DUBAI – A significant milestone in international governance cooperation was achieved at the conclusion of the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai with the signing of a Letter of Intent that designates the Dominican Republic as host nation for the World Governments Summit Regional Dialogue for Latin America in late 2026. This strategic agreement substantially enhances the Caribbean nation’s positioning as a crucial diplomatic and economic bridge connecting the Middle East with Latin American markets.
The forthcoming regional dialogue represents the return of the World Governments Summit to Dominican soil with an expanded agenda and broader strategic scope. The event is specifically designed to strengthen bilateral relations between Latin America and the Middle East, facilitate substantial investment flows from the United Arab Emirates, and foster high-level dialogue among senior government officials, private sector executives, and international policymakers.
The formal announcement ceremony in Dubai featured the signing by His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Governments Summit Organization, and Minister Víctor ‘Ito’ Bisonó of the Dominican Republic. The signing was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, alongside Dominican President Luis Abinader Corona. The document formalizes the joint commitment to establish an annual World Governments Summit Regional Dialogue for Latin America beginning in 2026.
This initiative aligns perfectly with President Abinader’s comprehensive strategy to establish the Dominican Republic as a regional center for diplomatic engagement, foreign investment, and international cooperation. The nation’s institutional stability, economically liberal policies, and advantageous geographic location provide ideal conditions for such high-profile international gatherings.
The partnership originated in 2025 when the Dominican Republic made history by hosting the first World Governments Summit regional dialogue outside the United Arab Emirates, marking the first occasion any Latin American nation had hosted an event of this caliber. That pioneering effort was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Governments Summit and the Center for Analysis for Public Policies (CAPP), creating an institutional cooperation framework focused on policy analysis, international engagement, and high-level dialogue initiatives.
Under this established agreement, the 2026 Regional Dialogue will be coordinated in collaboration with CAPP, significantly enhancing the event’s technical, academic, and public policy dimensions. This announcement confirms both the continuity and expansion of the vision initiated in 2025, envisioning a larger-scale gathering with a reinforced strategic agenda and clear commitment to regional impact.
The Latin America Summit – World Governments Summit 2026 aims to solidify the Dominican Republic’s role as a natural connector between the Middle East and Latin America by convening government leaders, corporate executives, investors, international organizations, and global experts. The summit will facilitate strategic cooperation, accelerate investment flows from the UAE to Latin America, exchange best practices in public policy, and address critical challenges and opportunities related to development, governance, and the global economy.
Through this prestigious undertaking, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its growing importance as a platform for global dialogue and regional coordination, substantially strengthening its international profile and leadership in building sustainable bridges between world regions.