Dubai: Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), has announced the launch of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026 report, an annual publication that identifies the most promising technologies expected to deliver significant impact across economies, industries, and societies in the years ahead.
According to Emirates News Agency, the report was launched alongside the participation of the UAE delegation in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026, commonly known as 'Summer Davos', taking place in Dalian, China. The event, running from June 23rd to 25th, brings together thousands of government officials, business leaders, experts, and decision-makers to discuss the world's most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, and Chairman of the Museum of the Future, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in advancing emerging technologies. He highlighted that such cooperation is crucial for accelerating human progress and ensuring that innovations deliver meaningful benefits to societies. He also noted the role of governments and institutions in strengthening competitiveness and building capabilities to navigate future transformations.
Al Gergawi further stated that the partnership with the World Economic Forum focuses on expanding knowledge, accelerating innovation, and identifying opportunities to harness emerging technologies. These technologies have the potential to positively impact vital sectors such as healthcare, energy, food, education, and scientific research. He stressed the importance of keeping pace with technological change and accelerating the adoption of innovative solutions as essential drivers of sustainable development and improved quality of life.
The report aims to assist governments, businesses, investors, policymakers, researchers, and innovation leaders in understanding emerging technologies and assessing their potential impact. It provides a forward-looking perspective on how these technologies may evolve, scale, and contribute to shaping the future.
For the second consecutive year, Dubai Future Foundation played a role in developing the report by participating in the evaluation and selection of technologies, assessing their future impact, application potential, and role in reshaping key sectors. The World Economic Forum's research teams led the analysis and assessment of each technology's current maturity and future trajectory.
Technologies were selected based on three core criteria: novelty, transformative potential, and their expected contribution to building a more prosperous and sustainable future. The report identifies ten technologies with the potential to deliver transformative impact, including Everything-to-Grid Energy, Direct Lithium Extraction, and Passive Radiative Cooling Materials, among others.
These technologies are set to revolutionize various sectors. For example, Everything-to-Grid Energy enables a wide range of assets to contribute to renewable energy generation. Direct Lithium Extraction offers a more efficient method of extracting lithium, crucial for batteries and energy storage systems. Passive Radiative Cooling Materials can significantly reduce cooling requirements in systems supporting AI infrastructure.
Additionally, the report highlights Precision Fermentation Micro-Factories, Exosome Drug Delivery, and Personalised mRNA Cancer Vaccines, which promise to transform food production, improve treatment effectiveness, and enhance cancer treatment outcomes, respectively.
Quantum Simulation for Drug Discovery, World Models in Artificial Intelligence, and Lattice-Based Cryptography are also among the identified technologies, each offering unique advancements in their respective fields, from accelerating drug discovery to enhancing AI systems and securing data against future threats posed by quantum computing.