Diplomatic envoys coordinate preparations for 2027 governments summit

More than 100 ambassadors and diplomats joined UAE officials for a coordination meeting on preparations for the World Governments Summit 2027, with arrangements for international delegations and registration procedures at the centre of discussions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the World Governments Summit Organization convened the meeting to establish how government departments and diplomatic missions will work together before the event, scheduled for 1–3 February in Dubai.
Participants examined nomination procedures, registration deadlines, the division of responsibilities between participating institutions and the appointment of designated contacts. The discussions were intended to reduce administrative obstacles and ensure that visiting delegations receive coordinated support throughout the summit.
Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended alongside Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Advanced Science and Technology, and Mohammad Yousef Al Sharhan, managing director of the World Governments Summit Organization. Other senior officials and representatives of government bodies also participated.
The organisers presented the stages for submitting nominations and completing registrations within an approved timetable. Government entities were briefed on the requirements they must meet and the procedures intended to help them prepare for visiting representatives.
Interactive discussions then addressed coordination between the organisations responsible for receiving and hosting delegations. Officials examined how information would be shared, which teams would handle particular tasks and whom participating institutions should contact as arrangements progress.
Sharaf urged international partners to use the summit for bilateral and multilateral engagement, rather than treating attendance as an end in itself. He said the gathering could help governments identify common interests, establish partnerships and develop initiatives extending beyond the scheduled meetings.
“The World Governments Summit is more than a forum for dialogue; it is a strategic platform for strengthening international partnerships, exchanging government experiences, and preparing collectively for future challenges,” Sharaf said in a statement issued by the ministry.
He said the UAE sought to bring governments together to exchange knowledge, examine different approaches to public administration and consider responses to emerging challenges. Cooperation and learning from other countries’ experiences were central to that approach, he added.
Al Sharhan said effective participation required agreement among the authorities involved on objectives, operational responsibilities and hosting arrangements. The coordination meeting was an early stage in aligning government plans with the summit’s requirements and implementation schedule.
He also emphasised opportunities for participants to share practical experience and connect policy discussions with decision-making. Organisers, he said, were seeking to make participation useful for governments and other institutions while creating conditions for sustained partnerships.
The meeting followed diplomatic outreach associated with the 2027 gathering. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, sent a written invitation to Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to attend the February event.
The invitation was delivered by UAE Ambassador Fahad Al Kaabi during a meeting with Salam, according to the foreign ministry. It confirmed the summit’s dates and formed part of preparations to secure participation by government leaders.
The World Governments Summit brings together public officials, international organisations, companies, researchers and specialists to discuss public policy and the future of government. Its organisers position the annual event as a forum for exchanging experience and examining challenges facing public institutions.
The November coordination meeting concentrated on practical arrangements rather than announcing a new summit programme or a list of confirmed visiting leaders. The ministry’s account did not specify the countries represented by the diplomats or publish a breakdown of expected delegations.
The preparatory presentation also addressed the sequence of registration steps, giving participating government bodies a framework for organising submissions and monitoring deadlines. Designated contacts are expected to facilitate communication between the relevant institutions during subsequent stages of planning.
A separate ambassadors’ retreat organised ahead of the summit had brought together representatives from more than 100 countries to discuss international cooperation and engagement with diplomatic missions based in the UAE. That gathering focused on partnerships and the role of government exchanges in shaping the next edition.
At the coordination meeting, the emphasis shifted to how those diplomatic contacts would be supported through procedures. The organisers said clear responsibilities and direct communication between teams would help institutions respond to queries and complete necessary arrangements before delegations arrive in Dubai.