Insider’s Guide To Davos
11 Jan 2024
Since 1971, world leaders and titans of industry have descended on the small Swiss town of Davos every January to attend the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting. But what exactly is “Davos”, as the event is frequently referred to in the media, who gets to go and what happens there? Here’s a beginner’s guide to the event being held 15-19th January.
What is “Davos”?
The World Economic Forum’s mission is "improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas". Their annual meeting in Davos brings together approximately 3000 invitees from across politics, business, economics, academia, media and, in more recent years, celebrities (including Bono, Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio).
The event agenda typically features over 500 official sessions closely aligned to the forum’s annual theme, but perhaps of even greater significance are the thousands of formal and informal meetings, and bilateral discussions that take place over the course of five days.
Majid Al Futtaim, echoes the principles of stakeholder capitalism or "multistakeholder theory" as endorsed by The World Economic Forum, which observes that businesses have a responsibility beyond their shareholders to employees, suppliers, and the communities they operate in. This approach positions Davos as a unique platform for business leaders to engage in open dialogue with union leaders, climate change activists, policymakers, and academics.
What are the notable achievements born out of Davos?
• The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) – launched in 2000, GAVI has played a pivotal role in vaccinating nearly half of the world's children against various deadly diseases. It was also instrumental in distributing COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable countries.
• Global Risks Report – WEF releases an annual Global Risks Report ahead of the Davos meetings, which identifies major threats on the global horizon, providing valuable insights that further help shape discussions and strategies during the event.
Who attends Davos?
In 2024 Davos is set to host over 100 governments, major international organisations, and over 1000 of the most influential global companies including Majid Al Futtaim.
What's on the agenda for Davos 2024?
Next week’s event will focus on 4 key themes:
• Achieving Security and Cooperation in a Fractured World
• Creating Growth and Jobs for a New Era
• Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society
• A Long-Term Strategy for Climate, Nature and Energy
The highlight for Majid Al Futtaim’s delegation will be the launch of the progress update on our Economic Integration Initiative on January 17th.
How to attend if you’re not invited?
Davos now offers a substantial livestream program. We will be sharing livestream details and recaps of events our delegates are participating in through our social channels.
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