World Leaders and A-Listers Celebrate Global Citizenship at GCF 2021

December 23, 2021

Inspiring 2-day event gathers over 400 guests and 80 speakers from 32 countries at a historic time to illuminate the global stage with empowering panels and performances.

Ras Al Khaimah, December 14, 2021 – Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and in partnership with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), over 400 guests from across 32 countries landed in the region’s leading sustainable destination to witness the Global Citizen Forum’s Annual Summit in motion across two-days of empowering panels and performances.

“From our dynamic panels broadcasted live to a global audience, to our intimate and empowering conversations on changing the world — we have come together at a historic time, to not only ignite the momentum for human mobility, but to set in motion an unparalleled vision of a future we have collectively committed to create,” shares Talimka Yordanova, CEO, Global Citizen Forum, as its community celebrates another successful and significant milestone in its mission to empower global citizenship.

The 2021 Annual Summit, unveiled under the theme, ‘The Future in Motion — A New Momentum for Human Mobility’ aimed to bridge the world’s most pressing challenges with powerful opportunities for global solutions.

From the migration and refugee crisis, increasing threats of climate change, changing tides of power, unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence, the future of global economy, and the next generation of leaders — the world’s leading minds convened to highlight the significant untapped potential of working together to create a lasting impact.

“Tenors of global citizenship are engraved in everything that we do, here in the United Arab Emirates,” shared His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah in his Welcoming Address.

The line-up of over 80 inspiring global leaders and heads of state included the President of Colombia, H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, Vice President of Liberia, H.E. Jewel Taylor, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Philip Pierre, former President of Mauritius, Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, and former Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, among many other government leaders.

Former FBI hostage negotiator and Masterclass coach, Chris Voss, environmental entrepreneur and marine biologist, Dr. Deborah Brosnan, Nobel Prize-winning economist, Nouriel Roubini, international journalist and CNN anchor, Richard Quest, Somali American activist and supermodel; Halima Aden, and many more also shared the stage.

A glamorous finale marked the end of the event with GCF’s acclaimed Gala Dinner, where the star-studded reception included exceptional performances by Grammy-nominated singer and performer, Nicole Scherzinger, international, Grammy-Award winning artist, Wyclef Jean, viral X Factor singer, Emmanuel Kelly, and international DJ and Record Producer, Afrojack.

“The Gala was intimate and authentic celebration of humanity,” shares Armand Arton, Founder of the Global Citizen Forum. “We were incredibly humbled to host some of the world’s most talented artists to share the stage together in honor of our mission.”

During the Gala, the 2021 Global Citizen Forum Award was presented to actress, producer and director, philanthropist, activist, and entrepreneur, Eva Longoria in honor of her work with underprivileged communities and her commitment to change the narrative on their untapped potential.

In her acceptance speech, Eva spoke on the importance of supporting migrants in securing their rights, saying, “During the pandemic, many countries labelled migrant workers as essential. I don’t believe that we needed a pandemic to label them as essential. They have always been essential to our countries, and therefore securing their rights must also be essential to us.”

The Gala also included a benefit auction with an impressive item list in support of the Global Gift Foundation, a non-profit that promotes women empowerment and advocates for gender equality through education and professional development.

The Future in Motion was the Global Citizen Forum’s first carbon-conscious event and was able minimize, calculate and offset the carbon emissions with the organic planting of Moringa trees in collaboration with Sustainability Partner, About Climate.

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About Global Citizen Forum 

The Global Citizen Forum is a Canadian non-profit organization driven by a global community of leaders and catalyzers unlocking the potential of global citizenship. Through a series of curated events and experiences, GCF’s membership-based community gathers from across the globe for their Annual Summit to bridge dialogue with action for traceable, transparent and measurable impact.

#GCF2021 #GCFRAK #FutureInMotion

About Global Gift Foundation

Global Gift Foundation founded on 2013 in Marbella, Spain with its USA 501 (c) 3 chapter as Global Gift Foundation of America, has been supporting Foundations and other Charity organizations worldwide and developing its own projects, giving economic and logistical support to vulnerable individuals and families in need around the world. GGF has supported more than 200 fiscally responsible charities in the last 8 years including UNICEF, UNESCO, DIANA AWARD, BBC CHILDREN IN NEED, DUBAI CARES and RICKY MARTIN FOUNDATION to name but a few. They continue to support its projects in Spain, India, Vietnam and Latino America. The Global Gift Foundation advocates for gender equality through education, and professional development, making a positive impact on the lives of children, women and families in need.

About Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) was established in May 2011 under the government of Ras Al Khaimah. RAKTDA aims to develop the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish Ras Al Khaimah as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel, creating sustainable investment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for its residents. In order to achieve its goals, the Authority has a government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the Emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry.

#VisitRasAlKhaimah

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Teresa Esmezyan, [email protected]