Sheikha Shamma joins World Economic Forum as Executive Fellow for global innovation

Abu Dhabi: Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan has been appointed by the World Economic Forum as Executive Fellow of the Science, Discovery and Innovation pillar at the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders.

The pillar is one of six core themes of the meeting, which is being held from October 13 to 15 and is organised jointly by the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum.

Sheikha Shamma chairs several organisations focused on sustainability and social impact, including Frontier25, The Climate Tribe, Aurora50, the Alliance for Global Sustainability (AGS) and Reset MENA.

Her appointment is seen as international recognition of the part Emirati leaders are playing in shaping the future. It also reflects her rising profile as a global voice on issues such as sustainability, climate action, social impact and cultural responsibility, as well as other forward-looking concerns that directly affect communities and their quality of life.

Speaking about the appointment, Sheikha Shamma said she was honoured to be chosen by the World Economic Forum and welcomed the chance to engage with leading experts from different fields.

“I have always believed that the knowledge and stories we exchange shape the future we are building,” she said. “This is more important now than ever before in the context of climate action, where the question is how fast can we scale solutions and how fairly do we support others.”

She added that she hoped to share lessons from the UAE’s work with a global audience, and to use the platform to encourage more people, “from classrooms to boardrooms”, to see themselves as part of the solution.

The future-focused tracks at the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders bring together a new generation of leaders to collaborate on creating bold opportunities in a fast-changing world, while building resilience and readiness to meet emerging challenges.

A strategic partnership

The initiative creates stronger connections between today’s decision-makers and future leaders. Future track leads will serve for a one-year term, during which they will provide thought leadership, strategic guidance and convening power around their respective themes, helping sustain momentum and collaboration beyond the annual meeting itself.

Sheikha Shamma was selected as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders community in 2023, joining a distinguished group of around 100 exceptional young leaders recognised globally for their achievements and impact across diverse fields.

The Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders 2026 is one of the flagship initiatives of the strategic partnership between the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum.

The meeting aims to strengthen the role of global leaders in shaping the future and brings together more than 700 leaders and experts from 90 countries, including ministers, senior government officials, 300 Young Global Leaders and 150 UAE government leaders. The gathering serves as a global platform to explore emerging transformations, assess their implications and opportunities, and develop practical solutions to future challenges.

The meeting programme focuses on six strategic themes: Artificial Intelligence, Technology & Human Agency; Science, Discovery and Innovation; Economic Growth; Geopolitics, Security & Trade; Leadership and Human Flourishing; and Climate, Nature and Sustainability.