Dubai: Dubai Finance (DOF) announced the successful conclusion of the 'Dubai Innovation and Financial Foresight Forum', which brought together government leaders, industry experts, and academics to discuss the future of financial management, innovation, and policymaking.
According to Emirates News Agency, the forum served as a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, highlighting global trends and best practices in financial innovation and future foresight and exploring their role in advancing government operations, enhancing financial management efficiency, and strengthening the readiness of government entities for future challenges.
Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director-General of DOF, stated that the 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.
Addressing the forum, Al Saleh added that 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.
Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR), said that the forum reflects the importance of integrating government development and human capacity building, as both closely linked pillars strengthen 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.
Aref Abdulrahman Ahli, Executive Director of the Planning and General Budget Sector at DOF, affirmed that innovation and foresight are essential drivers in advancing public financial management and enabling it to keep pace with rapid economic and technological changes. 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.
Fatima Buti Al Suwaidi, Director of Strategy and Corporate Performance at DOF, stated that the forum reflects efforts to build a government financial system that is more agile, resilient, and capable of anticipating future developments. The accelerating global economic and technological transformations require government entities to adopt more agile and innovative operating models that can adapt to change and seize emerging opportunities.
The forum featured a series of specialised panel discussions covering key topics, including the role of foresight in policymaking and decision-making, the future of public financial management, financial innovation and emerging technologies, and the role of big data and future scenarios to enhance government decision-making and institutional readiness. Participants emphasised the importance of adopting a proactive approach based on innovation and future-focused analysis. They highlighted its role in strengthening fiscal sustainability, improving government services, and developing more flexible operating models capable of adapting to global economic and technological changes.
The forum closed with an emphasis on the importance of continued collaboration and knowledge exchange among government entities, academic institutions, and experts to advance financial innovation and foresight, and support Dubai's journey towards building a more future-ready and sustainable government model.