaces that restore human and ecological wellbeing.
SPEAKER
Thomas Heatherwick
speaker
Thomas Heatherwick
English Designer
9:50 AM – 10:15 AM
Fireside Chat
UAE & UN-Habitat Perspectives
A dialogue on global urban development priorities and how the UAE contributes to shaping sustainable cities.
SPEAKER
Badr Anwahi
Anaclaudia Rossbach
speaker
Bader Anwahi 
CEO, Dubai Municipality's Public Facilities Agency
speaker
Anaclaudia Rossbach
Executive Director, UN-Habitat
10:20 AM – 10:50 AM
Panel
Institutional Agility for
Future Cities
Frameworks for building agile, resilient, and future-ready city institutions.
Moderator
Fatma Al Khayat
SPEAKERS
Alaa al Radwan
Fidaa Al Hammadi
speaker
Fatma Al Khayat 
Strategic Urban Planner
speaker
Alaa Al Radwan
MIT Lab Lead, Senseable City Dubai
speaker
Eng. Fidaa Al Hammadi 
Director, Strategy and Corporate Development Dubai Municipality
10:55 AM – 11:10 AM
Coffee Break
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM
Panel
Cities Amid Global Shifts
Global and regional experts explore how cities must adapt to thrive amidst transformative shifts in technology, climate, and society.
Moderator
Ahmed Al Mulla
SPEAKERS
Martina Mazzarello
Ross Lovegrove
Olivier Bluml
Al Amira Reem Al Hashemi
speaker
Ahmed Al Mulla
Co-Founder & CEO, ARKAT
speaker
Martina Mazzarello
MIT Global Lead, Senseable Lab
speaker
Ross Lovegrove
Designer, Founder
speaker
Olivier Blum
CEO, Schneider Electric
speaker
Al Amira Reem Al Hashemi
Urbanist, Historian & Author
11:55 AM – 12:35 PM
Panel
Dubai’s Ecosystem of the Future – Building a Collaborative, Future-Ready Government
A conversation with senior Dubai leaders on how cross-agency collaboration can accelerate resilient, future-ready governance.
Moderator
DFA Representative
SPEAKERS
Nasser AbuShahab
Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan
Senior Rep DEWA
Senior Rep Dubai
speaker
DFA Representative
TBD
speaker
Nasser Bushahab
CEO, Dubai Municipality's Planning and Governance
Sector
speaker
Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan
CEO, Public Transport
Agency RTA
speaker
Senior Rep DEWA
TBD
speaker
Senior Rep Dubai Police
TBD
12:40 PM – 1:20 PM
Panel
Governing for Well-being – Designing Healthier Future Cities
An integrated panel on governance, health, and technology, highlighting Dubai’s vision for resilient, people-centered cities.
Moderator
Huda Shaka
SPEAKERS
HE Issam Galadari
Nadia Zaal
Dr. Naseem Mohammed
speaker
Huda Shaka
Project Director, Gehl
speaker
H.E. Issam Galadari
CEO, Dubai Healthcare City Authority
speaker
Nadia Zaal
Founder and CEO of Zaya
speaker
Senior Rep DEWA
TBD
speaker
H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi
UAE Minister of Climate Change
& Environment
1:25 PM – 1:35 PM
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Climate, Community & Well-being in the Urban Future
An inspiring keynote on how climate action and community wellbeing should anchor urban transformation.
SPEAKERS
H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi
speaker
H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi
UAE Minister of Climate Change
& Environment
1:35 PM – 2:15 PM
Lunch + Networking
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
PUBLIC Panel
Who Designs the Future of Cities?
Local designers, researchers and youth leaders discuss who holds the power to shape our urban future in this interactive chat.
Moderator
Fatma Afghan
SPEAKERS
Dr. Georges Kachaamy
Al Zaina Lootah
Ahmed Bukhash
Ila Colombo
speaker
Fatma Afghan
Youth Council President, Dubai Municipality
speaker
Dr. Georges Kachaamy
Director of CRID & Professor of Architecture at AUD
speaker
Al Zaina Lootah
Architect & Designer
speaker
Ahmed Bukhash
Chief Architect & Founder, ARCHIDENTITY
speaker
Ila Colombo
AI Creative Researcher, Artist & CEO at DEOND
10:00 AM – 10:10 AM
Opening Keynote
Setting the tone for Day Two with a reflection on digital cities and future communities.
SPEAKER
H.E Khalfan Belhoul
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Opening Keynote
Urban Futures through Architecture
How architecture and digital technologies can shape urban living for more responsive, human-centered cities.
SPEAKER
Martina Mazzarello
speaker
Maitha Ali Al Nuaimi
GIS Central Department Director, Dubai Municipality
10:35 AM – 11:05 AM
Panel
Architecture’s Role in Urban Transformation
Architects and designers discuss how built form and placemaking can fundamentally reshape the future of cities.
speaker
May Barber
Architect, Strategist, Curator & Educator
speaker
Christos Passas
Director, Zaha Hadid Architects
speaker
Ill-Sam Park 
Partner, Foster + Partners
speaker
Kevin Mitchell
Author & Professor of Architecture at AUS
speaker
Kevin Mitchell
Author & Professor of Architecture at AUS
speaker
Mahdi Amjad
Founder & Executive Chairman
at OMNIYAT Group
speaker
Al Amira Reem Al Hashemi
Urbanist, Historian & Author
Moderator
May Barber
SPEAKERS
Christos Passas
II-Sam Park
Kevin Mitchell
Mahdi Amjad
Al Amira Reem Al Hashemi
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM
Panel
Cross-Sector Synergies in City Planning
Experts from AI, technology, and infrastructure highlight how synergies across sectors are essential for future-proof city planning.titutions.
Moderator
Sevag Greg Ohannessian
SPEAKERS
Khalifa Al Qama
Hamad Al Mansoori
Urban Planning
speaker
Sevag Greg Ohannessian
Founding Partner at SOMA MATER
speaker
Sevag Greg Ohannessian
Founding Partner at SOMA MATER
speaker
Khalifa Al Qama
Director, Dubai Future Labs
speaker
Hamad Al Mansoori
Director-General of the Digital Dubai
speaker
Urban Planning Representative Dubai Municipality
TBD
11:50 AM – 12:05 PM
Coffee Break
12:05 PM – 12:25 PM
Fireside Chat
The Engine Room of a Future City - Smart Infrastructure & Decarbonisation
A dialogue on the infrastructure powering tomorrow’s cities, from decarbonisation to waste-to-energy innovation.
SPEAKERS
Helmut von Struve
Eng. Adel Almarzooqi
speaker
Helmut von Struve
CEO, Siemens Middle East
speaker
Eng. Adel Almarzooqi
CEO, Waste & Sewerage Agency Dubai Municipality
12:30 PM – 1:10 PM
Panel
Private Sector & Placemaking – Building with Community
Private sector leaders explore how business and design can foster inclusive and vibrant public spaces.
speaker
Natasha Carella
Director, Dubai Design Week
speaker
Mohammed Al Shehhi 
CEO, A.R.M Holding
speaker
Majed Al Mansoori
Executive Director, Museum of the Future
speaker
Abdulla Bin Demaithan
CEO & Managing Director
DP world
speaker
Martina Mazzarello
MIT Global Lead, Senseable Lab
speaker
Thomas Heatherwick
English Designer
Moderator
Natasha Carella
SPEAKERS
Mohammed Al Shehhi
Majed Al Mansoori
Abdulla Bin Demaithan
Maitha Ali Al Nuaimi
Thomas Heatherwick
1:15 PM – 1:35 PM
Fireside Chat
Hewi Dubai – Strategy Unveiling
A forward-looking conversation on the Hewi Dubai initiative, exploring how it will strengthen community identity and digital belonging through innovation.
speaker
Bader Anwahi 
CEO, Dubai Municipality's Public Facilities Agency
speaker
Abdulaziz Al Jaziri
Deputy CEO, Dubai Future Foundation
SPEAKERS
Bader Anwahi
Abdulaziz Al Jaziri
1:35 PM – 1:40 PM
Staging Video
of Hewi Dubai
Visual video staging of the progress of Hewi Dubai initiative.
speaker
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
Director General, Dubai Municipality
1:45 PM – 1:50 PM
Signing
Ceremony
Formal signing of Hewi Dubai initiative to advance community identity and digital belonging.
speaker
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
Director General, Dubai Municipality
1:55 PM – 2:05 PM
Closing
Remarks
speaker
Mahdi Amjad
Founder & Executive Chairman
at OMNIYAT Group
SPEAKERS
Majed Al Mansoori
2:05 PM – 2:15 PM
Honouring
Partners
A ceremonial conclusion to Urban Future Week with acknowledgments and partner recognition.
speaker
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
Director General, Dubai Municipality
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM
Closing Reception + Networking
An informal networking session to close the two-day programme.
speaker
H.E. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita
Director General, Dubai Municipality

Roundtables and Workshops

PRIVATE
DM Youth Council Workshop
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
PRIVATE
C-Suite Roundtables
(Urban Resilience & Predictive Analytics)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Exclusive roundtables for senior leaders to explore predictive analytics and resilience strategies for cities.
Public
Foresight Workshop by MIT Senseable Lab
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Public
Agility Workshop by Dubai Design Lab
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Public
 Great Arab Minds Masterclass with Sahel Al Hiyari
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM