Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, Behavioural Exchange 2025 (BX2025) will be held in Abu Dhabi for the first time in the Middle East.
Organised by the Behavioral Science Group (BSG), part of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs, the event will take place from 30 April to 1 May 2025, at New York University under the theme New Frontiers in Behavioural Science. It will bring together leading experts from around the world and the region to explore how behavioural science can inform climate adaptation, digital governance, public health, early education initiatives, and sustainable development.
His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed noted that the conference is a global platform to explore how behavioural science can strengthen government-led initiatives and deliver better outcomes for communities. His Highness emphasised the importance the UAE places on behavioural science to inform decisions on complex challenges and deliver better outcomes for society, as the discipline is based on a deep understanding of human decision-making and offers insight into how people might respond to policies or initiatives.
His Highness also emphasised that by understanding the motivational drivers of behaviour, individuals can be empowered to pursue their personal goals while contributing to the wellbeing of the wider community. Such behavioural shifts are central to development - supporting improvements in public health and nutrition, encouraging more sustainable consumption, and aligning individual choices with national and global policy objectives. Behavioural science also plays a key role in simplifying government processes and improving the effectiveness of social programmes.
Now in its seventh global edition, BX2025 will bring together world-leading policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to discuss topics including the ethical use of AI and digital technologies, sustainable urban design, health equity, early education, and sustainable development.
