On February 3, marking the official convergence day of two major global gatherings – the World Laureates Summit (WLS) and the World Government Summit (WGS) – the World Laureates Association (WLA) and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) signed a landmark Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

Under this agreement, both organizations will drive international scientific research, foster technology innovation, and nurture young scientific talent, with the overarching vision of establishing Dubai as a core global hub bridging basic and applied sciences.

The signing ceremony was solemnly witnessed by Prof Roger Kornberg, Chairman of the World Laureates Association and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, alongside H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Vice Chairman of the World Government Summit. The memorandum was signed by Mr Wang Hou, Founder, Executive Director, and Secretary-General of the WLA, and H.E. Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation, representing their respective organizations.

Mr Wang Hou (Founder, Executive Director & Secretary-General, WLA), Prof Roger Kornberg (Chairman, WLA; Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama (UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Vice Chairman, WGS), and H.E. Khalfan Juma Belhoul (CEO, Dubai Future Foundation).

Pioneering the Future of Global Science

The Dubai Future Foundation, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, serves as the UAE's flagship national entity tasked with proactively shaping the future of Dubai and humanity through forward-thinking strategies and technological innovation. Renowned globally for its annual "Future Opportunities: Global 50" report series, DFF has systematically identified over 200 future opportunities and thousands of actionable concepts, delivering a clear roadmap for global decision-makers and earning international recognition as one of the world's premier future-research institutions.

Beyond strategic foresight, DFF operates as a world-class innovation incubator. Its signature Dubai Sandbox initiative transforms the city into a live urban testbed, rapidly accelerating deep-tech concepts—such as autonomous retail robotics and sustainable smart city AI solutions—from ideation into real-world validation, demonstrating an unparalleled capability to convert vision into viable solutions.

Key Pillars of Collaboration

Grounded in a shared vision to address pressing global challenges and champion sustainable scientific development, the agreement establishes a framework for deep collaboration based on equality, openness, and mutual benefit:

Frontier Science Exchange: Jointly building international platforms for high-level scientific dialogue.

Young Scientist Cultivation: Mentoring, empowering, and providing global opportunities for rising scientific talent.

Integrated Innovation Ecosystem: Bridging academia, research institutions, and industry for rapid tech translation.

Strategic OPENSCI Platform: Deploying AI and blockchain to revolutionize scientific discovery and reward mechanisms.

This MoU signifies a landmark milestone in WLA’s engagement with key Middle Eastern future-shaping institutions, establishing the critical foundation for Dubai's ascent as an international scientific center. Both organizations confirmed that a Joint Steering Committee will be formed immediately to advance substantive discussions and roll out actionable implementation roadmaps.

About the World Laureates Association (WLA)

Established in 2017, the World Laureates Association (WLA) is one of the world's largest organizations of distinguished scientists, bringing together over 200 top global scientific minds, including Nobel Laureates, Turing Award winners, and Fields Medalists. Guided by its core vision – "Science and Technology for the Common Destiny of Mankind" – the WLA is dedicated to promoting basic science, advocating international cooperation, and supporting the development of young scientists worldwide.

About the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF)

Led by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Dubai Future Foundation is the UAE's core strategic institution mandated to shape the future and lead global innovation. Functioning as a vital nexus connecting government vision, academic research, industrial capability, and international partners, DFF operates across the entire innovation value chain: foresight research, startup incubation, regulatory sandboxes, and ecosystem development – defining future-ready models for urban governance, economic growth, and global collaboration.