Dubai Finance (DOF) has concluded the Dubai Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum, bringing together government leaders, industry experts and academics to discuss the future of financial management, innovation and policymaking.
The Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum served as a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange on global trends and best practices in financial innovation and future foresight, and their role in enhancing government operations, improving financial management efficiency and strengthening institutional readiness for future challenges.
Key discussions on finance and emerging technologies
The Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum featured specialized panel discussions on the role of foresight in policymaking and decision-making, the future of public financial management, financial innovation and emerging technologies, and the use of big data and future scenarios to strengthen government decision-making and institutional preparedness.
Participants stressed the importance of adopting proactive, innovation-led approaches supported by future-focused analysis to strengthen fiscal sustainability, improve government services and develop more agile operating models capable of adapting to global economic and technological changes.
Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh Director General – Dubai Finance
“The Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum reflects the Department’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and future foresight across government operations, in line with the leadership’s vision to advance public financial management and enhance institutional readiness for the future. The rapid economic and technological changes shaping the world today require government financial entities to adopt a more agile, forward-looking approach to planning and decision-making. Advancing public financial management is no longer limited to updating tools and procedures. It requires rethinking operating models and embracing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and improve service quality. This supports fiscal sustainability and strengthens governments readiness for the future.”
“Foresight has become essential for enabling government entities to navigate challenges, seize emerging opportunities, and develop more agile and adaptable policies. This forum provides an important platform for sharing expertise and showcasing best practices in financial innovation and future foresight,” Al Saleh added.
Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), underscored that, “The Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum reflects the importance of integrating government development and human capacity building, as both closely linked pillars in strengthening institutions readiness for the future. The rapid global transformations make investment in people, empowering talent, and fostering a culture of innovation and forward thinking essential to ensuring the sustainability of government performance and enhancing its efficiency and agility.”
Al Falasi added that, “DGHR’s participation underscores its commitment to supporting initiatives and knowledge platforms that encourage the exchange of expertise, foster future-focused thinking, and advance government operating models that are more agile, adaptive, and capable of creating opportunities, in line with Dubai’s vision and ambitious future aspirations.”
Aref Abdulrahman Ahli, Executive Director of the Planning & General Budget Sector at DOF, said that innovation and foresight are critical to modernizing public financial management amid rapid economic and technological shifts. The upcoming phases require a more proactive approach to financial planning and government budgeting, built on the effective use of data, future-focused analytics, and multiple scenarios to support decision-making and enhance the efficiency of resource allocation, he stated.
Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum calls for continued collaboration
The Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum concluded with calls for stronger collaboration and knowledge-sharing among government entities, academic institutions and experts to advance financial innovation and future foresight, supporting Dubai’s efforts to build a more sustainable and future-ready government model.
