Forbes Middle East Concludes Its Building The Future Summit In Abu Dhabi In Partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport
Forbes Middle East concluded the inaugural Building the Future Summit, a two-day event held at Berkeley, Abu Dhabi. The summit was organized in strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, represented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, and in collaboration with One Development.
The summit’s final day saw the attendance of senior government officials and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors, alongside a distinguished cohort of experts, innovators, and real estate leaders from across the region. The discussions centered on the future of smart cities and sustainable urban development. Among the notable attendees were H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security, UAE Government; Latifa Alshehhi, Director of Investment Data Department at the Ministry of Investment; Kholood Abdulla Alsuwaidi, Head of Smart Data Section at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; Ali Sajwani, Managing Director at DAMAC Properties, Founder & CEO, Amali Properties; Ali Tumbi, Founder & Chairman of AQUA Group of Companies, as well as prominent real estate leaders including Alex Zagrebelny, Founder and CEO of R · Evolution Group; and Mohammad Rafiee, CEO of Richmind Development.
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE government, delivered a special address on leading the digital age, highlighting how a bold vision rooted in security, intelligence, and resilience is essential to shaping the cities of tomorrow. “We ensure the safety and security that everybody is leveraging in digitization and protect them in the cyber, digital economy,” he said. “We are enhancing our expertise with the great value of this society. Securing the human factor, their data and privacy, and building that cybersecurity culture.”
Ali Al Gebely, Founder & Chairman of ONE Development, said: “We begin every project by understanding the lived realities of our residents. It’s not about deploying technology for its own sake; it’s about making life easier and more efficient. For example, our AI systems don’t just automate – they help reduce operational costs, improve resource efficiency, and deliver real-time solutions. Urban congestion and cost challenges are very real, and our designs reflect that. We focus on creating integrated communities with intuitive layouts, sustainable infrastructure, and smart resource management – communities that are not only aspirational but also deeply livable.”
“We come together today to reaffirm that smart cities are not built by technology alone, but through the integration of innovation, thoughtful design, and cultural identity,” said Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East. “The discussions held throughout this summit mark a pivotal step toward a more sustainable and inclusive future. We hope this platform will foster greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing among leaders and decision-makers to drive urban transformation across the region.”
The discussions also featured a select group of filmmakers and artists, including filmmaker Marwan Hamed and filmmaker and editor Ahmed Hafez. The Redefining Smart Living panel discussed the future of housing, with the participation of Abdelbasset Betraoui, board member & Partner at Land Sterling and CEO at Horton Interiors, and Ahmed El Sherbini, CEO of Think Human.
The interactive sessions on the second day explored key trends in urban planning and the evolution of smart cities, with a focus on infrastructure resilience, sustainable mobility, smart homes, and preserving the cultural identity of urban environments. Discussions also covered strategies for reshaping workspaces and enhancing the role of public-private partnerships in accelerating data-driven urban transformation. Speakers emphasized the importance of building smart infrastructure that integrates sustainability and well-being, serving as the foundation for urban design that balances innovation with community needs.
To host the Building The Future Summit, Forbes Middle East is collaborating with many distinguished partners, including presenting partner, ONE Development; main strategic partner, the Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme; associate partners, Binghatti Developers and Reportage Properties; event partners Zane Developments, Marjan Properties, Aqua Properties, Danube Group, Hassan Allam Holding, Richmind Developers, Eywa Dubai by R.Evolution, and REEF Luxury Developments; AI and technology partner Xphere Interactive Technologies; gift partners Pure Candles, Kashida, Shuk Leather, Jasani, Business Bay, Metaspace Labs Information Technology, Aroma 24/7, Innara, and Obsidian Skincare; entertainment partner Scream Entertainment; education partner Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi; landscape partner Growhub; communications partner Gallabox Technology Consulting; transportation partner The Global Limo; furniture partner Electra; and catering partners, Evian, Solaris Tea, and Stree F&B.
