The Urbanist by Monocle

Episode: Cities on the Agenda at the World Governments Summit in Dubai

Date: February 5, 2026

Host: Andrew Tuck
Guests: Kalphan Belhou (Dubai Future Foundation), Carsten Wildberger (German Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation), Mohanad Tayyem (Deloitte Middle East)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Urbanist reports from the World Governments Summit in Dubai, focusing on how cities are changing, the intersection of technology and urban life, and strategies for building the sustainable, livable, and future-ready cities of tomorrow. Host Andrew Tuck and Monocle’s team speak to influential city leaders, government officials, and consultants to capture how Dubai and other nations are tackling rapid urbanization, digitization, and the adoption of smart technologies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dubai Model: Agility, Vision, and Human-Centric Growth

Guest: Kalphan Belhou, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation
Timestamps: [01:49] - [14:10]

• Dubai’s Remarkable Transformation

  • Dubai’s growth is driven by visionary leadership focused on human prosperity and citizen well-being, rather than geopolitics or conflict.
  • “There's less interest in geopolitics, there's zero interest in conflicts. We're more about connecting dots, building bridges, making friends. As small as we are as a country, we are super ambitious.” — Kalphan Belhou [01:49]

• People at the Heart of Urban Design

  • Emphasized the soft side of city-building: attachment, happiness, safety, and the experience of living in the city are as vital—if not more so—than technological innovation or economic drivers.
  • “This is even more important than AI. This is actually the core of how this country is driven.” — Kalphan Belhou [03:50]

• Benchmarking and Relentless Ambition

  • Dubai used to look to other cities for benchmarks; now, global cities look to Dubai for best practices. The city’s leadership constantly pushes for higher goals.
  • Recalls a moment at the World Sports Summit where, despite major success, the Crown Prince urged even greater ambition.
  • “The Crown Prince was actually looking at a bigger ambition and a vision for version number two.” — Kalphan Belhou [06:02]

• Blending Tradition with Innovation

  • Modern solutions draw on both cutting-edge tech (e.g., AI, green energy, blockchain) and traditional approaches (shade, plant life to mitigate heat).
  • The “secret sauce” is Dubai's agility and speed in moving from ideation and experimentation to implementation—enabled by close cooperation between government, regulators, and the private sector.

• Venture Capital Mindset & Calculated Risk-Taking

  • Dubai treats city-building like a VC fund: takes calculated risks, accepts failure as a learning process, and doubles down on successes.
  • “We double down on the ones that make sense and the ones that don't make sense, we don't consider them failures. Those are pivoting moments, learning curves.” — Kalphan Belhou [10:36]

• Embracing Uncertainty & Serendipity in City Life

  • Part of the foundation’s budget is reserved for ad hoc initiatives, allowing flexibility and responding to serendipitous opportunities, while the majority is focused on foresight and rigorous project planning.
  • “Given the speed of how the future changes… yes, we'd like to know everything, but no, we won't know everything.” — Kalphan Belhou [12:33]

• Managing Exponential Growth

  • With 800–1,000 new residents a day, Dubai sees city growth as a positive but plans carefully to ensure infrastructure and quality of life keep pace.

2. Digital Transformation & the European Perspective

Guest: Carsten Wildberger, German Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization
Timestamps: [15:00] - [22:47]

• Learning from Global Forums

  • Discussed value of global exchanges at the summit—understanding digital transformation and AI uses in governance.

• Crossing Public & Private Divide

  • Compared management in business and government. The ministry now uses project-based approaches, aiming to make government more nimble.

• Modernizing Government—Cutting Bureaucracy

  • Prioritized cutting red tape—recent efforts in Germany have achieved €8 billion in bureaucratic savings already.
  • “We have cabinet meetings that is only devoted to cutting bureaucracy. So it's the first time…” — Carsten Wildberger [16:53]

• Germany’s Threefold Digital Mandate

  • 1. Cut bureaucracy and red tape
  • 2. Digitize public services
  • 3. Stimulate business innovation through tech and AI

• Public Appetite for Change

  • Technology is advancing faster than social adaptation, but hesitating comes at a cost to innovation and growth.
  • “My concern is by getting stuck just in the conversation, should we do it or do not, we're missing out on growth, we're missing out on innovation, and that is the worst of all outcomes.” — Carsten Wildberger [18:44]

• European Innovation Lag

  • Europe is “too slow” due to excess regulation but has deep strengths—values, education, industry.
  • Urged Europe to “wake up the lion” and give innovation more room.
  • “It is a lion, but it's a bit passive at the moment. But let's not forget what kind of beast we can be.” — Carsten Wildberger [20:22]

• Excitement for AI in Public Service

  • German government is scaling agentic AI, seeing strong startup dynamism and established industrial players embracing digital tools.
  • “I see extraordinary dynamics in the startup scene in Germany, especially driven by software and AI.” — Carsten Wildberger [21:13]

• Regulating Rapid Innovation

  • Emphasized balancing values-based regulation while creating space for innovation.

3. Building and Operating Smart Cities: Regional Lessons

Guest: Mohanad Tayyem, Partner at Deloitte Middle East
Timestamps: [23:25] - [28:46]

• Smart Cities: From Trend to Reality

  • Smart urban solutions are no longer optional—they’re a present-day reality across both established and greenfield cities.

• Building New vs. Transforming Existing Cities

  • Greenfield (new) cities offer a “dream scenario” with fewer constraints, but both greenfield and established cities have unique opportunities and challenges.

• The Role of Government and Private Sector

  • In the Middle East, government leads city transformation, but partnerships and outcome-driven procurement are increasingly common.

• Consultancy Role in Smart Cities

  • Deloitte’s involvement covers feasibility studies, project management, implementing smart tech—crucial for livability and economic vibrancy.

• AI: From Enabler to Necessity

  • AI is considered essential in all client services, but warns that “AI for AI's sake” (without clear benefits or mature implementation) remains an issue.
  • “AI is not only an enabler these days, it's basically a necessity.” — Mohanad Tayyem [27:10]

• Optimism for the Region

  • Governments in the Middle East are heavily investing in tech, AI, regulations, and urban improvement, with consultants eager to partner on future-ready societies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's less interest in geopolitics, there's zero interest in conflicts. We're more about connecting dots, building bridges, making friends.”
  — Kalphan Belhou [01:49]

• “This is even more important than AI. This is actually the core of how this country is driven.”
  — Kalphan Belhou [03:50]

• “We double down on the ones that make sense and the ones that don't make sense, we don't consider them failures. Those are pivoting moments, learning curves.”
  — Kalphan Belhou [10:36]

• “It is a lion, but it's a bit passive at the moment. But let's not forget what kind of beast we can be.”
  — Carsten Wildberger [20:22]

• “AI is not only an enabler these days, it's basically a necessity.”
  — Mohanad Tayyem [27:10]

Key Timestamps

• [01:49] — Dubai’s transformation and people-centered philosophy (Kalphan Belhou)
• [03:50] — Why human experience beats technology (Kalphan Belhou)
• [06:02] — Leadership ambition and global benchmarking (Kalphan Belhou)
• [10:36] — The VC mindset in urban policy (Kalphan Belhou)
• [16:53] — Cutting bureaucracy in Germany (Carsten Wildberger)
• [18:44] — The risks of hesitancy in technology adoption (Carsten Wildberger)
• [20:22] — Europe’s passive innovation beast (Carsten Wildberger)
• [21:13] — Embracing agentic AI in public service (Carsten Wildberger)
• [23:25] — Smart city challenges and opportunities (Mohanad Tayyem)
• [27:10] — AI as a necessity in city development (Mohanad Tayyem)

Final Takeaways

• Dubai’s agile, human-centric approach—backed by bold leadership and willingness to take calculated risks—has set a new global benchmark for rapid, resilient urban growth.
• Even established regions like Europe are re-examining how to adapt regulatory frameworks for digital transformation and urban modernization.
• Smart cities require not just infrastructure and technology, but also the right mindset, governance models, and clear alignment between public values and private expertise.
• AI is now seen as essential for city management, but meaningful deployment—aligned to real outcomes—is key.
• Collaboration, open-mindedness, and continuous learning will define the next chapter of city building worldwide.