Building the Future Summit Unites Efforts Toward a Smarter, More Sustainable Urban Future

The inaugural summit brought together an exclusive cohort of real estate leaders, investors, innovators, and architects from across the region and around the world.

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The inaugural Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit was held at Berklee, Abu Dhabi, from May 26-27, 2025. The two-day event was held in strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, represented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, and Presented by ONE Development.

The summit brought together an exclusive cohort of real estate leaders, investors, innovators, and architects from across the region and around the world, serving as a platform to explore the future of smart cities, promote sustainable urban solutions, and highlight investment and development opportunities in the region’s real estate sector.

The opening day was attended by H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport; H.E. Eng. Mohamed Almansoori, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme; H.E. Eng. Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre; Ali Al Gebely, Founder and Chairman of ONE Development.