Knowledge Summit 2025: A Roadmap for Building Sustainable Communities
The Knowledge Summit 2025 concluded its 10th edition on November 19–20 at the Dubai World Trade Center, under the theme “Knowledge Markets: Advancing Sustainable Communities.” Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), the summit has become a global platform bringing together policymakers, thinkers, and innovators from over 100 countries to discuss the future of knowledge and development.
Global Knowledge Index 2025 Results
One of the Summit’s highlights was the announcement of the Global Knowledge Index 2025 results. This year, Switzerland ranked first in the Global Knowledge Index, followed by Singapore in second place and Sweden in third. Regionally, the United Arab Emirates maintained its position at the forefront of the Arab world, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The 2025 edition featured a comprehensive methodological update designed to enhance accuracy, cross-country comparability, and adaptability to rapid global transformations in the knowledge sector. It covered 195 countries, included 6 sub-sector indices, and comprised 115 indicators, providing policymakers with a more effective tool to design both short- and long-term strategies to address challenges and strengthen knowledge economies.
Future Skills Academy: Inspiring Success Stories
One year after its official launch, the Knowledge Summit hosted top learners from the Future Skills Academy. Winners of the “Best Learner” and “My Career Achievement” competitions shared inspiring insights from their learning journeys and success stories, aiming to motivate new participants.
Summit Sessions Highlights
The Knowledge Summit 2025 agenda featured 45 sessions addressing the latest global trends and challenges. Key session titles included: Where Ideas Meet People: The Power of Knowledge Markets, The DNA of Knowledge Markets: Data, Networks, Access, Propelling Economies Toward Growth, Dynamism and Resilience, Reimagining Multilateralism in a Fragmented World, The Role of Women in Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Knowledge Markets, Changing Minds, Changing Habits: Driving Behaviour for a Sustainable Future, Arabic Language and AI: Indicators, Applications, and Prospects, and AI-Powered World: The Next Human Revolution, Emails Can Wait (Unless You’re a Heart Surgeon).
Knowledge Policy Roundtables
For the first time, the Summit hosted eight roundtables that brought together government officials, private sector representatives, experts, academics, and innovators to discuss knowledge policy topics shaping the future.
Roundtable sessions included:
- Inclusive Digital and AI Governance for Resilient Economics
- Development Intelligence as the Operating System for More Effective Decision-Making
- Micro-Credentials: The New Currency of Learning
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: The Impact of Data Science on Policy and Governance
- Advancing Gender Equality in Tomorrow's Labour Markets
Global Speakers
The Summit brought together 130 speakers from more than 100 countries. Key speakers included:
- H.E. Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations, and Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP
- Dr. Salem bin Mohammed Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO)
- Dr. Nasser Bakr Alkahtani, Executive Director of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)
- Leo Tilman, Chairman and CEO of Agilion Systems
- Harrison Lung, Group Chief Strategy Officer at e&
- Adam Smith, Director of Open Science Consulting Limited and Chief Scientific Officer at Nobel Prize Outreach AB
- Alexis Jean-Baptiste, Chief Data Analytics & AI Officer at L'Oréal Middle East
- Dr. David Gurteen, Writer and Conversationalist
- Dr. Khaled Ghattas, Head of Planning & Operations – MEA, SANOFI, UAE