Dubai Government Summit 2015 to host over 80 countries

This year's Dubai Government Summit, which will focus on innovative ways governments can handle a changing world, will play host to 87 countries, according to its organisers.

Among the 100 international speakers that will take part in the event are United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum and Boo-Keun Yoon, president and chief executive officer of Consumer Electronics at Samsung Electronics, will also be sharing their expertise.

The event has also attracted high-profile attendees from the UAE, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed al-Maktoum and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

In a statement, Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi, minister of cabinet affairs and chairman of the organising committee for the summit, said this year's event will be different to previous editions and will be "innovative and outstanding".

He said: "The summit will benefit immensely from the participation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan for the first time this year as the main speaker, offering a unique opportunity for the global gathering to gain insights on the successful experience of urban development, government management and community development policies.”

During the event last year, the Crown Prince of Dubai unveiled the government's ambitious Dubai 2021 vision, which set out what the emirate wants to achieve during the next six years, including attracting 20 million visitors every year.

In addition to providing a platform to discuss how governments across the globe can handle a changing world, the Dubai Government Summit showcases the emirate as a hub for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism.

More and more travellers are heading to Dubai to conduct business or attend important events, which is boosting the hospitality and hotel industries significantly.

Christopher Hewett, a senior consultant with TRI Hospitality Consulting believes that the MICE market is going from strength to strength on the back of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing's incentives, which are bringing major international and regional conferences to Dubai.