Sikhuphe – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has left the Kingdom of Eswatini for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he will represent His Majesty King Mswati III and the nation at the World Government Summit 2026.
Dlamini departed on Sunday afternoon, February 1, 2026, through King Mswati III International Airport in Sikhuphe. He is attending the global forum on behalf of the country as world leaders, policymakers and innovators gather in Dubai from February 3 to 5 under the theme Shaping Future Governments.
The World Government Summit, now in its 13th year, has grown into a major international platform for discussions on governance, technological change, sustainable development and global cooperation. Established in 2013, the summit draws participation from governments, international organisations, academic institutions and the private sector.
Organisers have described the 2026 edition as the largest in the summit’s history. More than 6 000 delegates are expected, including representatives from over 150 governments, more than 40 heads of state and government, and over 500 ministers. The programme brings together more than 450 global speakers across more than 445 sessions, alongside about 700 chief executives from leading corporations.
Discussions in Dubai are set to focus on global priorities such as the future of government, international cooperation, artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty, climate adaptation and shifting demographics. The summit is also taking place against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions linked to conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan, as well as heightened strain in the Middle East.
Among the leaders expected in Dubai are Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, former British prime minister Liz Truss and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al Sabah. Senior global figures from business and development institutions will also attend, including Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury and International Finance Corporation managing director Makhtar Diop.
Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and chairman of the World Governments Summit Organisation, said the global environment was undergoing deep transformation.
“The world was witnessing a comprehensive restructuring of traditional systems that were far beyond fleeting changes,” he said in remarks carried by UAE state news agency Wam.
“In this new landscape, governments can no longer afford to be reactive. They require a greater capacity to anticipate and act rather than wait. Global crises continue to test the endurance of international co-operation, and there is now a pressing need for inclusive forums that bring us closer,” he said.
“This reality underscores the significance of the World Governments Summit as a unifying global platform that fosters ties, shared action and collective intelligence, empowering governments to forge the innovative visions necessary for sustained stability and prosperity.”
This year’s programme also includes the World Laureates Summit, running from February 1 to 2, with joint engagements planned alongside the main summit. Nobel laureates and recipients of international awards such as the Turing Award, Wolf Prize, Fields Medal and Great Arab Minds are expected to take part.
Prof Roger Kornberg, the 2006 Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry and chairman of the World Laureates Association, said the gathering creates a rare bridge between science and policy.
“It has often been possible for scientists in small numbers to communicate, to advise and to discuss with members of government,” he told The National in January.
“But it has never been possible for the world of science … to bring a message to those who the progress of science and, thus of the world, depend.”
He said the association also plans to establish an artificial intelligence agent network linking leading scientific centres in Dubai.
Alongside the main programme, the summit will host a series of side meetings, including ministerial and strategic roundtables, an UAE Kuwait economic forum and award platforms such as best government minister and the Global Teacher Prize.
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