The Herman Trend Alert
December 14, 2022
Dubai: Supporting the Future of the Planet
As you may remember, last week I sent you my Herman Trend Alert from Dubai where I was working with the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) to plan the 20th Anniversary Celebration for The Association of Professional Futurists (APF). This Alert will detail why I am so impressed.
A Bit of History
Dubai is part of the now seven United Arab Emirates (UAE), founded as six in late 1971 The seventh emirate, Ras al Khaimah, joined the federation about two months later. Formerly known as the Trucial States (as in truce), the seven sheikdoms had been in a treaty with the British in the 19th century. In early 1968, the British decided to withdraw from its involvement in the Trucial States. The British withdrawal led two of the most influential rulers, those of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to the decision to establish a Federation that is now the UAE. Today, the UAE is a modern, oil exporting country with a highly diversified economy. The gem of the region Dubai grown into a global city and a hub for tourism, retail, technology, and finance. The city is also the location of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, as well as the largest man-made seaport.
The Old and the New
While Dubai is a hotbed of cultural heritage, the new areas of Dubai are thriving. Dubai is also home to the Museum of the Future, a stunning sculptured building that may be one of the most dramatic structures in the world. That building is where the APF will hold its joint conference with the Dubai Future Foundation at the end of April. If you are looking for an excuse to visit Dubai, this 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Association of Professional Futurists is surely a good one!
An Organization Dedicated to a Positive Global Future
Affiliated with the government, The Dubai Future Foundation is a fascinating concept. It was Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, who said "The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. It isn't something you await, but rather create." (I love that quote!) The mission of the organization is "to collectively imagine, inspire and design Dubai's future." However, in doing so the Foundation is also educating the world about the importance of taking action to create positive futures---and establishing Dubai at the forefront of futures thinking in the world. (If I sound like a fan, I am.) "The Foundation was born out of a key belief: leading in the present isn't sufficient. It is the future that we must imagine, design, and execute."
APF is not the Only Futures Partner
While I was there, I learned about the many initiatives that the DFF is backing, as well as its many futures activities. Not only is it working with the APF, but the Foundation is also partnering with the Millennium Project with its more than 100 nodes throughout the world and the World Futures Studies Foundation---primarily an association for academics who teach futures. The DFF is funding research, publications, meetings, and more.
Offering Online Certifications, Start-Up Assistance, and Much More
The Dubai Future Academy offers digital courses on future methodologies, technologies, and literacy; there are three online certification courses offered free of charge. Mostaqbal, the Arabic word for "future," is a mobile app that features Arabic-only content aimed at creating a vocabulary for the MENA countries to think about innovation and the future. It is evolving an Arabic future glossary of scientific terms. There is the Dubai Futures Accelerators, as well as a program called Dubai Future Solutions. In late November, the Dubai Future Foundation also attracts the largest gathering of futurists in the world to the Dubai Future Forum. (I can personally share that event is a very exciting experience to be with other like-minded researchers and consultants.) And finally, the website offers Dubai Future Talks with short videos from people like Michio Kaku and Neil deGrasse Tyson, talking about some aspect of the future. And there is much more on the website, DubaiFutureFoundation.com that I have not detailed.
Not Addressing the Elephants in the Room
Some of you, dear readers, will not be pleased with me for highlighting Dubai in this positive way, given the UAE's critics and the fact that LGBTQIA folks are not welcomed there. Typically, the Herman Trend Alert does not address geo-politics and cultural differences, and I do not plan to start here. The weekly Herman Trend Alert focuses on trends. The positioning of Dubai at the forefront of futures thinking is important to note.
The Future of this Futures Endeavor
With the vision of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and the direction of the CEO of the DFF, Khalfan Belhoul, Dubai has successfully positioned itself to lead the world into the future. My expectation is that with its Dubai Future Foundation and its effective leadership, Dubai is going to be successful.
Next Week's Herman Trend Alert: How Soon Will a Robot Replace You?
There is now software that could write this Herman Trend Alert or a credible social media post or even a decent magazine article. Read about this AI breakthrough next week, when I answer the question: how soon will a robot replace you.
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