Forbes Middle East kicked off the third edition of its Sustainability Leaders Summit.
The summit brought together global leaders
and decision-makers from across the public and private sectors, alongside
sustainability experts, investors, and entrepreneurs.
The platform focused on exploring
innovative solutions that balance economic growth with environmental
stewardship, while spotlighting investment opportunities in the green economy.
Among the key participants were Abdulnasser
Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium; John Saad, Managing Director and
CEO of Contact Financial Holding; Tariq Chauhan, Cofounder and Vice Chairman of
EFS Facilities Services Group; Hugo Losada, CEO of Emirates Cement, part of
EMSTEEL Group; as well as a number of senior executives and pioneering
clean-tech startups.
The event is chaired by Dr Amna bint
Abdullah Al Dahak, the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, under
the theme “Guided by Legacy, Committed to Sustainability.”
Organised in strategic partnership with the
Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Zayed
Sustainability Prize, and Zayed Authority for People of Determination, with
NMDC Group as presenting partner, the summit underscores the UAE’s pivotal role
in driving climate action and advancing the transition to a green economy.
The opening of the two-day summit, held at
the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, was attended by Sheikha Dr Shamma Mohammed
Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Board, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalid Al
Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions; Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri,
Secretary-General of EAD; Abdulla Abdulalee Abdulla Al Humaidan,
Secretary-General of the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination;
and Yasser Zaghloul, Group CEO of NMDC Group.
“Water scarcity is not merely a crisis we
face—it is a threat to societal stability,” Sheikha Dr Shamma emphasised in her
address titled A Drop of Awareness, The Gateway to Abundance Begins with an
Idea. “In any society that fails to find sustainable solutions to water
scarcity, social security will inevitably be compromised. Every drop of water
that is managed consciously and efficiently becomes, in essence, a foundation
for societal resilience.”
She highlighted that in 2024, Sheikh
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, launched the Mohamed bin
Zayed Water Initiative to confront the global water crisis. The initiative aims
to tackle water scarcity both locally and internationally, reflecting the UAE’s
enduring values of cooperation, shared responsibility, and human solidarity.
Built on key pillars, it focuses on technological innovation, deploying
effective solutions to manage water resources, and raising awareness—locally
and globally—about the existential threat humanity faces.
“The
Earth belongs to all of us, not to one nation or generation, but to humanity as
a whole. Without shared awareness, solutions remain words on paper,” Sheikha Dr
Shamma asserted. “But when ideas are driven by collective consciousness, they
become tangible realities.” Concluding her speech, she said: “Fill the cup of
the future with drops of action and innovation. Today, a drop of awareness;
tomorrow, a river of abundance. Let us remain united in building these drops of
awareness, for the sake of abundance.”
“Today, we are not waiting — we are moving
forward with steady resolve, guided by the vision of our wise leadership in the
UAE, to confront challenges and build a prosperous future. From here, from Abu
Dhabi —the land that turned sustainability into both a promise and a legacy —
we carry forward a commitment to future generations,” said Khuloud Al Omian,
CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East. “This summit, held under the
theme ‘Guided by Legacy, Committed to Sustainability,’ draws inspiration from the
vision of our founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who
taught us that true progress lies in balancing what we build today with what we
preserve for tomorrow.”
“From this deep belief in the future, we
are proud to launch the Youth Hub as part of this year’s summit, reaffirming
our belief that the seeds of the future are planted today, and that it is our
youth who will turn ideas into achievements and visions into tangible
realities,” she added.
For her part, Dr Al Dahak shared how the
Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit represents an integrated platform that
brings together governments, the private sector, and youth under a unified
vision for a more sustainable future. “Coinciding with the IUCN World
Conservation Congress, the Summit affirms the UAE's steadfast commitment, under
the leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
President of the UAE, to achieving sustainability across all sectors. Our
efforts lead action at both national and global levels,” she noted.
“In the UAE, we believe that confronting
climate change, developing sustainable agriculture, preserving nature and
ecosystems, promoting the green economy, and transitioning to sustainable
production and consumption systems are key pillars for achieving balanced
development and enhancing economic competitiveness,” Dr. Amna stated. “The
success of any sustainability framework requires integrating efforts, unifying
visions, and ensuring that environmental and developmental policies are aligned
with economic, technological, and social transformations to guarantee
sustainable growth and community resilience.”
Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief
of Forbes Middle East, opened the summit by emphasising that the Forbes Middle
East Sustainability Leaders Summit “embodies the spirit of collaboration and
shared responsibility in driving climate action.” She noted that innovation,
partnership, and investment in knowledge are the core pillars of genuine transformation—one
that ensures progress for both people and the planet.
Al Omian underscored that building a
thriving green economy begins with “a new mindset—one that merges technology
with environmental consciousness.” Reflecting on the summit’s setting, she
described Abu Dhabi as “a capital of environmental thought and innovation,”
adding that the gathering reaffirms the region’s commitment to turning “vision
into achievement, and ambition into reality, in service of both humanity and
the Earth.”
Dr Al Dhaheri said: “Abu Dhabi’s approach
to sustainability places nature at the heart of development, recognising that
environmental health underpins economic prosperity and social well-being.
Through science, technology and strong partnerships, we are advancing a model
of growth that values restoration as much as innovation. The Forbes
Sustainability Leaders Summit provides an important platform to share this
vision where collaboration fuels climate action, youth drive change and every
investment in nature becomes an investment in the future of our planet.”
The first day’s agenda featured in-depth
discussions on the role of ESGs in fostering economic growth and advancing
climate action, alongside the importance of public-private partnerships in
driving innovative, scalable solutions.
Sessions also explored the region’s major
industrial transformations, emphasising the critical role of advanced
technology and artificial intelligence in reducing emissions and building more
sustainable economic systems.
A key highlight of the first day was the
announcement of the Forbes Middle East Youth Council, a new platform empowering
the next generation to shape their vision for the future.
The council aims to enhance leadership
skills, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, support emerging projects, and
develop creative solutions to the challenges facing societies today.
It also seeks to embed a culture of
environmental and social sustainability across all its initiatives, driven by
the belief that lasting change can only be achieved through the awareness and
active participation of young people in every field.
Day one concluded with a ceremony honouring CEOs, executives, and organisations leading the sustainability agenda, underscoring that building a green future demands collective effort and shared responsibility across all sectors of society. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service
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