Saeed Khalfan Al Dhaheri
Center for Futures Studies
University of Dubai
Dr. Saeed is a futurist, thought leader, author, and a public keynote speaker. He is a veteran of the UAE technology industry with over 30 years of experience in driving technology adoption in various public sector organisations. He has been in many positions: the founder and former Director General of the Emirates ID Authority, a former member of the scientific advisory committee of the UAE Space Agency, and a former Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on information technology.
Currently, he is the director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai, an adjunct lecturer of public policy science & technology track at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, the chairman of the board of Smartworld (a leading digital solutions provider in the UAE), President of the Digital Engineering Chapter at the UAE Society of Engineers, and a board member of the Emirates Safer Internet Society.
He is on advisory board of well-known startups including Virtual Rehab Inc and 01Gov, and also on advisory boards of several universities in the UAE.
He co-authored the book Digital Nation: How the UAE is building a future based on tech innovation. A first-of-its-kind book on the unique journey of the UAE to build a future based on harnessing disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and driving digital innovation.
He has written several articles and reports that were published at Harvard Business Review Arabia and Dubai Policy Review Journal.
Dr. Saeed’s main interest is in foresight and researching the impact of emerging technologies on business and society. He strives to drive futures thinking in leadership to influence shaping the future of governments and creating a better world for all.
He was recently interviewed as a special guest with Professor Dame Wendy Hall on Brave Conversation Southampton. Dr. Saeed has earned his PhD in biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA in 1994.