The Future of the Middle East and the Gulf States – Vision 2030
International Scientific Forum – General Report
📅 12–14 April 2025 | 📍 Toronto – Canada
Organized by:
Canadian Institute for Middle East and Gulf Studies (CIMEGS), Toronto – Canada
In partnership with the University of Derna – Libya
Introduction
In light of the accelerating transformations unfolding across economic, technological, and environmental dimensions worldwide, the International Scientific Forum on “The Future of the Middle East and the Gulf States – Vision 2030” was held from April 12 to 14, 2025. This forum was jointly organized by the Canadian Institute for Middle East and Gulf Studies (Toronto, Canada) and the University of Derna (Libya).
The event served as a high-level platform for scientific dialogue and knowledge exchange, gathering 80 distinguished professors and researchers from universities and research institutions across various Arab and international countries — including Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Yemen, Canada, Belgium, the UAE, China, Greece, and others — to address the major challenges and opportunities facing the region in the context of achieving the goals of Vision 2030.
Research contributions were presented across seven (7) scientific sessions, which enriched discussions around the following key thematic axes:
- Technology and the Digital Revolution as Catalysts for Economic Transformation
- Sustainable Development and Economic Transformations
- Regional Security, Stability, and Their Impact on Investment and Trade
- Geopolitical and Economic Challenges to Sustainable Development
- Environmental Challenges and Climate Change
- Public Health and Social Justice
- International Partnerships and Regional Integration
The forum’s scientific sessions addressed a range of critical issues, including digital transformation, the green economy, food security, health equity, and regional integration. The presented papers and the richness of the discussions reflected a diversity of knowledge and analytical precision, revealing an advanced awareness of the magnitude of the challenges and the complexity of the regional and international contexts surrounding them.
The presentations unanimously affirmed that technology is no longer a choice but a central necessity for achieving inclusive growth. Digital transformation emerged as a driving force for emerging economies and a foundation for modernizing vital sectors such as health, education, and public services. Conversely, the papers also highlighted the widening digital divide, the lack of unified legislation, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The forum further emphasized the importance of responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into economic planning and foresight, and leveraging it in managing future risks.
On the developmental front, sustainable development in its various dimensions constituted a key point of convergence. The need to transition toward a green economy that considers environmental concerns without sacrificing growth was strongly emphasized. The forum highlighted the necessity of diversifying the economic base, enhancing local production, and linking national plans with the principles of sustainability and environmental and social justice. It also identified the challenges hindering green transformation in many Arab countries, particularly the absence of incentivizing legislation and the weak financing of environmental innovation.
On another front, the forum engaged in an in-depth discussion on the impact of geopolitical crises and regional conflicts on investment, trade, and the capacity of states to build resilient economies. It was noted that the lack of Arab coordination and the fragmentation of economic policies weaken opportunities for integration and increase the vulnerability of states to global crises. The discussions underscored the importance of adopting flexible regional strategies that include early warning systems, logistical integration, and support for local economies in the face of external shocks.
Environmental and health-related issues were also at the center of the debate, as participants highlighted the severity of desertification, pollution, and water scarcity, alongside the limited adoption of renewable energy sources.
The forum’s recommendations concluded that the region’s deep and complex challenges require the adoption of new and comprehensive development models. Addressing these challenges goes beyond managing accumulated crises—it calls for the advancement of strategic planning systems based on strategic foresight as a key tool for understanding future transformations and guiding public policy toward more realistic and effective options.
There is an urgent need for this type of planning, especially in countries that require a fundamental transformation in institutional building, modernization of legislative and digital infrastructure, and the formulation of policies and strategies aligned with their local and contextual realities. This necessitates the adoption of systems thinking to manage complexity, define national priorities, facilitate coordination among stakeholders, and streamline financing and implementation through effective partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as civil society.
Equally emphasized was the need to redirect policies toward smart agriculture, develop the circular economy, and stimulate emerging environmental projects. Strong attention was also given to issues of health justice, the challenges of digital health, and malnutrition in hospitals, with a call to build healthcare systems founded on innovation and institutional integration.
At the conclusion of the forum, it was affirmed that The Future of the Middle East and the Gulf States depends on their ability to establish sustainable strategic partnerships, activate regional integration, and adopt new and comprehensive development models based on technology, knowledge, and justice. The final recommendations stressed the importance of unifying Arab efforts in the fields of digitization, food security, energy, and entrepreneurial education, while highlighting the need to invest in human capital and to link scientific research with economic transformation. One of the forum’s most significant conclusions was that development is no longer solely tied to projects, but to systems—and to the capacity to transform vision into a comprehensive reality that touches both people and the environment.
From this standpoint, this report presents an in-depth analytical overview of a set of strategic themes related to digital transformation, sustainable development, the environment, security, health, education, and regional integration. It is supported by practical findings and recommendations that contribute to building a more stable, just, and innovative future.