World Governments Summit launches Tuesday, to focus on future challenges

The annual event held in Dubai explores global governance, and focuses on harnessing innovation and technology to solve problems facing humanity. (WGS)
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Updated 02 February 2026
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World Governments Summit launches Tuesday, to focus on future challenges

  • WGS takes place at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from Feb. 3-5

DUBAI: The World Governments Summit begins its 2026 edition in Madinat Jumeirah on Tuesday under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.”

The annual event held in Dubai explores global governance, and focuses on harnessing innovation and technology to solve problems facing humanity.

Speaking at a recent event, WGS Foundation Chairman Mohammad Al-Gergawi said the summit will attempt to foster partnerships between various sectors of society to overcome challenges.

“The success of the summit depends on the presence of governments, international organizations and the sector that shapes the future, the private sector,” he said.

This year, the areas of discussion will be global governance, societal wellbeing, economic prosperity and opportunities, urban futures and evolving demographics, and future realities.

Among the most notable speakers are Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Sabah, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

“The World Governments Summit gathers everyone because the challenges of the future cannot be tackled alone,” Al-Gergawi said.

The summit takes place at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from Feb. 3 to 5.


Iran missile barrage sparks explosions over Tel Aviv

Updated 56 min ago
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Iran missile barrage sparks explosions over Tel Aviv

  • Two near-simultaneous waves of explosions reverberating across the city
  • Israel’s emergency services confirms plenty of damage but said there were no casualties

TEL AVIV: The latest Iranian missile barrage sparked a wave of explosions across Tel Aviv as firefighters worked to contain a blaze at a residential building near Israel’s commercial hub on Friday.
The blasts came after Israel expanded its campaign against Hezbollah, vowing retribution against the Tehran-backed militant group for joining the conflict following the killing on Saturday of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s state broadcaster said Tehran had fired missiles “against targets in the heart of Tel Aviv,” after Israel’s military said it was working to intercept incoming Iranian fire late Thursday.
AFP journalists in Tel Aviv heard two near-simultaneous waves of explosions reverberating across the city.
Rocket trails also lit up the sky in Netanya, a city north of Tel Aviv on Israel’s Mediterranean coast.
After the barrage, Israel’s emergency services, the Magen David Adom (MDA), said its teams had visited several reported impact sites but that there were no casualties.
Israeli police said it was “currently handling scenes involving fallen projectiles in central Israel,” adding that there was “damage” but no injuries.
A projectile hit a building on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, forcing residents to evacuate.
At another residential site near Israel’s economic hub, firefighters worked to put out a blaze caused by falling debris after an Iranian rocket fire was intercepted.
Israel’s Home Front Command issues several rocket fire warnings early Friday for communities near the Lebanon border.