Dubai, UAE
Friday 29th November 2025
Smart Cities Council Chair & President, Corey Gray, accompanied by SCC Global Advisory Board Chair, Mark Messow, has concluded another high-impact week of public speaking and private receptions in Dubai, participating in three major global gatherings focused on urban innovation, digital transformation, and the future of intelligent cities.
As evidenced by this being Corey’s eighteenth visit to Dubai for 2025, SCC’s leadership across the GCC continues to grow driven by strong connections with government, industry and academia and in particular, trade and investment agencies and the fast-expanding tech startup and capital investment ecosystem.
In a week Corey and presented at LiveableCitiesX 2025, Dubai Tech Tuesdays, and DATE MENA 2025.
Corey and Mark also co-hosted the first regional visit by SCC global partners, Convera, represented by Nick Worthington and Justin Hall, whose visit included an information session and reception with regional partners, IFZA.
High level discussions also continued with academia partners, PwC Academy, Shaik Hamdan, and Marc Tarrango of AIM Congress among several others.
1. LiveableCitiesX 2025 — “Creative Urbanism & Crafting Identity”
Joined by a panel of global experts, Yannic Leveque – VP Middle East at ACCIONA Living & Culture, Dr Adel Elmessiry – Founder of AI DCT/AIVP/AlphaFin, Prof Christos Passas – Director at Zaha Hadid Architects and Atif Siddiqui – Head of Data at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality Corey investigated the role of art, architecture, music, cuisine and fashion in urban placemaking and the creation of cultural identity and wellbeing. This discussion expanded on the concept of #healthspan as a new metric for Smart City success, launched by Mark Messow at Smart Cities Summit North America in May this year in which emotionally resonant urban experiences support human flourishing.
2. Dubai Tech Tuesdays No. 73 — Spotlight on Future Cities
Mid-week, Corey, Mark and Nate Golden joined “host for a day”, Dr. Adel Elmessiry, on stage for Dubai Tech Tuesdays No. 73 – “Future Cities Edition” at Belcanto, Dubai Opera. Brainchild of local identity, Gordon Einsten, Dubai Tech Tuesdays is a high-profile weekly gathering of innovators, policymakers, thinkers and technologists from across the region that brings focus, fun and glamour to tech.
In a thought-provoking discussion that opened with Rumi’s provocative entreat, “Somewhere beyond right and wrong is a garden. I will meet you there.”, the panel contemplated what is required to find commonality in world intent on creating artifice and division, and the power of culture and identity in building successful communities.
3. DATE MENA 2025 — Leading the Conversation on Intelligent Enterprises
On Thursday Corey joined moderator, Tanishqa Kambli, Editor, The Technology Express, and fellow panellists Eng. Nsaaim Alotaibi, AI Director, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia and Matteo Zanoni, Director, Data, AI an Intelligent Automation, EY, to provide perspectives on “The Digital Core – Building Resilient, Connected, and Intelligent Enterprises”.
Corey contributed how AI, cloud, and data are reshaping business and government operations across the region, emphasising SCC’s core principle: intelligent enterprises and intelligent cities must be built ethically, responsibly, and with people at the centre — ensuring technology empowers rather than overwhelms communities and delivers benefit for all.
A Strategic Week for SCC’s Global Presence
From human-centred urbanism to next-generation digital infrastructure, Corey and Mark’s presence showcased the breadth of SCC’s expertise and the organisation’s growing importance and influence across city-innovation ecosystems in the GCC.
For more information on Smart Cities Council programs:
