Doha: The Doha Forum will kick off Saturday, serving as a high-level platform that brings together heads of state, policymakers, and global experts for a dynamic and solution-driven dialogue. The forum will spotlight some of the world's most pressing challenges, including global trade, technological evolution, and the transformative rise of artificial intelligence.
According to Qatar News Agency, this year's edition unfolds against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions and mounting humanitarian needs, positioning the forum as a timely crucible for multilateral engagement. Key topics on the agenda include the Gaza crisis, global health financing, and the urgent need for nations to reclaim responsibility in funding essential services.
Among the economic focal points is the imperative to rethink global trade pathways amid shifting national policies. Discussions will also delve into the disruptive impact of AI and the complex US-China relationship, whose ripple effects are reshaping trade flows and supply chains worldwide.
In a forward-looking analysis, Associate Dean of the Business School for Quality at Al Al Bayt University in Jordan Dr. Omar Khleif Al Gharaibeh told QNA that the forum convenes at a pivotal juncture for the global economy, where geopolitical upheaval intersects with sluggish growth and a recalibration of power among major economies.
Al Gharaibeh argued that reimagining the future of trade is no longer theoretical, it's a strategic necessity to reengineer the global economic architecture for resilience and adaptability. He described the emerging paradigm as flexible globalization, a departure from linear models, designed to navigate escalating risks.
Yet, this shift, while vital, faces real-world headwinds, including rising protectionism and the strategic weaponization of supply chains by global powers. These dynamics, he noted, render the reorganization of global trade more intricate than it appears on paper.
Flexible globalization, he explained, hinges on diversifying supply chains, reducing overreliance on limited production hubs, and selectively reshoring critical industries. It also calls for a regulatory overhaul that balances market openness with economic security. However, these ambitions are challenged by intensifying tech wars and strategic rivalries, which hinder consensus on trade rules in sensitive sectors.
Al Gharaibeh emphasized that the forum's theme, "Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress," aligns with the mission to recalibrate trade rules as a lever for global equity, not a mechanism for widening wealth gaps. This begins with empowering developing nations to access advanced markets, integrate into value chains through innovative financing, and boost digital readiness.
He cautioned, however, that achieving trade justice faces formidable barriers. WTO reform remains stalled amid clashing interests of major powers, and dispute resolution mechanisms are under strain, limiting their effectiveness. A more equitable trade system, he stressed, requires bold political will that transcends narrow geopolitical calculations.
On the AI front, Al Gharaibeh noted that while artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy, it also poses profound political and regulatory challenges. Nations with advanced digital infrastructure and vast data reserves will surge ahead, widening the digital divide. The absence of a global consensus on AI governance, he warned, is a critical vulnerability. Geopolitical rivalries are obstructing the creation of a safe and fair framework for AI, turning it into a new arena of strategic competition, on par with energy and security, complicating the path for digitally aspiring nations.
Given these complexities, Al Gharaibeh underscored that investing in AI, modernizing trade regulations, and enhancing national adaptability to geo-economic shifts are no longer optional, they are strategic imperatives for any nation seeking relevance in a rapidly evolving global order. He praised multilateral platforms like the Doha Forum for offering pragmatic avenues to ease these tensions by fostering trust and forging partial consensus on shared AI principles and sectoral agreements to secure critical supply chains, such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
He said turning shared challenges into incremental cooperation remains the most realistic path to avoid a fractured world of competing trade and tech blocs. This year's forum, curated in collaboration with leading think tanks and global institutions, features a robust agenda.
Highlights include a session on Gaza with the International Crisis Group, exploring regional and global actors' responsibilities in conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding. Another session, co-hosted with the Center for International Policy Research, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the Gulf Research Center, will examine Gulf-EU relations in an era of strategic isolation, assessing shifting geopolitical dynamics and opportunities for renewed cooperation.
The forum will also tackle the volatility of global health financing in partnership with the Gates Foundation, seeking new frameworks to bolster primary healthcare systems amid declining international aid that threatens hard-won progress. Artificial intelligence, framed as a double-edged sword, will be dissected in collaboration with the Jeju Peace Institute, with a focus on responsible military applications.
A session with the Center for China and Globalization will explore the evolving US-China dynamic, assessing risks and opportunities in a changing global order and its implications for trade, diplomacy, and power realignment. Doha Forum 2025 is expected to host over 6,000 participants from more than 160 countries. As a premier global dialogue platform, it continues to bridge diplomacy with action, advancing cooperation, accountability, and shared progress on the world stage.