Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) has announced the debut of its new initiative, the Sustainability Futures Lab, created to enhance the Forum’s contribution to human capital development and strengthen the region’s sustainability landscape. Centred on the conviction that education, talent development and youth involvement are vital to long-term climate progress, the Challenge encourages university students across Bahrain to devise practical, future-focused solutions shaped by the themes of the Forum’s 4th edition. Powered by KPMG in Bahrain and supported by both the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and the Higher Education Council (HEC), the programme links academic capability with genuine sustainability needs and emerging opportunities.
The Forum will be held on 27–28 January 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, and with the support of the SCE. Once again, the annual gathering is set to welcome more than 400 leaders from the region and beyond to explore the theme: Advancing Alignment, Innovation, and Implementation for Energy & Climate Transformation.
The Challenge opens the door for teams from universities across the Kingdom to take part in an immersive programme comprising a pre-forum briefing, direct participation in Forum sessions, a seven-day post-event innovation sprint, and a final pitch to a jury of sustainability experts, policymakers and academic figures. The competition will revolve around four scenario-led tracks that mirror the Forum’s key themes for 2026: Climate Finance and Just Transition, Tech for Net Zero, Nature and Carbon Markets, and Capacity for Delivery.
Commenting on the initiative, Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner at KPMG Bahrain, said, “Developing the next generation of sustainability leaders is essential to accelerating and sustaining national and regional climate goals. As always, we are delighted to partner with the Sustainability Forum Middle East to launch the Sustainability Futures Lab for the next generation of business leaders with the tools, mentorship, and practical exposure needed to create solutions that are implementable, scalable, and aligned with Bahrain’s long-term vision. Empowering and developing the future generation is at the heart of our values, and look forward to supporting the University students through effective engagement.”
Adding to this, Ms. Zahraa Taher, Managing Director of FinMark Communications and the Founder and Organiser of Sustainability Forum Middle East, noted, “Sustainability Futures Lab represents an important expansion of SFME’s mission to build a resilient, knowledge-driven sustainability ecosystem. By bringing students into the centre of the Forum’s dialogue, we aim to bridge education and real-world climate action while contributing to the Kingdom’s human capital development agenda.”
The Challenge will conclude with an Awards Ceremony and an Awareness Workshop to acknowledge the top-performing teams while broadening their understanding of Bahrain’s sustainability roadmap, upcoming ESG opportunities and potential routes for sustained engagement.
The 2026 Forum will further reinforce the Lab’s emphasis on learning and capacity-building through a programme aimed at deepening understanding of climate and energy transition priorities. Day one will host keynote speeches, fireside discussions and panels, while day two will feature a full schedule of specialist workshops. Among the sessions confirmed so far are Future-Proofing Business by KPMG, Navigating Carbon Markets in the Arab States by UNDP and Sustainability, Reputation & Growth by the Anthesis Group, offering students hands-on learning aligned with real-world climate solutions.
The 2026 edition will be supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Strategic Partner, alongside Forum Partners such as Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY), Bahrain Ship Repairing and Engineering Company (BASREC), and the American Chamber of Commerce Bahrain (AmCham Bahrain), with additional partners to be announced.
For further details or to explore partnership opportunities, visit sustainmideast.com or contact info@sustainmideast.com / +973 17 749759.