Ideas Abu Dhabi and CGI Unite Emerging Leaders to Address Global Challenges
Ideas Abu Dhabi, a leading forum organized by Tamkeen in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, joined forces with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to convene a high-level session featuring UAE Rhodes Scholars, civil society leaders, and business executives. The event, led by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, explored strategies for fostering partnerships and addressing pressing global challenges.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the UAE Rhodes Scholarship, the event brought together 12 distinguished UAE Rhodes Scholars, including HH Majida Al Maktoum (2019), Amal Al Gergawi (2019), and Abdulla AlHashmi (2020), alongside senior representatives from the Rhodes Trust and the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. The discussion, moderated by Rima Al Mokarrab, Co-Chair of Ideas Abu Dhabi, examined how emerging leaders can effectively navigate the complexities of the modern world.
Addressing the audience, President Bill Clinton emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership, stating: "Leadership starts with how you see the world. We need to create broader opportunities, foster shared prosperity, and empower individuals to reach their full potential."
Rima Al Mokarrab highlighted the forum’s role in facilitating impactful dialogue, adding: "The rapid evolution of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is reshaping industries. Simultaneously, global challenges such as climate change and inequality demand innovative and collaborative solutions. Ideas Abu Dhabi provides a platform to spark meaningful action."
The Rhodes Scholarship, one of the world’s most prestigious academic honors, has supported exceptional Emirati students in pursuing studies at Oxford University. Notable alumni include HE Shamma Al Mazrui, the UAE’s first Rhodes Scholar and the country’s Minister of Community Empowerment.
Professor Sir Rick Trainor, CEO of the Rhodes Trust, praised the partnership’s impact, stating: "For the past decade, the Rhodes Trust has welcomed outstanding Emirati scholars, thanks to our collaboration with the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. We look forward to the contributions of future scholars."
Angela Migally, Executive Director of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, reaffirmed the scholarship’s importance: "This milestone reflects the UAE’s commitment to ethical leadership and global progress. Our scholars are shaping a better future for both the nation and the world."
Since its inception in 2017, Ideas Abu Dhabi has hosted over 1,000 global leaders to discuss solutions to urgent global issues. Past speakers include Bill Gates, HE Dr. Anwar Gargash, Ray Dalio, and former UK Prime Ministers David Cameron, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown.
This edition of Ideas Abu Dhabi builds on a strategic partnership between Tamkeen and CGI, furthering efforts to drive meaningful change. At last year’s CGI Annual Meeting, coinciding with the UN General Assembly, Tamkeen and the UAE Presidential Court launched an expanded FoodTech Challenge, offering $2 million in funding for solutions tackling food and water scarcity amid climate change.
