Catalysing the next wave of innovation at the Emirates Group: ForsaTEK 2026 concludes successfully
ForsaTEK 2026 concludes with more than 90 sessions and experiences and 60 technology projects
Dubai, UAE, 28 September 2026: The Emirates Group has concluded the fourth edition of ForsaTEK 2026, its annual innovation showcase, bringing together leaders and experts from the technology, aviation and business sectors. The event featured more than 90 sessions and experiences and showcased over 60 technology projects and solutions, demonstrating how emerging ideas can progress from research and experimentation to applications that support aviation and travel operations.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group said: “Over the last four years, ForsaTEK has become a platform for innovation and a testing ground for bold and ambitious ideas that put emerging technologies to work. Some of these concepts have gone on to be implemented into practical solutions delivering real value for our business and operations. In a world that is increasingly integrated with digital technologies, ForsaTEK is a showcase for how the Emirates Group is building a culture that fosters innovation and experimentation building the future of travel and aviation.”
H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, was welcomed to the event by Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, and senior Emirates Group executives.
Conversations on what comes next
ForsaTEK 2026 brought together leaders and experts from technology, aviation business and academia for discussions on the role of intelligent systems in advancing business, and the capabilities people and organisations need to turn technological progress into practical impact.
During the opening fireside chat, H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama highlighted how the UAE’s ability to anticipate technological shifts and turn emerging technologies into practical applications strengthens its global competitiveness. He emphasised that the value of AI lies in the benefits it delivers to people, and that real progress calls for organisations to test new ideas and make bold, well-considered decisions about their use.
The discussion was followed by a series of keynote sessions and leadership conversations examining the opportunities and challenges of AI. Highlights included a fireside discussion on AI with HE Issam Kazim, CEO Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer on Dubai’s innovation ecosystem and how tourism and aviation are leveraging technology to drive growth.
Featured speakers also included Emmanuel Marill, Managing Director Europe, Middle East & Africa, OpenAI, exploring leadership in the next era of AI; Rohan Murty, Founder and CTO of Soroco, on the potential of AI twins helping organisations; and Dan Hagen, Global Chief Data & Technology Officer at Havas, on scaling AI while maintaining a human-centric approach.
The day’s programme also showcased human–AI collaboration on the stage through a live panel featuring human AI experts including Omar Al Ismail, Chief Investment Officer, MGX, and Dr Saeeda Jaffar, Managing Director International, Circle, alongside a voice-enabled AI agent. Drawing on multiple large language models, the AI panelist, Maryam 3.0, contributed live perspectives to a conversation on the future of intelligence, innovation and work.
Day 2 of ForsaTEK 2026 featured focused workshops for participants as well as insightful speeches by Roy Casagranda, historian and political philosopher and Majed Al Mansoori, Executive Director of the Museum of the Future.
Turning ideas into opportunities with masterclasses
Complementing the keynote programme, ForsaTEK 2026 hosted a series of interactive masterclasses by leading organisations. A session led by ETA explored how creativity can be transformed into successful ventures, using stories from UAE entrepreneurs and creators. LinkedIn examined how AI is reshaping learning and career development, highlighting ways professionals can identify emerging skills, personalise learning journeys and leverage AI-powered tools to accelerate growth. Hyundai Motor Group led a hands-on discussion on logistics automation capabilities and Zapata Quantum Computing provided a practical briefing on quantum computing applications. Together, the discussion-led masterclasses provided participants with actionable insights that can be applied to create value.
Accelerating innovation through strategic partnerships
The Emirates Group launched the Academic Research Collective (ARC) at ForsaTEK 2026. ARC is structured research and learning platform connecting the Group with a curated network of globally recognized, research-intensive universities known for academic excellence, applied innovation and strong entrepreneurial ecosystems. Through ARC, the Group and its academic partners will turn early-stage business challenges into forward-looking innovation, applied research, evidence-based studies, and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). At the same time, the initiative will foster knowledge exchange, build talent pipelines and strengthen strategic industry-academia partnerships, helping address the Emirates Group's most important future challenges.
Building on the strategic collaboration with OpenAI announced at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, Emirates Group highlighted the partnership’s next phase at ForsaTEK 2026. As part of its broader AI transformation, the Group is providing employees with secure access to advanced AI models and conversational tools, enabling them to streamline complex tasks and create high-quality, finished deliverables. The partnership is designed to accelerate productivity, strengthen innovation and establish a scalable foundation for cross-functional collaboration across the Group.
Highlights in the launch zone
ForsaTEK 2026 featured projects at different stages of development, from research and early concepts to solutions already in use:
ARRIVE, an in-house framework developed by Emirates Group IT designed to help teams leverage agentic software engineering at scale while maintaining Emirates-grade governance and human accountability. Developed following two years of controlled experimentation, ARRIVE provides a structured framework that records intent, scope, risk, evidence and decision making throughout the software development lifecycle enabling faster delivery without compromising oversight. By the end of August 2026, more than 2,000 IT team members have been onboarded through the AI Gateway, helping accelerate the delivery of tailored, Emirates-owned digital products while ensuring quality, traceability and control.
Emirates Service Delivery are showcasing a range of digital solutions developed to support the next level of hospitality. Bringing together immersive learning experiences, crew-facing applications and operational platforms, the portfolio is designed to strengthen readiness, safety and service consistency across the cabin crew operation. Highlights include virtual reality-based training tools for cabin familiarisation and virtual reality safety and emergency procedures training; the One Device ecosystem that provides crew with relevant information and support throughout their working day, and integrated platforms that connect training, catering, briefing and crew management processes.
dnata Technical Services’ Smart Hub is a fully automated, digitally connected inventory management solution that provides 24/7 access to critical MRO materials, improving inventory control, productivity and operational efficiency. The system also supports sustainability goals by replacing disposable aerosols with reusable bulk containers, removing an estimated 3,600 contaminated aerosol cans from the waste stream annually.
Intelak, the region's first travel and tourism-focused incubator and a joint initiative of the Emirates Group and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), showcased seven start-ups at ForsaTEK 2026. Start-ups in the current cycle will continue to work with Intelak and DET to deliver proofs of concept (PoCs), reflecting a shared commitment to investing in new ideas and advancing Dubai's entrepreneurship ambitions under the D33 Economic Agenda.
ForsaTEK
Held on 21 and 22 September, the fourth edition of ForsaTEK focused on agentic AI, robotics and human-AI collaboration. It also highlighted solutions developed by Emirates Group teams and partners to improve operational efficiency, enhance the customer experience and shape the future of work.