Our 2023 summit brought together global advocates, MIT professors, scholars, industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and futurists, for in-depth discussions on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and mixed realities, and their potential to disrupt business models.

Our keynote sessions and panel discussions covered emerging technologies like Gen AI, Blockchain, Digital Worlds, and payments.

NextTech Summit will be back in 2024.

SPEAKERS

speaker
H.E. Younus Al Nasser Chief Executive, Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment
Digital Dubai
United Arab Emirates
speaker
H.E. Dr. Moza Suwaidan CEO of Digital Applications and Platforms Sector, Digital Dubai Government Establishment
Digital Dubai
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Abhinav Mishra Director - Business Strategy
Vibe Media Group
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ahmed Abdelaal Group Chief Executive Officer
Mashreq Bank
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ahmad Yousry CEO
Rabbit
Egypt
speaker
Anas Bhurtun CEO & Co-founder
Arts DAO
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Baber Shaikh Senior Vice President of Engineering
Careem
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Bhavya Kumar Managing Director & Partner
BCG
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Brandon Rowberry Chief Executive Officer
Aster DM Healthcare - Digital Health
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Calum Chace Author and futurist
United Kingdom
speaker
Deepa Raja Carbon Managing Director & Vice Chairperson
Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Andrew Jackson Chief Executive Officer
Inception
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Alex  Aliper Co-Founder and President
Insilico Medicine
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Christina Yan Zhang CEO And Founder
The Metaverse Institute
United Kingdom
speaker
Dr. Clara Guerra Deputy Director - Office for Financial Market Innovation and Digitalisation
Liechtenstein
speaker
Dr. Marwan AlZarouni CEO
Dubai Blockchain Center
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Hamid Haqparwar Managing Director
BMW Group Middle East
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Ray O. Johnson Chief Executive Officer
Technology Innovation Institute
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Elias Baltassis Partner and Vice President
BCG
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ismail Issa Head of Web3 & Metaverse
Emirates Airline
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Jorge Sebastiao CoFounder and Executive Director
Global Blockchain Organization
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Jayesh Maganlal Group Chief Information & Digital Officer
Roshn
Saudi Arabia
speaker
Lake Dai Adjunct Professor, Applied AI
Carnegie Mellon University
United States of America
speaker
Maryam Alhosani HPC and Quantum Computing Specialist
G42
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Maher Al Kaabi Independent Board Member & Advisor to Group Chairman
Al Serkal Group
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Mohammad Abeidat Group Vice President Of Technology
Aramex
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Munther Dahleh Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
United States of America
speaker
Paola Pisano Professor of Innovation & Disruptive Technology, University of Turin Former Minister of Technological Innovation & Digitization
Italy
speaker
Paul Dawalibi CEO
Holodeck Ventures
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Peter Smith Managing Director, Head of Policy and Strategy
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ravi Raman Publisher
MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Riaz Naqvi Senior Editor
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Rola Abu Manneh Chief Executive Officer
Standard Chartered Bank
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Sally Mousa International Speaker, Presenter, TV, & Radio Host
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Sara Hamdan Author & Editor
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Saqr M. Ereiqat Co-Founder
Crypto Oasis Ventures
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Sebastien Borget Co-Founder
The Sandbox
France
speaker
Tareque Choudhury Vice President-Technology
Dubai Airports
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Tim Baldwin Acting Provost, Professor and Department Chair of Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Waleed Sadek Founder & CEO
Paysky, Yalla Super App
United Arab Emirates

Past Sponsors

presenting sponsor | Strategic Government Partner
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Agenda

08:30 AM
REGISTRATIONS OPEN


09:25 AM
OPENING REMARKS BY MIT SLOAN MANAGEMENT REVIEW MIDDLE EAST
09:30 AM
KEYNOTE: THE NEW LEADERSHIP PLAYBOOK FOR THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

The role of leaders is shifting from managing talent to inspiring and engaging people as members of a community of leaders and to lead in today’s world requires enhancing customer value, serving a higher purpose, fostering connectivity, and promoting creativity and continuous innovation.

speaker
H.E. Younus Al Nasser Chief Executive, Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment
Digital Dubai
United Arab Emirates
09:45 AM
FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NATIONAL GDP

Join us as we delve into the pivotal significance of research and development (R&D) in driving the growth of a nation's GDP and economy. The session will spotlight the UAE's visionary trajectory aimed at fortifying economic resilience and nurturing sustainable advancement. This path positions the UAE as a global nucleus for pioneering research and innovation, underscored by its commitment to shaping a dynamic landscape of progress.

speaker
Dr. Ray O. Johnson Chief Executive Officer
Technology Innovation Institute
United Arab Emirates
10:05 AM
Data Markets for Generative AI

In recent months, the popularity of Generative AI has risen, powered by Language Model Systems like ChatGPT and Bard, which generate coherent text from training data. The innovation stems from adapting these models using techniques like transformers and diffusion on constrained datasets. The importance of access to extensive datasets highlights the need for mechanisms like data markets.

speaker
Munther Dahleh Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
United States of America
10:25 AM
Revolutionising AI: Empowering Generative AI Through Robust Infrastructure

In an era defined by the exponential growth of artificial intelligence, the foundation upon which Generative AI thrives is built on a robust infrastructure. G42 Cloud’s presentation will delve into the core elements that make Generative AI possible, exploring the intricacies of AI training, hardware requirements, speed enhancements, and G42 Cloud’s contributions to this transformative field.

speaker
Maryam Alhosani HPC and Quantum Computing Specialist
G42
United Arab Emirates
10:40 AM
COFFEE & NETWORKING BREAK
11:00 AM
Panel: Rising to the Challenge: Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Enhanced Customer Engagement

The key to understanding how technologies can impact your business is for it to be a continuous process. We need to have a flexible and collaborative approach that involves adapting to rapid changes, involving diverse stakeholders, and understanding the technology's broader impact.

Moderator: Ravi Raman

speaker
H.E. Dr. Moza Suwaidan CEO of Digital Applications and Platforms Sector, Digital Dubai Government Establishment
Digital Dubai
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ahmed Abdelaal Group Chief Executive Officer
Mashreq Bank
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Bhavya Kumar Managing Director & Partner
BCG
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ravi Raman Publisher
MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Rola Abu Manneh Chief Executive Officer
Standard Chartered Bank
United Arab Emirates
11:40 AM
GENERATIVE AI TODAY: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, TOMORROW'S ETHICS

As Generative AI continues to evolve, this session explores its latest advancements and diverse applications. Amidst this journey, we'll confront ethical horizons and emphasize the necessity of responsible practices. As leaders in this field, we must pave the path for a responsible and sustainable Generative AI future.

speaker
Lake Dai Adjunct Professor, Applied AI
Carnegie Mellon University
United States of America
11:55 AM
The Future of AI: Ethical Challenges and the Need for Responsible AI

AI poses multivarious ethical challenges and risks. As third-party AI solutions grow and become widely adopted by organizations worldwide, so does the scope and complexity of AI ethical risks. With intensifying global regulatory scrutiny, organizations cannot afford to scale back on building robust responsible AI programs. Now is the time to double down on responsible AI. 

speaker
Elias Baltassis Partner and Vice President
BCG
United Arab Emirates
12:10 PM
Panel: The Potential of Generative AI for Rapid Enterprise Growth

Are you ready to take your enterprise from 0 to 100 with AI? Join our discussion to see how Generative AI can accelerate innovation and identify new business opportunities. Learn strategies for implementing it in an enterprise context and future-proofing your business for the age of AI-driven growth.

Moderator : Sara Hamdan

speaker
Brandon Rowberry Chief Executive Officer
Aster DM Healthcare - Digital Health
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Calum Chace Author and futurist
United Kingdom
speaker
Dr. Alex  Aliper Co-Founder and President
Insilico Medicine
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Sara Hamdan Author & Editor
United Arab Emirates
12:40 PM
Cognitive Forecasting: Harnessing AI for Timely Alerts

Explore the capabilities of AI technology in anticipating and managing societal disturbances. Discover how this innovative predictive system provides decision-makers with essential insights to preemptively tackle and lessen potential issues affecting worldwide harmony and diplomatic resolutions.

speaker
Paola Pisano Professor of Innovation & Disruptive Technology, University of Turin Former Minister of Technological Innovation & Digitization
Italy
12:55 PM
Panel: Digital Currencies on the Rise: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape

Is it a brave new world of financial innovation or a potential minefield of legal and regulatory challenges? Can they be trusted as a legitimate form of currency or investment? What are the risks and benefits of adopting digital currencies, and how are governments and financial institutions navigating the evolving regulatory landscape?

Moderator: Sally Mousa

speaker
Deepa Raja Carbon Managing Director & Vice Chairperson
Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Clara Guerra Deputy Director - Office for Financial Market Innovation and Digitalisation
Liechtenstein
speaker
Peter Smith Managing Director, Head of Policy and Strategy
Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Sally Mousa International Speaker, Presenter, TV, & Radio Host
United Arab Emirates
01:30 PM
LUNCH BREAK


02:15 PM
The Intersection of Digital Twins, AI, and Metaverse in Smart City Evolution for a Sustainable Future

These emerging technologies could be effectively harnessed to transform and enhance education, improve the livelihood of inhabitants and generate income, provide access to public and private services, strengthen global cooperation and community building, boost citizen engagement and enable new cooperative and collaboration models. We will highlight how these emerging technologies can accelerate their pathway to achieving the SDGs in smart cities.

speaker
Dr. Christina Yan Zhang CEO And Founder
The Metaverse Institute
United Kingdom
02:30 PM
Panel: What Web3 Means for your Business

Web3 is still in its early stages, so its future remains uncertain. Advocates envision a decentralised and interoperable model with expanding marketplaces, offering opportunities for co-creation and ownership. However, questions remain: Will it be more prone to fraud, hacks, and attacks? Will it achieve mass adoption? Is Web3 the next frontier?

Moderator: Paul Dawalibi

speaker
Anas Bhurtun CEO & Co-founder
Arts DAO
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Ismail Issa Head of Web3 & Metaverse
Emirates Airline
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Paul Dawalibi CEO
Holodeck Ventures
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Sebastien Borget Co-Founder
The Sandbox
France
03:00 PM
Panel: Unlocking the Potential of the Industrial Digital Twin

In an era of remote work and distributed operations, the concept of Digital Twins emerges as a transformative medium for collaboration and innovation. By providing real-time, virtual representations of physical products coupled with AI analytics, Digital Twins offer a unique opportunity for enterprises. Join us as we explore the immense potential of leveraging Digital Twins to enable organizations to model, predict, and enhance operations from any corner of the globe.

Moderator : Riaz Naqvi

speaker
Dr. Hamid Haqparwar Managing Director
BMW Group Middle East
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Jayesh Maganlal Group Chief Information & Digital Officer
Roshn
Saudi Arabia
speaker
Maher Al Kaabi Independent Board Member & Advisor to Group Chairman
Al Serkal Group
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Riaz Naqvi Senior Editor
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Tareque Choudhury Vice President-Technology
Dubai Airports
United Arab Emirates
03:30 PM
Fireside Chat - Redefining Limits: Journey of Generative AI from Basics to the Cutting Edge

Uncover the limitless potential of integrating cutting-edge computing with your generative AI ventures. Journey through the realm of benefits, obstacles, and pivotal components essential for cultivating a resilient system spanning diverse landscapes. Join us as we decode the constantly evolving panorama of AI innovation and its profound reverberations on the realm of generative applications, including cloud-based considerations.

Moderator: Abhinav Mishra

speaker
Abhinav Mishra Director - Business Strategy
Vibe Media Group
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Dr. Andrew Jackson Chief Executive Officer
Inception
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Tim Baldwin Acting Provost, Professor and Department Chair of Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
United Arab Emirates
03:45 PM
Panel: Breaking the Chain: How Blockchain and Crypto Payments are Disrupting Traditional Businesses

Blockchain and crypto payments are disrupting traditional payment systems and opening up new opportunities for businesses. Industry experts will discuss how blockchain and crypto payments are enabling businesses to streamline transactions, enhance financial inclusivity, reduce costs, and increase security and transparency.

Moderator : Dr. Christina Yan Zhang

speaker
Dr. Christina Yan Zhang CEO And Founder
The Metaverse Institute
United Kingdom
speaker
Dr. Marwan AlZarouni CEO
Dubai Blockchain Center
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Jorge Sebastiao CoFounder and Executive Director
Global Blockchain Organization
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Saqr M. Ereiqat Co-Founder
Crypto Oasis Ventures
United Arab Emirates
04:15 PM
Panel: The Rise of Super Apps

Super-apps hold immense potential for bridging the gap between diverse industries and revolutionising user experiences. Through the seamless integration of services, strategic collaborations, and enhanced payment capabilities, should we brace ourselves for a seismic shift in consumer expectations?

Moderator : Mohammad Abeidat

speaker
Ahmad Yousry CEO
Rabbit
Egypt
speaker
Baber Shaikh Senior Vice President of Engineering
Careem
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Mohammad Abeidat Group Vice President Of Technology
Aramex
United Arab Emirates
speaker
Waleed Sadek Founder & CEO
Paysky, Yalla Super App
United Arab Emirates
04:45 PM
CLOSING REMARKS

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Venue

The Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The hotel is located in Dubai’s most vibrant destination for business, restaurants, and the arts. Guests can enjoy the outstanding business and leisure facilities, whilst benefiting from a direct walkway to The Gate, at the heart of DIFC, plus the added convenience of the city of Dubai.