Goldie, Di Niro, Will.i.am and more…

If you’re near the Madinat Jumeirah over the next few days, you might find your surroundings even more star-studded than usual.

The Dubai complex is playing host to this year’s World Government Summit, which brings together world leaders, humanitarians and some of the globe’s brightest brains over three days.

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The event, which is held between February 11 and 13, has attracted big names ever since its inception in 2013, so who’s made this year’s list?

Aside from locally based speakers, including HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and HE Ohood Al Roumi, figures such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have jetted in especially for the occasion.

Here, we’ve rounded up a few more of the A-list names that will take to the stage…

Goldie Hawn

The Private Benjamin actress is in town with her namesake charity, The Hawn Foundation, which she launched in 2003 to give every child “an equal chance to thrive”. Hawn (who is, yes, mum to Kate Hudson) is speaking about the foundation’s MindUP programme, which looks to improve students’ learning experiences and mindfulness.

“We ask children to go to school so they can learn, but they do not know what truly goes on in terms of their health and wellbeing,” said the star, in a quote shared by the summit.

Robert di Niro

The legendary actor has long been a passionate environmental campaigner, and is due to speak on climate change in a forum dedicated to the topic. The Taxi Driver star has already made headlines this week for his work, taking aim at US President Donald Trump’s stance on climate change at the Global Citizen Forum in Montenegro.

“In my country we have an administration that totally is not being helpful,” the 74-year-old actor said.

Will.i.am

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Did you know that the Black Eyed Peas band member and TV judge is an entrepreneur who has a company—I.Am+—which has gone from exploring headphones to now looking into Artificial Intelligence? He’s also worked as an innovation consultant for plenty of major tech companies, and will be taking part in the summit’s breakout session focused on access to technology.

Forest Whitaker

The Last King of Scotland star will be taking part in a timely discussion with HE Reem Al Hashimy to look at how “women and youth can be leveraged as powerful agents of change”. Oscar winner Whitaker is the founder and CEO of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, as well as the UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and has been working to provide better living conditions for young women and men in regions touched by war for years.

Arianna Huffington

The founder of The Huffington Post has penned 15 books during her career, including, most recently, Thrive and The Sleep Revolution, and will be holding a signing session. The entrepreneur will also be giving an address on the “Third Women’s Revolution”, which looks at changing the way women work and live to “end a global epidemic of burnout and stress”.

Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson

The astrophysicist, author and TV presenter will be discussing the future of space settlement, and if man can become a multi-planetary species. Sounds like fascinating stuff to us.

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Malcolm Gladwell

The best-selling author, who’s been named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by TIME magazine, will be looking at the future of humanity and the government’s role in shaping prosperous societies.

Deepak Chopra

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The author and doctor, who’s been ranked as one of the world’s most influential thinkers, will be talking about “hope in times of uncertainty”.

For a full list of all the World Government Summit events, visit worldgovernmentsummit.org.