The inaugural Dubai Future Forum took place on the 11th and 12th of October, in the striking setting of the Museum of the Future (pictured) in the heart of Dubai's business district.

The organisers, the Dubai Future Foundation, are to be congratulated on assembling what they said would be "over 400 of the world’s top futurists, from 15 futurist organisations", with the purpose "to exchange ideas, share insights, foresee challenges, innovate solutions, imagine opportunities, and initiate change".

The four main themes are familiar from previous gatherings of futurists in various venues over the years:

1. Scenarios for the future of the world
2. Mitigating Existential Risk
3. Value and Humanity
4. Hedging our Bets through Foresight

Other ambitions for the forum include "Restore nature", "Reimagine health", "Transform industries", and "Unite humankind".

Viewed positively, the gathering has the potential to transform the international coordination of futurists - people who aspire to practice skills of foresight. It could accelerate the migration of futurist energy from mere dialog to tangible actions in the world. Finally, it could raise the profile of foresight studies among politicians and other leaders from different areas of society.

This London Futurists webinar will feature a number of the participants from the Dubai Future Forum. They will share their views on the highlights of the Forum, issues arising that merit further attention, and whether, indeed, futurists after Dubai will never be the same again.