4 days ago
Future-ready UAE shows the world how foresight builds long-term resilience
5 Aug 2025 00:03
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
For the UAE, foresight is not only a strategic imperative but a national compass guiding institutions and communities through rapid developments and boosting long-term resilience, a leading futurist has told Aletihad . Dr. Sulaiman Al Kaabi, CEO of the Future Foresight Foundation, said foresight was no longer some obscure academic practice but had been built into governance and policymaking.'Today, the element of foresight is clearly present in every government plan or initiative,' he said.'The leadership recognises that remaining at the forefront of innovative nations requires a long-term vision and constant preparedness for unexpected changes. Foresight is not a luxury; it is part of the national identity.'An expert in strategic foresight and futures studies, Dr. Al Kaabi is the first person from the UAE and the Gulf region to join the Association of Professional Futurists (APF). He is also a member of the World Future Society (WFS). He authored the Future Foresight Encyclopaedia in Arabic, the first of its kind in the Arab represents a way of thinking — a formative value and an element of national identity, he said.'It begins from the outside in; it examines global changes and builds scenarios around them. Traditional planning [on the other hand] starts from the inside out, building on current capabilities,' Dr. Al Kaabi said. 'Foresight is the compass, and planning is the roadmap,' he said, stressing its importance in a fast-changing world of 'technological, social, and economic revolutions.'Foresight 'places the UAE in a position of initiative, not reaction'. It is evident in how the country is preparing for challenges such as AI's impact on the workforce, climate change, cybersecurity, and resource sustainability, Dr. Al Kaabi said. Foresight allows the UAE to act fast in times of crisis, with plans ready before problems arise, he said. He pointed to the UAE's swift COVID-19 response as proof of how foresight works; just as it underpins long-term goals like We the UAE 2031 and UAE Centennial 2071.'Foresight provides the country with the tools necessary to review its path and update its goals based on global developments,' Dr. Al Kaabi said.
Leveraging New TechAI and big data have revolutionised how strategies are future-proofed, he added. Advanced technology now bolsters entities' ability to create 'accurate scenarios, faster decisions, and plans that can be adjusted instantly.' Future Foresight Foundation has been helping institutions build future-ready plans and stay ahead of emerging trends.'It is the first private foundation in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf to place scientific foresight at the core of its work,' Dr. Al Kaabi said. 'It specialises in conducting futures studies and developing practical, implementable scenarios.' The foundation collaborates with the public and private sectors and philanthropic organisations across the world through consultations, training courses, and strategic programmes to help them prepare for potential disruptions and capitalise on new opportunities. 'We are committed to applying globally recognised scientific methodologies and utilising the latest analytical and artificial intelligence tools to create accurate visions of the future,' Dr. Al Kaabi said. The foundation, for an instance, uses an Arab-developed foresight model based on global best practices. It uses big data and expert insights to build detailed, sector-specific scenarios. Foresight, he added, now drives progress in education, healthcare, energy, security, and the economy.
Empowering the Youth Central to building future-ready strategies is empowering the youth, and the UAE has been on the right track when it comes to highlighting the importance of looking ahead. 'Young people are the fuel and engine of any real change… We must empower them to become the makers of the future,' Dr. Al Kaabi the country, foresight is being embedded in education, he added. 'We need foresight to be a fundamental component of the educational process, not just an additional subject or a side activity.
With the UAE's clear vision and a future-focused mindset, the country has become 'an international reference in future thinking.' Dr. Al Kaabi said.
