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The two-day gathering at the Dubai World Trade Centre is jointly organised by the Arabia CSR Network and Dubai World Trade Centre Sustainability Dialogues under the theme “Currents of Change: Impact Beyond Promises”. Sessions will address climate finance, sustainable mobility, green healthcare systems, net-zero industries, blue economy pathways and responsible digital transformation. A report by the Emirates News Agency said the forum seeks to move discussions beyond declarations toward implementation, accountability and tangible results. Policymakers, business executives, investors and academics are participating in the high-level plenaries, keynote addresses and expert dialogues.
Organisers listed Navid Hanif, assistant secretary-general for economic development at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as one of the keynote speakers. Eugene Mayne, founder and chief executive of Tristar Group, Dr Nasser H Saidi, president of Nasser Saidi and Associates and chairman of the Clean Energy Business Council, and Dr Matthew Bell, chairman of the World Green Building Council, are also scheduled to speak. Sarah Shaw, chief executive of Majra, the national CSR fund, will deliver remarks, according to the same report. The programme further includes a fireside chat with Dr Agnes Kalibata, chair of the C4Impact Advisory Group and former minister of agriculture and animal resources in Rwanda.
The forum builds on the event’s evolution into an international platform, coming after the 13th edition in 2025 that examined sustainable growth and global collaboration on issues such as the circular economy and food security. Organisations represented among speakers and panellists include the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the World Health Organization, the Global Green Growth Institute, Dubai Holding, Emirates NBD, Fujairah Hospital, Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubai, Aster DM Healthcare and the American University of Sharjah. The Arabia CSR Network said the lineup reflects the cross-sector effort required to achieve lasting sustainability outcomes.
This edition aligns with broader United Nations calls for accelerated action on the Sustainable Development Goals, which a UN assessment found require trillions of dollars in annual investment to meet global targets. Discussions at the Dubai event are expected to explore how businesses and governments can deliver verifiable progress on net-zero pathways and climate resilience. The organisers noted that the programme will generate insights applicable to both regional and international contexts.
The forum precedes the Arabia CSR and Sustainability Awards set for October 14, extending the focus on recognised best practices in corporate responsibility. Registration remains open for additional participants seeking to join the remaining sessions on October 13 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event also coincides with the Emirates Environmental Group’s preparations for its 25th Clean UAE Campaign scheduled for December.
