World Government Summit kicks off in Dubai

The World Government Summit 2026 kicked off on Tuesday in Dubai with the theme "Shaping Future Governments." This year's summit has drawn more than 35 global leaders and 150 government delegations.

Discussions are centered on evolving policy frameworks and strengthening international cooperation to tackle pressing economic, social, and technological challenges. A primary focus within economic governance remains the resilience and management of global supply chains.

John Denton, secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), said one of the points the ICC always makes is that if you want that supply chain to function properly, you need to ensure that it's resilient. Increasingly they are trying to encourage access on the basis that there will be sustainable supply chains, thereby driving investment in green supply chains, etc, he added, highlighting its importance for developing and emerging economies and their ability to participate as well.

Other key agenda items include global trade logistics, artificial intelligence, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Delegates hope these high-level discussions will soon translate into actionable national policies.

Parallel to the summit, the World Laureates Association made two landmark announcements.

Roger Kornberg, chairman of the World Laureates Association, announced the launch of the OPENSCI platform, for the benefit of scientific research. Through the OPENSCI Initiative, the association aims to establish a fair and efficient reward mechanism for knowledge contribution.

The WLA also unveiled its new regional hub in the Middle East, the WLA Dubai, marking a milestone for the association.