Hormuz disruption and weakening policy commitment dragged down Middle East transition readiness in 2026. Saudi Arabia bucked the trend with accelerated renewables and battery storage investment, WEF's Energy Transition Index said.

The AI and Cyber: Empowering Defenders report, developed in collaboration with KPMG, highlights measurable gains in cost reduction, response speed and resilience.

Eight technology domains, including AI, robotics, engineering biology and advanced materials are no longer advancing in isolation.

Drew Propson, Head of Technology and Innovation in Financial Services at the World Economic Forum, explains how sustainable growth, AI innovation, and a strong regulatory and talent infrastructure are reshaping global and MENA startup ecosystems.

The models that once governed aid, CSR, employment, and economic engagement are shifting, and the GCC has an opportunity to lead the transition rather than adapt to it.

In Saudi Arabia, more than 60 percent of the population is under 30, and across the GCC, over 50 percent was under 25 in 2021. This demographic strength is shaping the foundation of the region’s emerging knowledge economy.

In its latest Chief Economists’ Outlook, the WEF said 53 percent of surveyed economists expect global economic conditions to weaken in the year ahead, down from 72 percent in September 2025, signaling cautious optimism amid persistent uncertainty.

Experts warn economic warfare, misinformation and unchecked AI could amplify global shocks as cooperation weakens across political and trade blocs.

In its flagship World Economic Outlook (WEO) report -- compiled before the most recent US-China tariff spat -- the IMF hiked its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.2 percent, up from 3.0 in July, while leaving its prediction for 2026 unchanged at 3.1 percent.

The report, Jobs of Tomorrow: Technology and the Future of the World's Largest Workforces, developed by the WEF's Global Future Council on Jobs and Frontier Technology, examines seven job families where technological transformation will likely have the greatest global impact.

The World Economic Forum will convene more than 500 experts from government, business, academia, international organizations, civil society and media, alongside 150 of the world’s foremost cybersecurity leaders

The World Economic Forum has named BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Swiss entrepreneur André Hoffmann as interim co-chairs, with both leaders vowing to steer the organization into “a new chapter” focused on global collaboration and shared prosperity.

The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and tariff volatility fuel uncertainty and risk stalling long-term decision-making, according to a World Economic Forum report released on Wednesday.

Stocks later rallied after Trump announced a 90-day pause on additional higher tariffs that were set to impact around 80 countries. Today, trade tensions persist as governments and business leaders negotiate tariffs rates and exemption policies, fuelling uncertainty and turbulence in financial markets, he adds.

The Trump administration’s trade tariffs and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement pose major risks to global economic growth and energy markets. Meanwhile, record energy investment surpassing $1.5 trillion signals cautious optimism, yet low-carbon spending remains stagnant. OPEC+ faces challenges in maintaining oil prices amid resilient non-OPEC supply, adding further uncertainty...

Public-private partnerships are essential for advancing sustainable urban development and meeting net-zero targets, Vivian Brady Phillips, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Urban Transformation at the WEF tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

Visit Saudi, experience the warmth, generosity and hospitality of the people, Jerry Inzerillo tells TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

DAVOS: The future of global collaborations is being shaped by innovation and the ubiquitous embrace of immersive technologies, which continue to drive industry transformations. For a glimpse into this future, TRENDS spoke with Chieh Huang, President of WEF’s Global Collaboration Village, during last week’s Davos meeting to discuss how VR...

In an exclusive interview with TRENDS, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter emphasized the critical role of financial stability in safeguarding global economic health, calling for nations to act from "inner strength."

The rise of the gig economy has led to significant shifts in employment, with workers increasingly balancing multiple income streams. While it offers flexibility, the lack of benefits and job security remains a concern. As the market grows, finding a fair balance between innovation and worker protection will be key,...

AI systems exceeding human capabilities across all fields could render many jobs obsolete in a decade, Stuart Russell, Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley told TRENDS in an exclusive interview.

"Growth at all costs no longer an option," says world-renowned tourism policy, planning and development expert Dr Marina Novelli in an interview.

The growth of the space industry will largely be built upon the increased reach of space-based and/or -enabled technologies, such as communications, positioning, navigation and timing, and Earth observation.

The world of work is changing fast. By 2027, businesses predict that almost half (44%) of workers’ core skills will be disrupted, found the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report. Technology, the report said, is moving faster than companies can design and scale up their training programs. AI, according to...

Dubai, UAE-- Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the Middle East needs a strong Saudi Arabia to contribute and that the future outlook looked positive despite recent shocks. The minister was speaking at Davos in a session titled "Saudi Arabia: Continuing Efforts towards a More Sustainable Economy". Al-Jadaan said...

Davos, Switzerland — Saudi Arabia will host a special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh this April, Saudi Economy and Planning Minister Faisal Al Ibrahim said on Thursday. Speaking at the panel 'Saudi Arabia: The Course Ahead', Faisal Al Ibrahim said the event will focus on global collaborations,...

Davos, Switzerland -- The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet's member, and Climate Affairs Envoy, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir has called for diversification of energy sources to meet the increasing global demand for energy. The minister made these remarks Wednesday at a session titled “Bold Steps for a...

Davos, Switzerland--A new World Economic Forum report titled the Future of Growth Report 2024 foresees a significant economic slowdown, estimated to fall to the lowest rate in three decades by 2030, amid ongoing economic and geopolitical shocks. The report released today, offers a re-evaluation of global economic growth, introducing a...

Prime Minister Li Qiang, who will make a special address on Tuesday, will be the most senior Chinese official to attend Davos since President Xi Jinping in 2017. The Prime Minister will be joined by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, the governor of the People's Bank of China and high-ranking...

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland--Global economic prospects remain subdued and fraught with uncertainty, according to the latest Chief Economists Outlook released today, as the global economy continues to grapple with headwinds from tight financial conditions, geopolitical rifts and rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI). More than half of chief economists (56%) expect...

Geneva, Switzerland - The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 is set to gather over 2,800 global leaders in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 15-19, with the overarching theme of "Rebuilding Trust." Against a backdrop of increasing division and uncertainty worldwide, the forum aims to foster dialogue, enhance collaboration, and forge...

Dubai, UAE -- Regulations alone will not safeguard the public against nefarious uses of Artificial Intelligence, people also need to be educated on how generative AI is used, what can be gained and what they should look out for while consuming it, an expert has said. Victor Riparbelli, cofounder and...

UAE's launch of Food Innovation Hub emphasizes the government's eagerness to innovate and collaborate for sustainable food systems, WEF's Tania Strauss tells TRENDS.

The transformation hinges on nearly all major companies adopting nature-related goals, with biodiversity credits playing a major role.

The Middle East and North Africa region scores only 62.6% in gender parity, and at the current pace, the region will achieve full parity in 152 years, says a latest WEF report.

Dubai, UAE - The number of deepfake videos online is increasing at an annual rate of 900 percent according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). A lot of deepfake fraud cases hit major headlines in the news, with reports relating to harassment, revenge, crypto scams. Here are three top three...

The goal is to create a prosperous digital economy, built upon a robust digital infrastructure and a regulatory and legislative framework, says UAE Minister of State for AI.

Women represented only 11.4% of executives in major firms in Japan in 2022, according to a survey, although the figure has been rising. "We seek to have the ratio of women among executives at 30 percent or more in companies that are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market,"...

There is a need for more regulations in the cryptocurrency industry to prevent immoral and aberrant behavior, says Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications head.

Regarding structural transformations to be witnessed in various vital economic sectors, Schwab says there will be about 10 billion people in need of energy by 2050. He stresses on the need to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and reach zero carbon emissions.

The initiative is a crucial step in modernizing global trade, using the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

The WEF president concluded the first major international gathering of the year on a positive note saying progress has been made to tackle world's grave issues. This despite many economists forecasting recessionary risks in 2023 and geopolitical tensions continuing to shape the global economy.

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland-- Satya Nadella, Microsoft Chairman and CEO, believes that a golden age of AI is underway and will redefine work as we know it. Speaking at a session of the World Economic Forum, Nadella said: “The future of work is not just about technology and tools,” he said. It’s...

Dubai, UAE--The World Economic Forum (WEF) has selected the UAE's Gender Balance Council (GBC) as a knowledge partner to advance gender balance globally. The recognition reflects the UAE Gender Balance Council’s significant achievements, guided by the UAE leadership’s vision to create an environment that empowers and enables women to succeed...

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland-- India's Minister for New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh has told developed countries to '"walk the talk" on transforming food systems by helping smallholder farmers in developing countries with cheaper access to irrigation, fertilizers and markets. The minister was speaking at a session on “Interplay of Food,...

Geneva, Switzerland: A project powered by Artificial Intelligence piloted in Turkey last year has improved wildfire prediction by combining static and meteorological datasets and reduced both response time and risk to firefighters, the World Economic Forum said. The FireAId initiative, launched by the WEF in Jan 2022, which was successfully...

The UAE attaches great importance to developing the intellectual property (IP) system and encouraging innovators and creators and the country has made significant progress in this regard by developing a legislative structure for this vital sector and promulgating a number of laws that will help build innovation capabilities and promote...

The cooperation seeks to transform Qatar into an advanced economic and industrial hub by enhancing its international connections network.

Beside the UAE, other GCC countries that have sent delegations to the Davos forum include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman to share their perspective on contemporary issues.

Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman appear on track to take giant strides in diversifying their portfolios when it comes to power generation.