Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, the 11th edition of the Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF) is set to take place from January 12 to 15, 2026, at Madinat Jumeirah.

This globally recognized forum, organized by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with DP World, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Emaar Properties, and the Project Management Institute (PMI), will be held under the theme “Bridging Communities.”

This year’s event will feature 50 high-profile speakers from both local and international spheres, including government officials, industry leaders, innovators, and project management experts. Among the headline speakers is Andre Agassi, international tennis champion and philanthropist, who will deliver the keynote address.

Five Key Themes

The forum will cover five central themes critical to the future of project management:

• Sustainable Cities

• Digital Transformation

• Future of Jobs

• Emerging Trends & Technologies

• Customer-Centric Strategies

These topics will be explored through the lens of innovation, resilience, and adaptability in the rapidly changing global environment.

A Strategic Global Platform

According to His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, the forum has, over the past decade, become a vital global platform for knowledge exchange and thought leadership in project management.

Al Tayer emphasized that DIPMF showcases Dubai’s exceptional journey in pioneering mega projects that enhance quality of life and reinforce its position as a forward-thinking, future-ready city. He added that the forum reflects Dubai’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and good governance in project execution.

Visionary Participants

This year’s forum will feature an impressive lineup of participants, including:

• H.E. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE Media Council

• H.E. Sana Suhail, Minister of Family Affairs

• H.E. Hessa Bu Humaid, Director General of Dubai Community Development Authority

• H.E. Mohammed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar and Noon

• H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World

• H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Head of UAE Government Cybersecurity

• H.E. Marwan bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality

• H.E. Salem Al Marri, Director General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

• H.E. Omran Sharaf, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Advanced Science and Technology

• H.E. Mohammed Al Shehhi, CEO of ARM Holding

In addition to government and corporate leaders, the forum will also host renowned international project management figures and innovation experts such as:

• Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports Infrastructure

• Dr. Mehdi Al Fardan, Chairman of Gulf International Cancer Center

• Ekwo Nwanquo, Chairman of PMI

• Dr. Mladen Radujkovic, President of the International Project Management Association

• Duncan Fisher, Executive Director at Cirque du Soleil

• Denise Garvey, Executive Director at Agile Alliance

• Prof. Pedro Serrador, Project Management Professor, University of Toronto

• Bear Grylls, British adventurer and author

• Mohammed BinGhatti, Chairman of Binghatti Developers

• Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments

• Amira Sajwani, Managing Director at DAMAC and CEO of PRYPCO

• Prof. Khalid Al Marri, President of IPMA UAE

• Dr. Ibtisam Al Mazrouei, CEO of AIE3

• Amal Al Marri and Deem Al Bassam, Co-founders of Independent Food Company

Embracing the Future of Project Management

The 11th DIPMF will delve into high-impact topics such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, blockchain, the metaverse, project-based economies, and agile management. The forum aims to empower project leaders and organizations to embrace new technologies and methodologies for efficient, future-ready project delivery.

With its diverse speaker lineup and cutting-edge agenda, the Dubai International Project Management Forum is set to reaffirm its role as a leading global hub for innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in the field of project management.