A Decade of Knowledge

The Knowledge Summit Marks Ten Years of Global Impact

October 31, 2025

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As the world approaches the final five-year window to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the role of knowledge as a catalyst for development has never been more urgent, or more promising. In November, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) will mark a significant milestone: the 10th edition of the Knowledge Summit, taking place on 19-20 November 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the theme “Knowledge Markets: Developing Sustainable Communities.”

For a decade, the Summit has stood as a global meeting point for policymakers, visionaries, and changemakers who believe that knowledge is humanity’s most powerful renewable resource. What began as a regional dialogue has evolved into a premier international platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and sustainable development, bringing together leaders and stakeholders across sectors to explore ways of governing, sharing, and harnessing knowledge for collective progress.

A Milestone Year: What Makes 2025 Different

In a world shaped by change, technological acceleration, and shifting global priorities, the Knowledge Summit 2025 presents a transformative opportunity. This year’s Summit is set to redefine how knowledge fuels equity, resilience, and sustainable prosperity. The event will bring together leaders and experts from across the globe to explore how knowledge can be translated into action, empowering individuals, communities, and nations alike.

“Our region stands at a crossroads, facing mounting challenges in productivity and competitiveness, both deeply tied to knowledge. Without an integrated vision and the establishment of vibrant knowledge markets that connect the supply and demand for knowledge, it will be difficult to reverse the decline in productivity seen in recent decades,” said Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States. “This year’s Summit places knowledge markets at the forefront, as a strategic driver to align knowledge creation with regional needs and advance sustainable economic and social progress,” he added.

At the heart of this year’s edition is the launch of the Global Knowledge Index (GKI) 2025, with a fully reimagined framework designed to measure and guide knowledge-based development in an era of profound global change. Guided by a cross-sectoral team of experts, the GKI 2025 expands its coverage to 195 countries, reflecting emerging global realities, from mental health to environmental sustainability, and considering shifts in information technology, education, research and innovation, as well as the economy.

A Platform Where Ideas Meet Impact

The Knowledge Summit 2025 will be structured across 10 immersive halls, each designed to ignite collaboration and inspire action. The Main Plenary Hall will gather global leaders and thinkers to discuss how knowledge markets can shape innovation, governance, and entrepreneurship in the digital age. The Sustainable Communities Hall, led by UN entities and partners, will focus on multilateral cooperation, sustainability, and volunteerism, translating global goals into local impact.

The KnowTalks Hall will bring together global experts and speakers to explore some of the most pressing and human-centred topics of our time, including neurodiversity, blockchain, and entrepreneurship. A number of KnowTalks will branch into the “Knowledge Café”, smaller, focused sessions for insight exchange.

In the Global Knowledge Index Hall, participants will engage in data-driven discussions on policymaking, featuring a dedicated press hour and interactive panels. Meanwhile, the Future Skills Academy Hall, organized in partnership with Coursera, will amplify youth voices and showcase real-world impact through stories of learners whose skills are shaping a more inclusive future. The 2025 Summit will also present policy roundtables, convening UN agencies, governments, academia, and the private sector to co-design actionable strategies for governing knowledge and building skills for tomorrow’s workforce.

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Ten Years of Knowledge: One Shared Future

Co-organized annually by UNDP and MBRF since 2014, the Knowledge Summit has become a cornerstone of the Knowledge Project, a joint initiative established in 2008 to promote inclusive, data-driven development across the Arab States and beyond. Over ten years, the Summit has fostered a unique ecosystem of partnerships, bridging research, policy, and practice to advance the global knowledge economy.

As the world faces converging crises and unprecedented opportunities, the Knowledge Summit 2025 offers a vital space for rethinking how knowledge can be the driving force behind sustainable communities and equitable futures. It is a collective invitation to shape the next decade of informed, human-centred progress.