Exploring Tomorrow’s Cities and Governance with the Leaders of Today
ADU Hosts “Smart Future: Digital Transformation and Urban Innovation” Program
In alignment with Abu Dhabi University’s ongoing commitment to fostering future-ready learners and promoting interdisciplinary global education, the Office of Internationalization proudly hosted the academic engagement program titled:
“Smart Future: Digital Transformation and Urban Innovation”
Dates: Thursday–Friday, 24–25 July 2025
Location: Abu Dhabi University, Main Campus
This two-day program brought together students and faculty to explore the intersection of technology, business, urban development, and digital governance. Designed to enhance understanding of contemporary global trends, the sessions focused on how digital technologies are shaping the future of cities, economies, and citizen engagement.
Program Highlights
Thursday, July 24
The program opened with a Welcoming Session at 10:00 AM, setting the stage for an immersive day of forward-thinking dialogue. The first session, “Future-Proof: How Digital Tech is Transforming Business Today”, was led by Dr. Kiran Nair, offering insights into the rapid evolution of business in the digital age.
After a networking Lunch Break, the afternoon featured “The Smart City Blueprint: Designing the Cities of Tomorrow”, presented by Dr. Feda Isam, exploring urban planning and the integration of smart technologies to build more efficient, sustainable, and livable cities.
Friday, July 25
Day two began with “Connected Citizens: How Governments are Going Digital”, led by Dr. Rawan Al Louzi, highlighting how public sectors are leveraging digital tools to enhance citizen engagement, transparency, and service delivery.
Following another Lunch Break, the program concluded with an interactive session titled “Innovation at the Intersection: Where Business, Cities, and Governance Meet”, conducted by Dr. Rubina Queshi. This session brought together themes from the entire program, encouraging participants to think holistically about the future of innovation in society.
This program exemplifies ADU’s strategic focus on equipping students with the knowledge and perspective needed to navigate and lead in a rapidly evolving world. We extend our gratitude to the distinguished faculty for their invaluable contributions, and to the organizing teams for making the program a success.
