Dubai Future Academy

Held 12 interactive discussion sessions as part of its second edition of the Ramadan Pioneer Series which took place during the holy month of Ramadan.

The sessions were attended by over 500 participants including, industry experts, youth, representatives from government and privet sectors and the general public.

The sessions featured high-profile speakers, including decision makers, experts and innovative project owners, with the objective of spreading knowledge in society, share expertise and successful experiences.

Saeed Al Gergawi, Director of Dubai Future Academy, said that the Pioneer Series is organized as part of the academy’s vision to be the optimal knowledge hub, bringing together youth and future leaders by foreseeing the future of vital sectors in the UAE.

He added: “This year’s Ramadan Pioneer Series has managed to attract a wide-ranging group of speakers and attendants to sessions relating to various scientific, cultural, urban and environmental topics. The sessions were filled with interactive discussions and in-depth insights on many important concepts and issues that will have an impact on the future of the UAE and humanity.”

Distinguished Participation

 The speakers list of the Second Edition of the Ramadan Pioneer Series included H.E. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Al Ihsan Charity Association, Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder and Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association, and Eng. Omran Sharaf, Emirates Mars Mission Project Manager (Hope) from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

The sessions also featured Dr. Eva-Marie Muller-Stuler, Chief Data Scientist and Centre of Excellence leader IBM Middle East, South Africa and Turkey, Eng. Rashad Bukhash, Chairman of the Architectural Heritage Society, Eng. Ahmad Mahmoud Ahmad, Director of Urban Heritage and Archeology Department – Dubai Municipality, Dr. Mansour Boraik, Head of Urban Heritage and Archeology Department – Dubai Municipality, Dr. Ghanim Kashwani, Post-Doctoral Associate, NYU Abu Dhabi, Dr. Fatma Taher, Assistant dean in the College of Technological Innovation and the CEO of Happiness and Wellbeing at Zayed University, Mitch Sinclair, Chief Creative Officer of Palmwood & Design Director at IDEO, and Sandeep Pahuja Director at Palmwood and IDEO.

 Interactive Sessions

 Sessions were held at the Dubai Future Academy located in the Office of the Future, the first fully functional 3D printed building. This year’s edition featured a new experience for participants, namely networking opportunities and interactive discussions after each session that offered them the chance to ask questions, exchange expertise and engage with leading pioneers in the UAE and the world.

H.E. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Developm

ent, highlighted in the ‘Future of Culture’ session that role of modern technology in preserving culture, she stated: “Technology provides new opportunities in the field of knowledge, culture and creativity as it opens wide possibilities for innovators and artists to increase their cultural productivity and promote it to new segments of society, as it became vital in preserving the global cultural heritage through increasing the level of awareness about the importance of heritage sites worldwide.”

In ‘Inspiration and the Future’, Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Ihsan Charity Association, noted the important role of imagination when it comes to inspiration, which motivates people to work and succeed time and time again.

Architectural Heritage and AI

 In a panel discussion on archeological and architectural heritage in Dubai, Eng. Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, Chairman of the Architectural Heritage Society, emphasized the importance of preserving and caring for historical buildings in developing heritage and economic tourism by turning them into historical museums and traditional markets. Eng. Ahmad Mahmoud Ahmad, Director General of the Architectural Heritage and Antiquities Department in Dubai Municipality, noted that there are 3250 historical archaeological sites in Dubai alone, 677 of which are traditional buildings. These buildings are spread across 5 regions: Al Shandagha, Al Fahidi, Al Souq Al Kabeer in Bur Dubai, Al Souq Al Kabeer in Deira, and Al Ras, as well as other regions outside the emirate of Duabi.

Dr. Eva-Marie Muller-Stuler, Chief Data Scientist and Centre of Excellence leader IBM Middle East, South Africa and Turkey, held a session titled “Uncovering the Myth of AI”, which highlighted the role of AI affecting people’s personal and work life, along with the opportunities it will create, noting that AI will not only impact us as individuals, but will also change the way we interact with each other, and adding that we must learn to manage such technologies and utilize them responsibly.

 Health and Technology

 Dubai Future Academy also hosted Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder and Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association in a special session titled “Reprogram Your Genes”, during which she talked about the importance of studying genetics in enhancing the health of society, noting that genes are now manageable and that more research should be done to achieve positive impact in health and medicine. She also cited the successful treatment of beta thalassemia in 2017 through the cooperation of public and private entities. Dr. Matar noted the importance of preserving stem cells, which could be extracted from bone marrow for future use, as they play an important role in treating Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, HIV and eye diseases.

In another session, Dr. Fatma Taher, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and the CEO of Happiness and Wellbeing at Zayed University, emphasized the importance of using modern technologies in the early detection of incurable diseases, and has shared her findings, such as using AI to detect lung cancer.

This year’s Ramadan Pioneer sessions have also included an additional session in cooperation with Mate Debate, featuring 6 debaters who held a professional discussion on the impact of social media influencers on our daily lives, which saw intense participation from the audience.