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17 November 2023
Author: The Future Laboratory
Image: Wavepaths, photography by Mathias de Lattre
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Photography by Cottonbro Studio, Russia
According to a 2021 report by the Emirates Youth Council (EYC), an independent council that serves as an advisory body to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, while the past 50 years of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were built with natural resources and oil, the next 50 will be built by the most important part of its human capital: its youth.
The same Council states that nearly half of the country’s citizens are aged between 15 and 35. The UAE’s Gen Z, much like their counterparts across the globe, are the most digitally literate generation and have a lasting impact on the country’s consumer behaviours – influencing various sectors and challenging long-standing norms within Emirati society.
The smartphone penetration rate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the highest in the GCC sub-region, with countries such as the UAE exceeding 96% in 2023. The majority of the population in the MENA region also access the internet through their mobile devices (source: Statista).
This digital dominance is reshaping retail, with ventures like HyperSpace in Dubai and Riyadh, which designs elaborate parks that feature a mix of digital and physical entertainment, including gaming, in shopping malls – an attraction for young and digitally savvy consumers who will turn to immersive experiences and enjoy online shopping simultaneously.
Africa – Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience, a new initiative that aims to establish an international touring circuit across Africa, will be launched with a concert in Rwanda on 6 December 2023, headlined by rapper Kendrick Lamar.
Alongside performances by Lamar and other regional artists, Move Afrika: Rwanda will feature an advocacy campaign urging world leaders to take action on issues affecting Africa.
‘Hopefully, this will send a message to the entire industry that not only is there a huge, huge opportunity on the continent for them to engage with and embrace, but ultimately, that this is something that is necessary considering where we’re going as a society and as humanity,’ Kweku Mandela, Global Citizen’s chief vision officer, told The Associated Press.
Kendrick Lamar. Photography by Greg Noire
HerMD, US
In light of recent events and mounting concerns about instability in the Middle East region, the Global Wellness Summit’s 17th annual event was moved from Doha, Qatar, to its original host city, Miami, Florida.
At this year’s summit, a significant highlight was the introduction of a new report by the Global Wellness Institute team, which estimated the value of the wellness economy and its 11 key sectors, including mental wellness, personal care and beauty, and wellness tourism. The summit’s primary focus, however, was on the expansion of wellness sub-categories, notably in the realms of sports tourism, wellness music and women’s health.
The agenda featured renowned figures like American producer Timbaland and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, as well as a diverse line-up of speakers, covering a range of engaging topics and discussions, such as: how wellbeing is infiltrating the celebrity scene; AI's role in the music industry; developments in sense-hacking; and a concept which could be considered as Bleisure 3.0, as we witness a new generation of professional athletes combining business travel with family wellness.
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