The room is the product.
150–200 people, selected rather than registered. Every participant is chosen on demonstrated contribution, and the criteria are published below.
No speaker is listed here until they are confirmed.
Three anchor speakers are secured before any public announcement, and the roster is then released in sequence. Nothing on this page is a placeholder, and no organisation appears here until it has agreed to appear.
Nominations are open, including self-nomination.
Curated to 150, deliberately.
The goal is never a full hall. It is 150 of the most promising emerging voices and institutional actors across the UAE and Africa. Those are different products with different partners.
Emerging Leaders
100–120
Approximately 70% Africa-based and 30% UAE-based. At least 20 African countries. At least 40% women. Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone representation enforced.
Institutional, Business & Government Leaders
25–35
Government, development finance institutions, corporates, investors, universities and foundations.
Speakers, Moderators & Experts
15–20
Balanced across both regions. No panel exceeds four people including the moderator.
Strategic Partners & Observers
10–15
Partner delegations, media and independent evaluators.
Age is not the criterion.
The governing test: a participant must have something to contribute, not only something to receive. That single rule is what makes the room strong.
Open application, then a scored rubric with two independent reviewers, a shortlist interview for the Emerging Leaders track, and a selection panel including at least one external institutional reviewer.
- 01Demonstrated standing in leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, professional excellence, academic distinction, community impact, creative excellence, technology, research, social enterprise, public service or ecosystem building.
- 02Evidence of something built, shipped, led or contributed to — not a statement of intent.
- 03A specific interest in the UAE–Africa relationship, articulated rather than assumed.
- 04The capacity and intention to act on the network in the twelve months after the Forum.
- 05Age 22–35 for the Emerging Leaders track. All participants 18 or over.
Steering Committee
Senior representatives of the convening organisations and selected strategic partners
Strategic direction and accountability for the platform.
Youth Advisory Council
8–10 young leaders
Genuine influence over programme design, not consultation theatre. Meets three times before the Forum.
Institutional Advisory Council
7–9 senior figures
Across business, academia, development, government and civil society, balanced between the UAE and Africa.
Secretariat
The professional delivery team
Programme delivery, participant operations, partner management and the post-Forum engine.