Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) today said that governments that succeed don’t run the show; they enable it.
“The balance lies in empowering the private sector and innovators while creating flexible, inclusive regulatory frameworks that adapt to disruption,” he said while speaking during a session titled ‘Making the Case: Which Way to the Future?’ at the Dubai Future Forum on Tuesday.
Belhoul highlighted Dubai’s pioneering use of adaptive frameworks, including regulation labs and sandbox systems, to safely test and scale cutting-edge technologies.
“These systems and initiatives bring policymakers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders together to collaborate and refine solutions,” he explained, stressing the importance of fostering ecosystems that accelerate innovation while maintaining safety and scalability.
Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute, praised the UAE as a global model for strategic foresight. “The UAE is a testament to the power of strategic foresight. A handful of visionaries had a long-term plan for what this place could become, created a strategic roadmap, and acted on it,” she said.
The discussion also explored the challenge of measuring the success of future-focused initiatives.
“There’s been too little emphasis on tracking efficacy. Without data to prove outcomes, it is hard to measure the effectiveness of what you’re doing—especially when you are working on the future. Success often means the crisis didn’t happen, which is challenging to quantify,” Webb noted.
She called for innovative approaches to measuring foresight impact: “By incorporating more quantitative methods, even if controversial, we can create accountability and demonstrate the value of forward-thinking initiatives.”
In a session titled ‘Enter the Future: Technology for Humanity,’ Dr. Jordan Nguyen, a biomedical engineer and futurist and founder of Psykinetic, discussed the transformative potential of adaptive technologies in empowering people of determination to achieve greater independence and mobility.
“Technology is becoming a tool for empowerment, enabling individuals to achieve what was once thought impossible. The key is collaboration and creativity—turning ambitious ideas into solutions that truly make a difference,” he said.
The Dubai Future Forum, held from 19–20 November at the Museum of the Future, is the world’s largest gathering of futurists. The event has drawn over 2,500 experts from 100 countries and representatives from 100 global organisations specialising in future design.