UAE highlights soft power's critical role in economic resilience at Davos Summit 2026

DAVOS -- The United Arab Emirates participated in a high-level dialogue session that discussed the role of soft power in strengthening economic resilience and rebuilding trust in a world experiencing increasing volatility, as part of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The session formed part of the Global Soft Power Summit, held in Davos for the first time, and brought together senior international leaders to discuss how countries can navigate geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and shifting global perceptions through credible and forward-looking national strategies.

The session featured The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada, Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education, and David Haigh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brand Finance, and focused on the theme of soft power as a strategic asset in a world increasingly shaped by conflict, competition, and economic fragmentation.

Discussions centred on the findings of the Global Soft Power Index 2026, which assesses the perceptions and influence of 193 countries based on insights from more than 150,000 respondents worldwide.

Participants explored how reputation, trust, education, governance, innovation, and economic credibility have become decisive factors in shaping long-term national competitiveness and resilience, alongside traditional measures of hard power.

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau addressed the evolving global context in which economic and geopolitical pressures are reshaping international relations.