This collaboration will focus on developing AI-powered automation solutions across government entities while equipping UAE talent with critical AI skills.

The Memorandum of Understanding, aligned with the UAE National Strategy for AI and supporting the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in AI by 2031, was signed by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Daniel Dines, Founder and CEO of UiPath, along with the UiPath team.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, emphasised that the UAE government is committed to fostering partnerships with entrepreneurs and private sector companies specialising in advanced technology fields to achieve the objectives of the UAE National Strategy for AI.

Dr. Al Mahmoud added that AI-powered automation will provide the necessary enablers to leverage AI applications in enhancing government services. He noted that these partnerships will support efforts to build government workforce capabilities and prepare them for AI-dependent roles.

“The UAE has been fast in recognising and harnessing the tremendous potential unlocked by the AI revolution. We’re excited to enhance the UAE’s journey on its mission to infuse AI-powered automation into its operations and empower government sector employees and graduates with valuable AI skills. In doing so, it’s furthering its ambitious vision to become a leading nation in AI and create new economic, educational, and social opportunities for its citizens and businesses,” said Zakaria Haltout, Area Vice President Middle East and Africa at UiPath.

As part of this collaboration, UiPath will support the creation of an automation and AI training programme for up to 100 government employees or students.

Additionally, UiPath will enable the upskilling of participants in Coders HQ, one of the National Programme for Coders Initiatives. Coders who enroll in the training programme will acquire critical automation and AI skills using the UiPath Business Automation Platform.

The AI and automation training framework, enabled by the UiPath Academy, will provide participants with the opportunity to obtain UiPath Certified credentials.

Moreover, UiPath and the Office will jointly develop a programme vision and a roadmap to enable government-backed companies and startups to leverage AI and automation technologies. The partnership will see both sides explore opportunities to increase operational efficiency and enhance society’s experience by embedding AI into public-facing services.

As part of this, the two parties will collaborate to set up a number of pilot projects exploring the capabilities of the UiPath Business Automation Platform. The collaboration framework will also include UiPath-led workshops designed to increase awareness on the benefits of AI-powered automation.

The move is under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy.

This initiative aligns with Dubai's strategic vision to equip Emirati talent with the skills required to enhance the digital economy, position the nation as a global leader in innovation and sustainability and empower youth for leadership roles in rapidly evolving technology sectors.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that the UAE government continues to work to implement the leadership's directives by investing in national talents and empowering them with the tools and skills necessary to enhance their role in shaping the future.

He pointed out that the government, through its plans, strategies, and initiatives, seeks to empower individuals and national talents, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for active participation in the comprehensive digital development journey, focusing on innovation and developing national talents.

Al Olama further added that equipping national talents and young generations with digital skills aligns with the UAE's approach, aiming to ensure a promising digital future where every individual in society contributes to driving positive change and shaping a more innovative future.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the EHRDC, stated, "This initiative demonstrates our unwavering commitment to empowering Emirati talent to lead in the digital economy. These partnerships reflect the Council's leadership in bridging academia and industry, ensuring our youth have the skills and tools to thrive in the technology sector. This aligns with Dubai's vision of fostering innovation and achieving sustainable economic growth."

As part of the 5000 Digital Talent initiative, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, in collaboration with the EHRDC, signed an MoU to enhance partnerships with technology companies. The initiative aims to develop talent and train 5,000 students over five years, ensuring a future-ready workforce.

The Council also signed MoUs with LinkedIn, SAS and universities, including the University of Dubai, Zayed University, and Higher Colleges of Technology, to enhance students' skills and readiness for professional roles in the technology sector through digital development, industry-specific training, mentorship, and practical learning opportunities.

Targeting third and fourth year university students, the initiative provides mentorship, practical training, and access to leading industry partners.

The launch ceremony, attended by high-ranking officials, industry leaders, and university students, highlighted the strategic importance of these partnerships in shaping the UAE's digital future.

The award, which was launched last March by the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, seeks to inspire federal, local and semi-government bodies to embrace advanced AI applications. There were more than 225 entries from 76 government and semi-government bodies, and 44 private organisations.

“Artificial Intelligence will radically change business and the delivery of public services, and we are determined to be at the forefront among countries adopting AI tools to accelerate government work," Sheikh Mohammed said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs won the Service Excellence category award for its Smart Mission project, an AI-driven consulate service that require no human intervention, Dubai Government Media Office said.

DP World received an award in the Operational Efficiency category for its Tanbeeh platform, which helps detects fires within five seconds by processing more than 500 hours of surveillance footage from cameras.

The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) received the award for the Decision-Making category for its STEAM+ integrated modelling and analysis system. The system provides insights into current transport patterns, identifies population needs, anticipates shifts in demand and forecasts future developments in mobility across Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council secured the Emirati AI Solutions award for its Falcon project, a generative language model described by the media office as rivalling major tech players such as Meta, Google and OpenAI.

The awards ceremony was also attended by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

Setting the tone for deliberations during the retreat, His Highness stated, “The UAE has firmly established its leadership among the world’s most future-focused nations, securing a prominent position at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence advancements that will transform all sectors. We are committed to not only maintaining but reinforcing this leadership by building our capacities. This can be realised by strengthening infrastructure, data preparedness, and legislative frameworks, while intensifying the training and development of our national workforce, the backbone of our country’s future.

“The UAE’s foresight and strategic planning have led to extraordinary achievements in this rapidly evolving field. We are positioned as one of the best prepared nations to seize opportunities within the sector, leveraging these advancements to elevate quality of life and accelerate economic growth and all-round development. As we have the resources and a globally competitive talent pool, our ambitions are boundless in spearheading future trends and pioneering this sector,” His Highness added.

Sheikh Mohammed commended the efforts of national entities that have contributed to the success of the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy and praised the retreat for bringing together diverse entities under one umbrella to share insights and align frameworks and plans, aiming to amplify impact and achievements in this critical domain.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE; and Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister And Minister of Interior, attended the retreat.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; and His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, were also in attendance.

Chaired by Sheikh Mohammed, the meetings brought together over 500 officials from federal and local government entities, the private sector, and community institutions.

HE Al Olama highlighted how the UAE’s diverse demographic uniquely positions the country to develop AI systems that can be easily adapted for different markets.

“When you deploy something in the UAE, it doesn’t suffer from the local biases found in other places. Our infrastructure enables the rapid flow of data into AI systems, allowing us to deploy them faster than others,” he stated.

Underscoring the UAE’s commitment to its vision for technological leadership amid global geopolitical challenges, HE Al Olama added: “Our market depends on working with the rest of the world. We understand that conflicts will affect us, but our ambition is to control our fate. We want to build AI systems in the UAE and export them globally.”

He also touched on the UAE’s investment in human capital and preparing the workforce to be able to adopt AI: “To date, over 400 government officials have completed specialist training, equivalent to a master’s degree, in AI ethics, AI’s benefits, opportunities, and the mechanisms for implementing it.”

HE Al Olama was joined by Mirek Dušek, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum; Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development; Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund; and Tolu Oni, Clinical Professor at the University of Cambridge. The session explored the transition to the ‘Intelligent Age’, focusing on challenges and opportunities in AI, public health, climate action, and economic development.

The speakers emphasized the interconnectedness of these issues and the need for collaborative, innovative approaches to responsibly harness emerging technologies to address global challenges.

Burston stressed the need to align climate action with public health and economic benefits to overcome resistance to sustainability measures.

“As well as the economic benefits, climate action will help us breathe cleaner air. Electric vehicles will reduce noise, and greener cities are better for mental health. When we lead with the health benefits of climate action, I think more people will support it,” she said.

Ahmed built on this by focusing on the urgent need to decarbonize economic growth and ensure affordable financing to support green initiatives in emerging markets.

“One thing is very clear: we can't continue with a growth strategy that clashes with our climate goals,” he stated.

He also emphasized the need for political action: “Where we fall short is in political ambition and urgency. If 80% of the infrastructure in emerging markets over the next 50 years is going to be built in the next 15, making the right choices now in terms of financing and technology is critical. Otherwise, we’ll be paying the price for bad decisions for generations.”

Oni addressed the social and environmental factors impacting health, noting that “80% of factors that influence our health lie outside of healthcare. They are in the environments that shape where we live, how we live, how we move, what we eat, and the air we breathe.”

She advocated for integrating health considerations across sectors and using digital technologies to democratize data collection and promote accountability, leading to more equitable health outcomes.

AMGFC24, hosted by the UAE Government in cooperation with the World Economic Forum (WEF), is taking place from 15-17 October in Dubai. The 2024 edition features 30 councils and over 700 participants from 80 countries, including experts, thought leaders, senior government officials, and business leaders who are helping shape the agenda of the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.

Al Olama highlighted how the UAE’s diverse demographic uniquely positions the country to develop AI systems that can be easily adapted for different markets. “When you deploy something in the UAE, it doesn’t suffer from the local biases found in other places. Our infrastructure enables the rapid flow of data into AI systems, allowing us to deploy them faster than others,” he stated.

Underscoring the UAE’s commitment to its vision for technological leadership amid global geopolitical challenges, Al Olama added: “Our market depends on working with the rest of the world. We understand that conflicts will affect us, but our ambition is to control our fate. We want to build AI systems in the UAE and export them globally.”
He also touched on the UAE’s investment in human capital and preparing the workforce to be able to adopt AI: “To date, over 400 government officials have completed specialist training, equivalent to a master’s degree, in AI ethics, AI’s benefits, opportunities, and the mechanisms for implementing it.”

Al Olama was joined by Mirek Dušek, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum; Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development; Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund; and Tolu Oni, Clinical Professor at the University of Cambridge. The session explored the transition to the ‘Intelligent Age’, focusing on challenges and opportunities in AI, public health, climate action, and economic development.

The speakers emphasised the interconnectedness of these issues and the need for collaborative, innovative approaches to responsibly harness emerging technologies to address global challenges.
Burston stressed the need to align climate action with public health and economic benefits to overcome resistance to sustainability measures.

“As well as the economic benefits, climate action will help us breathe cleaner air. Electric vehicles will reduce noise, and greener cities are better for mental health. When we lead with the health benefits of climate action, I think more people will support it,” she said.
Ahmed built on this by focusing on the urgent need to decarbonize economic growth and ensure affordable financing to support green initiatives in emerging markets.

“One thing is very clear: we can't continue with a growth strategy that clashes with our climate goals,” he stated.

He also emphasised the need for political action: “Where we fall short is in political ambition and urgency. If 80 percent of the infrastructure in emerging markets over the next 50 years is going to be built in the next 15, making the right choices now in terms of financing and technology is critical. Otherwise, we’ll be paying the price for bad decisions for generations.”

Oni addressed the social and environmental factors impacting health, noting that “80 percent of factors that influence our health lie outside of healthcare. They are in the environments that shape where we live, how we live, how we move, what we eat, and the air we breathe.”

She advocated for integrating health considerations across sectors and using digital technologies to democratize data collection and promote accountability, leading to more equitable health outcomes.

AMGFC24, hosted by the UAE Government in cooperation with the World Economic Forum (WEF), is taking place from 15th to 17th October in Dubai. The 2024 edition features 30 councils and over 700 participants from 80 countries, including experts, thought leaders, senior government officials, and business leaders who are helping shape the agenda of the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.

Developed jointly by the Office of the Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology and the Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, the policy represents a strategic step within the UAE's comprehensive foreign policy framework, designed to tackle the complex challenges presented by AI on the global stage.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, emphasised that the UAE government plays a key role in shaping global AI governance frameworks and international policies by proactively contributing to multilateral platforms dedicated to establishing an effective and responsible AI sector.

The UAE has become a significant player in the global governance of artificial intelligence, actively contributing to international policy discussions and helping define the standards and frameworks that will shape the future of AI," Al Olama said. He added that this policy is set to strengthen the UAE's global leadership in AI, ensuring that technological advancements go hand in hand with improving the well-being of society.

Meanwhile, Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, said that adopting such policies would boost the UAE's position as a leader in the development and utilisation of AI, enhancing trust with its strategic partners.

Sharaf added, "By aligning the country's foreign policy with global artificial intelligence standards, we enable local stakeholders, including private enterprises, research institutions, and others, to tackle the challenges of artificial intelligence on an international scale.

The AI policy is built on six core principles: advancement, cooperation, community, ethics, sustainability, and security, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring that AI development in the UAE aligns with ethical, social, and environmental priorities.

Additionally, the policy seeks to utilise AI to drive economic diversification and innovation, while encouraging the development of high-impact technological solutions.

The UAE's position includes foreign policies on AI, including participating in international AI forums to shape the development and use of this technology through future standards and guidelines; advocating transparency and built-in checkpoints within AI tools, enabling governments to enforce ethical standards and implement accountability measures; and supporting the establishment of international alliances for governing, securing, and developing AI systems.

Additionally, supporting the establishment of global alliances to govern, secure, and advance AI systems; supporting the implementation of international regulations that hold countries accountable for developing AI tools that could cause harm or destabilisation, while ensuring AI security, privacy protection, and data safety; and encouraging responsible use of AI applications through joint research and development initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability both regionally and globally.

The list includes the most influential young people around the world.

Dubai's Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, praised the minister's achievement.

"We in the UAE are proud of Omar Al Olama’s selection in the TIME 100 Next list, which includes the most influential young people around the world who have had a prominent role in positively influencing their communities. We are proud of his selection in the global TIME lists," wrote the leader, taking to X.

Previously this year, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Faisal Al Bannai were the UAE citizens listed on Time's 100 most influential people in AI.

H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office; and Her Excellency Savannah Maziya, Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), Kingdom of Eswatini, signed the agreement.

Omar Sultan Al Olama: Expanding the Scope of International Cooperation to Enhance Government Work Experiences

H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama emphasised that enhancing international cooperation and expanding frameworks for knowledge and expertise partnerships with countries worldwide is a key priority for the UAE’s leadership. This approach aims to broaden partnerships and foster international cooperation to improve government work and promote the exchange of knowledge and best practices, ultimately benefiting governments and the well-being of societies.

He stated that the partnership with the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini is a valuable addition to the UAE's experience exchange initiatives, which span all continents and have produced positive results for governments seeking to develop and modernise their work and administration methodologies. By leveraging the best experiences, practices, and success stories from the UAE, this partnership will open new development opportunities for the government of Eswatini through experience exchange, enhanced government administration, and the empowerment of cadres and community members with future-oriented skills.

Savannah Maziya: Exploring Opportunities for Cooperation in Technological Fields

H.E. Savannah Maziya expressed her country's pride in signing the MoU with the UAE, stating, “The agreement will explore opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in various technological fields, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral relations, improving economic opportunities, and enhancing the well-being of citizens in both countries”.

Building Government Capacities in Technological, Social, and Economic Fields

The areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement focus on exchanging expertise, experiences, and best practices to enhance government capacities in various fields, including digitisation, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, innovation, education, coding, business incubation, tourism, culture, and more.

The areas of cooperation between the governments of the two countries include government services, smart services, government performance, innovation and excellence, leadership capacity building, shaping the future, and strategic planning and management.

The Government Experience Exchange Programme is a leading platform for international government cooperation launched by the UAE government in 2018. Its aim is to share the best government experiences, practices, and business models developed in government modernisation with governments worldwide. The programme has successfully signed dozens of experience exchange agreements with 37 governments, focusing on building positive and purposeful partnerships.

These partnerships emphasise the exchange of best practices and expertise in areas such as government services, government excellence, government accelerators, government performance systems and institutional efficiency, capacity building and leadership development, government innovation, competitiveness and statistics, government human resources development, coding, entrepreneurship and start-ups, and more.

Following the successful Samsung Innovation Campus initiative on the side-lines of the UAE AI Camp 2024, the new initiative marks a new milestone in the longstanding partnership between Samsung and the UAE Office of AI to offer a comprehensive and engaging curriculum to nurture the next generation of AI innovators.

Galaxy AI Pioneers classes will be delivered in a unique hybrid learning format in three age-based batches starting from September 23 to December 15 2024. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including AI and Python fundamentals, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, AI robotics, natural language processing, and the ethical considerations of AI.

Students will also have the opportunity to explore Samsung Galaxy AI applications and develop their own AI solutions through a capstone project. The program combines instructor-led virtual sessions with in-person sessions at the Coders HQ in Dubai.

Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Mahmoud, an expert in the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, stated that “Launching the Galaxy AI Pioneers program in partnership with Samsung embodies the efforts of the National Program for Coders to translate the visions of the UAE government to enhance the UAE’s leading position at the forefront of AI innovation and development. By partnering with Samsung, we're creating a unique opportunity for our youth to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technologies.

This initiative nurtures the technical skills of our future workforce and also instils an understanding of AI's ethical implications. We believe programs like this are crucial in building a generation of AI-savvy innovators who will drive our nation's digital transformation and contribute to our knowledge-based economy.

Shafi Alam, Director and Head of Direct-to-Consumer Business & Corporate Marketing at Samsung Gulf Electronics said, "Galaxy AI Pioneers represents Samsung's commitment to fostering innovation and technological literacy among UAE's youth. We are equipping tomorrow's technology leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an AI-driven future. By providing hands-on experience with AI, we're fostering a deeper connection between these young innovators and the technology that will shape their lives”.

To provide real-world perspectives on AI use cases, the program will feature guest lectures from academicians and industry experts. These sessions will offer students insights into the practical applications of AI in various fields and potential career paths in the technology sector.

By the end of the program, participants will have gained hands-on experience in AI technologies and developed critical thinking skills essential for the digital age. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony where students will showcase their projects, demonstrating their newfound expertise in AI. Graduates will receive a Course Completion Certificate from Samsung and the UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence.

For more information about the Galaxy AI Pioneers program and to register, please visit https://mena.samsung.com/ae/galaxy-ai-pioneers.

“This progress stems from a forward-looking vision that embraces sustainable development and investment in Emirati individuals to lead change, elevate government work, and take it to advanced stages,” H.H. Sheikh Mohammed added during his meeting with the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers in the UAE government, where His Highness also honoured the graduates of the 2023 UAE Government Leaders Programme.

The event took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, the Chief AI Executive Officers in the UAE government were selected after the Cabinet, led by His Highness, had approved the creation of the new role of the 'Chief Executive Officer for Artificial Intelligence' in the ministries and federal entities.

During the meeting, His Highness emphasised that the UAE, founded on the principle of sustainable development, is committed to modernising government operations, fostering innovation, and enhancing efficiency. This strategic approach, His Highness continued, aims to position the UAE government as a global leader, delivering exceptional services and preparing for the future.

His Highness emphasised that investing in the nation's human capital is a cornerstone of this strategy, ensuring a prosperous tomorrow for generations to come.

His Highness added: "Investing in our people is an investment in our future. By nurturing Emirati minds and talent, we're securing a brighter tomorrow for generations to come. Our goal is to transform government operations, making the UAE a global leader in efficiency and preparedness."

The selection of Chief AI Officers in the UAE government aims to enhance and expand the development of AI solutions and applications in government work.

This effort aligns with the objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" vision, which focuses on achieving global leadership in the fields of AI and digital technology and ensuring the sustainability of economic and social development in the UAE.

Held at the Museum of the Future as part of the ‘UAE AI Camp’, an annual initiative organised by the ‘National Program for Artificial Intelligence’ and the ‘National Program for Coders’ to raise awareness and enhance AI applications in the UAE, the workshop was also a significant part of e&’s efforts to support the UAE’s goals and contribute to its global leadership in AI, while empowering the next generation of Emirati youth.

During the workshop, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office team reviewed key themes and objectives of the ‘UAE Charter for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence’. This Charter aims to support the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence by realising the leadership’s vision of transforming the country into a global hub for developing and adopting AI solutions across various fields.

The e& Youth Council showcased innovative AI applications developed by e& for various business sectors and highlighted the group’s initiatives to support and inspire youth, encourage student participation in AI and technology, and prepare them to be leaders in the digital future.

Dr. Abdelrahman Al Mahmoud, an expert in the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, emphasised the crucial role of government-private partnerships in advancing national efforts to raise awareness of artificial intelligence and technological solutions for shaping the future.

He stated that youth are a key driver in developing and adopting artificial intelligence solutions, and in applying them to support community life. He also highlighted the UAE government’s commitment to equipping emerging and young generations with the skills and tools needed for effective participation in the UAE’s development process.

Motivating Young Minds

Hessa Ali Nasser, President of e& Youth Council, stated: “We are proud to collaborate with the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office on this important initiative to inspire young minds to harness the limitless potential of technology, particularly AI. Our goal is to encourage creative youth to explore the capabilities of this transformative technology and its wide-ranging applications. We hope this workshop will motivate and empower youth to pursue careers in the field of technology”.

Workshops and Interactive Sessions

The event included a series of workshops and interactive sessions focused on the applications of artificial intelligence in various business sectors. Participants learned about the AI solutions and services developed by e& Group and their impact on sectors such as aviation, healthcare, and sustainability.

Launched in 2022, the e& Youth Council is designed to empower and engage the youth within e& in alignment with the UAE's National Youth Agenda. The Council has become a platform for young leaders to voice their hopes and aspirations, achieving milestones that significantly enhance employees’ engagement and foster a culture of communication and collaboration.

The partnership will see Samsung's globally recognised Samsung Innovation Campus program become an integral part of the UAE AI Camp 2024. This initiative aims to provide talents with a comprehensive understanding of AI fundamentals, machine learning, and their real-world applications. This collaboration highlights the importance of government-private partnerships in driving technological advancement and economic growth in the UAE.

Saqr Binghalib, Executive Director of the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, commented, "The UAE government is working towards fostering partnerships with leading international companies to achieve a significant stride towards our goal of positioning the UAE as a global leader in AI. By integrating the expertise of both the government and private sector into the UAE AI Camp, we ensure our youth have access to world-class education in this critical field. This aligns perfectly with our national strategy to foster a generation of AI innovators.”

DooHee Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics, stated, "At Samsung, we believe in the transformative power of education and technology. By bringing our Samsung Innovation Campus to the UAE AI Summer Camp, we're not just teaching AI; we're nurturing the next generation of innovators who will shape our future. This partnership with the UAE's Office of AI underscores our commitment to empowering youth with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven world."

The UAE AI Camp is the region's premier event for artificial intelligence education, offering a comprehensive array of training, workshops, webinars, and expert-led talks. This year's program showcases a broad spectrum of cutting-edge topics, including the future of AI, virtual and augmented reality, data science and machine learning, AI applications in education, healthcare, and finance, web development and robotics, AI ethics and governance, and cybersecurity. As the largest gathering of its kind, the Camp provides an unparalleled opportunity for participants to learn about AI from industry experts and explore its diverse applications across various fields.

The Samsung Innovation Campus offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip the youth with essential skills in AI, coding, and emerging technologies. The program includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analysis, and IoT (Internet of Things) courses. Participants receive hands-on training and mentorship, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. The initiative aims to foster digital literacy and innovation, preparing students for future careers in the tech industry.

Amjad Saleh

This launch reflects the leadership's vision to transform the UAE into a global hub for developing and adopting AI solutions and applications across various fields.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, affirmed that the UAE government, under its leadership's vision, strives to become a global leader in AI by developing digital infrastructure and enhancing an integrated system that employs AI in all vital sectors. The Charter aims to provide a thriving environment that adheres to the highest standards of safety and privacy and enhances societal trust in these applications.

Al Olama added that the UAE is a leader in raising awareness of the importance of AI and its applications. The country is intensifying efforts, accelerating its work, and enhancing global partnerships to set standards for the optimal use of AI technologies. It ensures the best forms of protection for the rights of individuals, users, and communities, thereby fostering the continuous development of the UAE's digital landscape.

The Charter aims to establish robust principles and frameworks for applying the most advanced AI models, focusing on strengthening human and machine relationships. The principles of the Charter include the importance of safety and fairness to provide an equitable environment for society. This ensures the responsible development of AI technologies, guaranteeing their inclusivity and accessibility.

The Charter also includes principles to enhance awareness in the AI field for an inclusive future, benefiting from AI advancements to ensure fair technological access for all segments of society. Additionally, it covers compliance with the laws related to the development and use of AI.

Interested individuals can view the Charter through the link: https://ai.gov.ae/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/UAEAI-Methaq-EN2-3.pdf

The UAE AI Camp, targeting children, school and university students, AI and coding experts, and various community groups, covers seven main areas: the future of artificial intelligence, data science and machine learning, AI in education, healthcare, and finance sectors, web development and robotics, AI ethics and governance, cybersecurity, and virtual and augmented reality. The workshops will be provided in collaboration with government and private entities, as well as leading technology companies.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that the UAE AI Camp embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in designing a future based on the capabilities of future generations to lead the artificial intelligence sector.

Al Olama further stated that the annual camp and the broad participation in its activities reflect the growing community awareness and adoption of future technologies.

He added that the camp is part of a group of government initiatives aimed at contributing to the enhancement of a sustainable digital economy and establishing the country’s leadership and global competitiveness in future fields. This is achieved through expanding cooperation between government entities, private sector organizations, and leading global technology companies in the field of artificial intelligence, ensuring that camp participants are educated and aware of the latest developments and changes in this rapidly evolving field.

The camp, in its sixth edition, provides interactive workshops with the participation of a group of government and private entities until the end of August. The camp’s activities cover topics that enhance participants' competitiveness in hackathons and competitions at the Arab region in generative artificial intelligence. It also discusses the importance of cybersecurity, how to identify its challenges, understand its standards and best practices, and adopt responsible AI in schools and universities to enhance knowledge and optimal use of technological techniques.

The UAE AI Camp also features innovative activities designed to teach robotics in interactive and enjoyable ways. Participants will learn how to utilize robots in daily life, tackle various challenges, and understand the basics of computer vision related to robotics. This includes grasping the importance and practical applications of computer vision, fundamental concepts related to image processing, and designing robots capable of interacting with humans.

The UAE AI Camp has witnessed a wide participation in its previous five editions, attracting over 30,000 participants from various educational degrees and academic backgrounds in its training workshops aimed at developing participants’ skills with the latest technological techniques. Interested individuals can register for workshops through the following link: https://ai.gov.ae/aicamp/ .

In line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, the initiative seeks to fuel the growth of the UAE's thriving AI landscape and foster new opportunities for AI-focused businesses and talent.

Saqr Binghalib, Executive Director of UAE's Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, said, "The UAE government focuses on strengthening partnerships with leading technology companies, innovators and talent who seek to drive the nation's progress and prosperity journey. Its efforts aim to advance technological progress, shape the future of artificial intelligence and consolidate the UAE's position at the forefront of leading countries in future fields.

"The AI Challenge will contribute to attracting innovators and talented individuals to enhance the country's coding community and create a nurturing and stimulating environment for them to use the best of their abilities to shape a brighter future for our society."

J.K. Khalil, Division President, East Arabia, Mastercard, said, "AI is fast becoming one of the greatest game changers of our time, reshaping the way we handle our finances, conduct business and interact with the global economy. At Mastercard, we are dedicated to harnessing AI as a force for good, and we wholeheartedly support the UAE's vision to spearhead innovation in this space.

The AI Challenge is a natural extension of our innovation-driven partnerships with the UAE's Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and FAB that builds on our shared commitment to supporting the country's thriving startup scene."

The challenge invites seed and Series A startups to propose innovative AI-driven solutions in cybersecurity, generative AI in banking and finance, customer lifecycle management, productivity enhancement, emerging fintech, and ESG. The competition will culminate in a pitch day, during which finalists will be assessed by a panel of experts from the three partners.

The winner will receive a cash prize of US$150,000, access to Mastercard's global sponsorships, events, and priceless assets, and an accelerated enrolment into its award-winning global startup engagement programme, Start Path.

Start Path helps startups scale their business through mentoring, innovation opportunities and engagement with the technology company's global network of banks, merchants, partners and digital players.
Since 2014, Mastercard has supported over 400 startups from 54 countries through Start Path, which have already secured more than $25 billion in post-programme capital.

Interested applicants can register for the AI Challenge at https://mstr.cd/3XIQuWF by 25th August 2024.

Last year, Mastercard launched the Centre for Advanced AI and Cyber Technology in Dubai in collaboration with the UAE's Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office. The project seeks to enhance AI capabilities and readiness in the region.

The global technology company also has a long-term partnership with FAB that focuses on co-creating disruptive products and services powered by advanced technology.

Rola AlGhoul / Esraa Esmail

This extension aims to provide a greater opportunity for participants from federal, local, and semi-governmental entities to participate in the award, in line with the award's goals of shaping the digital future and enhancing the country's competitiveness.

The award extension also aligns with the national movement towards innovating solutions that promote the adoption of the best AI practices.

The Award categories include the Service Excellence Category, the Decision-Making Category, the Operational Efficiency Category, and the Emirati AI Solutions Category.

The evaluation criteria will be by the level of innovation, AI ethics compliance level, level of maturity, scalability and applicability, and level of impact.

Entities can register and participate in one or more categories until 12th July 2024 through the link https://ai.gov.ae/aiaward/

Rola AlGhoul / Ahlam Almazrooi

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding came as part of the efforts of the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office to achieve the targets of the UAE's Artificial Intelligence Strategy and its ambitious goals to establish the UAE's global leadership in the field of artificial intelligence by 2031. It also aligns with Samsung's objectives and efforts in this field, through joint work to use the capabilities of artificial intelligence to enhance economic growth, contribute to sustainable development, and improve the well-being of life in communities.

Saqr binghalib, the Executive Director of the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, and Seong H Cho, President of Samsung Electronics MENA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the activities of the "AI Retreat 2024," organized recently by Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) in collaboration with the National Program for Artificial Intelligence.

Saqr binghalib affirmed that expanding partnerships between the government and the private sector represents an important factor in achieving the visions and directions of the UAE government. This aims to solidify the UAE’s position as a leading global destination in the field of artificial intelligence. By accelerating the growth of the AI ecosystem to reach global levels through the integration of leading technical expertise with AI and technological expertise worldwide, we can achieve our national strategies and program objectives. This also contributes to building future competencies and empowering the next generation of AI pioneers.

DooHee Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electornics, said, "Samsung believes in the power of technology and AI to make a positive impact on society. We are proud to partner with the UAE Office of AI to support the UAE's ambitious vision for AI. Together, we will work to drive AI adoption in government, nurture local AI talent, and showcase how AI can be used as a tool for positive transformation. This collaboration builds on our ongoing efforts, such as the recent launch of Galaxy AI, to push the boundaries of what is possible with AI."

As part of the MOU, the two organizations will jointly pursue efforts to promote AI learning by the youth through various initiatives. These include integrating Samsung's Innovation Campus (SIC) CSR program into the UAE's AI Summer Camp 2024 edition, as well as collaborating to launch the Galaxy AI Pioneers program to train youth on AI. The Galaxy AI Pioneers program is a month-long course designed for students aged 13-18, offering a comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and coding using Python. The curriculum covers vital AI concepts, including deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and AI robotics. Delivered in a hybrid online and onsite format, the program provides a blend of theoretical learning and hands-on experience. Students will work towards developing applications that showcase their understanding of AI technologies, leveraging Galaxy AI features to support their innovative ideas. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate from the UAE Office of AI, recognizing their achievement and newly acquired skills in AI.

Morover, Samsung Innovation Campus is Samsung's global citizenship program that provides ICT education to students and youth. In addition to core competencies such as AI, IoT, Big Data, Coding, and Programming, the program trains participants on a range of soft skills to foster talented youth who will go on to shape our future society.

Tariq Al Fahaam

This partnership aims to collaborate on various AI initiatives, enhance AI adoption and learning, and strengthen the robust digital infrastructure of the UAE through international joint efforts.

The MoU was signed by Saqr Binghalib, Executive Director of the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, and Syed Tahir Nazir, Managing Director of Rittal FZE, during the AI Retreat 2024.

This event, the largest of its kind, aims to accelerate AI application adoption and features participation from over 2,000 decision-makers, experts, and officials from both the government and private sectors. It was organised recently by the Dubai Centre for AI Applications in collaboration with the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence. Saqr Binghalib emphasised that the UAE Government focuses on building skills and talents as a key element in the digital development journey and in creating a future based on intellect and creativity.

He noted that strengthening partnerships between the government and the private sector contributes to enhancing the country's position as a global hub for the AI sector, reinforcing its active global role, and supporting the national strategies' goals of building future competencies and equipping them with the necessary tools for development and advancing towards a future based on digital skills.

Syed Tahir Nazir, Managing Director, Rittal FZE said, “We are fully committed and support the vision of the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications during our discussion and agreed with Saqr Binghalib. Rittal FZE is committed to support capacity building, knowledge enhancement, and technology advancements through innovations in the field of AI and other smart applications, especially to support programming in the field of Robotics and Industry 4.0 system and applications along with supporting Green Technologies. Rittal continues its efforts for environmental protection and reducing carbon footprint with its innovative products and solutions through collaborations with government and public sectors to secure a better future for our communities and next generations. We are excited to be a partner of AI department and are looking forward to working with Saqr Binghalib for a mutually successful collaboration.”

Hazem Hussein / Muhammad Aamir

The recognition is in acknowledgment of the Ministry’s commitment to environmental sustainability through the utilisation of Moro Hub's Green Data Centre for its IT Workloads.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA presented the Green Certificate to Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office during the activities of the AI Retreat, organised at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Omar Sultan Al Olama affirmed that the UAE Government is committed to realising the wise leadership’s vision by accelerating and enhancing efforts to expand the adoption, application, and development of innovative solutions powered by Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. These solutions align with environmental sustainability requirements and standards, thus significantly reduce the carbon footprint.

Al Olama emphasised a clear, future-oriented approach that focuses on proactive readiness for the challenges and opportunities in the digital sector. He noted that integrating clean and renewable energy into government operations is a critical element in accelerating growth, achieving sustainability, and enhancing the country’s leadership. Al Olama added that fostering effective partnerships between the public and private sectors in developing an advanced technological and digital landscape, supported by renewable and clean energy solutions, will enable entities to enhance their operations and contribute to national and global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This approach will also support the fight against climate change while empowering these entities to meet the accelerating demands of digital sector growth and development.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said, “We are delighted to present the Green Certificate to the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs in recognition of their efforts in pioneering sustainable IT infrastructure solutions. We commend the ministry's leadership approach to enhancing environmental sustainability, significantly reducing the carbon footprint, and supporting sustainable practices in the digital sector. Moro's Green Data Center works to promote the digital transformation of governmental and private institutions in the UAE, supporting their efforts to upgrade their infrastructure in alignment with the Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions and the UAE's artificial intelligence strategies.”

Al Tayer added, “The Green Certificate embodies the success of collaboration between organisations to promote sustainability and the adoption of green technologies and best practices. It encourages institutions to enhance their operational efficiency and contribute to building a more sustainable future. The certificate also underscores the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs' confidence in our digital capabilities, aligning with our commitment to adopting environmentally friendly practices across all our operations. We are dedicated to making significant strides in reducing environmental impacts and addressing climate change to preserve our planet's resources.”

Hazem Hussein / Muhammad Aamir

The Minister welcomed more than 2,500 distinguishedUAE leaders and AI experts, policymakers, government officials and industry stakeholders to the iconic Museum of the Future and AREA 2071, which jointly hosted the largest such gathering in the world. Participants engaged in conversations on AI legislation and policy, and on the ethical use of AI, as well as on the best ways of convening AI communities and talent. They also shared insights on facilitating the implementation of AI applications as tangible solutions to local and global challenges.

Emphasizing the importance of continually adapting with this dynamic technology, he urged everyone to utilize the available tools effectively to stay competitive and avoid falling behind in the global AI race.

“AlOlama stated that the UAE’s visionary leadership, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and the visions of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, seeks to develop a leading, proactive, and future-oriented model for Dubai and lead the AI conversation through the establishment of this platform and his recent announcement of 22 Chief AI officers in government departments across Dubai. AlOlama noted that each officer had been appointed after careful assessment of their skills to advance Dubai’s AI vision. Another initiative is the training of one million proficient engineers. This effort is not merely because these skills will remain relevant in ten years, but because individuals possessing them can elevate their nation’s power today.”

His Excellency highlighted the leadership’s belief in the importance of talent in building the future has resulted in the UAE ranking third globally in attracting AI talent relative to its population size, after Luxembourg and Switzerland, and first regionally – up from the 11th place in 2021, according to a report by LinkedIn in collaboration with Stanford University. The UAE also ranked 15th globally for its AI skills, up from the 20th place last year.

“AI is not a future vision; it is our reality now. In Dubai, we operate differently. Our long-term vision for our physical infrastructure was first implemented in 1958, and it took essentially 185 years until 2023 for Dubai’s infrastructure to be considered among the best in the world. Similarly, with AI, we are looking at implementing our AI vision for the next 185 years, starting today,” HE AlOlama said, urging the private sector to start their journey from Dubai to invest in AI and enhance their talents for its enabling legislation, as much as because AI is integral to DUB-AI!

The inaugural AI Retreat in Dubai was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation and was attended by more than 1,000 decision-makers, experts and officials from the government and private sectors and tech companies. Participants discussed key AI challenges, including policies and legislation, governance, talent ecosystem, digital infrastructure, and AI data centers, while also exploring key AI enablers, such as finance and research. The AI Retreat served as a platform for direct and open communication and sharing of critical insights, creative ideas, innovative projects, best practices, and opportunities for partnerships between the government and private sector in boosting AI applications.

The AI Retreat 2024, the first event held as part of the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI), which concluded today in Dubai, was aimed at strengthening the city’s position as a global AI hub. H.H. said: “We envision this retreat as an annual platform for examining the significant and far-reaching transformations that AI brings to all sectors. It will serve as a forum for preparing to seize AI's diverse opportunities, added value applications, and the qualitative leaps it promises in education, health, development, research, and future design.”

H.H. added: “The forward-thinking approach imparted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in embracing innovation has empowered us to swiftly transform AI opportunities into tangible outcomes in Dubai. We are now eager to accelerate the shift from merely exploring AI possibilities to implementing them practically.”

Sheikh Hamdan attended the AI Retreat 2024, which drew participation from over 2,500 decision-makers, AI experts, and industry leaders. The event also included around 50 CEOs from major technology companies in the UAE and worldwide, such as Microsoft, IBM, Google, Amazon, Oracle, SAP, Nvidia, and Samsung, to name a few. The AI Retreat also witnessed the launch of new initiatives and partnerships by the participating government entities and private companies.

During the retreat, Sheikh Hamdan met with the Directors General and leaders of Dubai government, in the presence of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Sheikh Hamdan stressed the importance of benefiting from the outcomes and conversations initiated at the AI Retreat to enable government entities in Dubai to seize AI opportunities and become future ready and efficient.

He also met with the recently appointed 22 Chief AI Officers of government entities in Dubai. During the meeting, H.H. highlighted the tremendous growth in the use and application of AI and stressed the importance of accelerating the government sector’s alignment with the AI revolution. H.H. directed the Dubai Government to intensify efforts and accelerate the implementation of the initiatives and ideas discussed at today’s event.

He said: “Our goal for the next phase is to double the positive impact of AI for the betterment of humanity. This will be achieved by leveraging the annual ‘Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence’, which includes initiatives and programmes to enhance Dubai’s economic competitiveness, resilience, quality of life, and future-readiness.”

H.H. added: “In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai will focus on harnessing AI applications to support human capabilities, improve operational efficiency, enhance productivity, and deploy technology for the purpose of serving humanity.”

Meaningful dialogue

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed also attended some roundtables held as part of the AI Retreat 2024 at the Museum of the Future. These roundtables focused on four main topics: Funding and Finance, Computing and Digital Infrastructure, Data Regulation and Policies, and Talent Ecosystem. The goal was to identify solutions and key opportunities in AI, including policies, legislation, governance, and the development of AI data centres, as well as its key enablers such as financing, research, and talent.

H.H. also viewed several workshops and events organised by international tech companies showcasing the latest AI trends, applications, and technologies held at AREA 2071. A total of 11 workshops were organised by Microsoft, Google, IBM, Oracle, Amazon, SAP, NVIDIA, and the Dubai Future Foundation. Additionally, there were eight side sessions organised by the Dubai Future District Fund, Dubai AI Campus, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and Antler.

As part of the AI Retreat, Sheikh Hamdan also witnessed the announcement of a strategic partnership between du and Oracle to provide highly advanced AI and data solutions. His Highness stressed that Dubai is an ideal platform to stimulate synergies that shape the future.

His Highness said: “Dubai will continue to support all AI initiatives and encourage and accelerate the organised and thoughtful adoption of its uses, thus strengthening its position as a preferred global destination to live, work, innovate, and design the future.”

With Oracle Alloy, du can provide more than 100 Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services together with its own value-added cloud services and applications. This will enable du to become the first local hyperscale cloud provider to offer a comprehensive set of branded cloud services.

The AI Retreat organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence in cooperation with the National Program for Artificial Intelligence, was launched at the Museum of the Future. The event featured a keynote speech delivered by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Deputy Managing Director of DFF. During his speech, Al Olama presented an overview of the key objectives of the recently launched annual Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI).

This was followed by a panel discussion titled ‘From Dubai to the World: Scaling Local Unicorns’, featuring the participation of Divyank Turakhia, an entrepreneur, Mohamad Ballout, CEO and Co-founder of Kitopi, and Martin Avetisyan, Founder of Farfetch. The panel reviewed successful AI models that Dubai has embraced and helped to launch globally thanks to its leadership in digital transformation, sophisticated advanced technology infrastructure, and its flexible and proactive regulatory ecosystem. In a second panel, the participants discussed the growing role of governments in supporting AI innovations and expanding its applications to develop services in future smart societies, and enhance the rates of development in various fields, and improve the quality of life.

The session titled: ‘Government’s Role in Enabling AI Adoption through Policy Development and Regulatory Innovation’ witnessed the participation of Rod Solaimani, Middle East Policy & Partnerships Lead at OpenAI; Nic Prettejohn, Head of Forward Deployed Engineering, Palantir; and Karim Beguir, Co-Founder & CEO at InstaDeep. The session included discussions about the positive interaction between governments, economic sectors, and technology companies for developing a comprehensive framework that ensures ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence to improve human life, serve societies and economies, and enhance development paths.

Launched on 29 April this year by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, serves as a roadmap for enhancing the well-being of Dubai’s population by adopting AI across all sectors. The plan aims to make Dubai the city that offers the most conducive environment for economic growth, the best city for technology utilisation, and the fastest in adopting advanced applications.

DUB.AI aims to shape the ideal ecosystem for AI startups and global talent. In addition, it seeks to position Dubai as a global leader in adopting AI in government work, and a testbed to regulate and optimise AI utilisation across strategic sectors.

The annual Dubai plan supports the acceleration and adoption of artificial intelligence applications to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to generate an annual contribution of AED100 billion from digital transformation projects to the emirate’s economy. The plan also supports the achievement of the other key objectives of the D33 agenda, including establishing Dubai as one of the world’s top three urban economies and increasing economic productivity by 50% through innovation and the adoption of digital solutions.

Tariq Al Fahaam

This came during his opening speech at the beginning of the second session of the 'AI Majlis' series, which focused on employing artificial intelligence in healthcare development. The sessions were organised in collaboration between the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, and Google, as part of an initiative aimed at bringing together the government, academia, and the private sector for in-depth dialogues on artificial intelligence and its impact on various vital sectors.

Al Olama highlighted the importance of integration of work and objectives between governmental entities, the private sector, and academic institutions, enhancing partnerships and sharing ideas to build opportunities and confront challenges of artificial intelligence development alongside the growth of vital sectors, contributing to maximising the benefits of these technologies and enhancing the well-being in society.

This session of the AI Majlis series focused on exploring new frontiers in healthcare with artificial intelligence. A specialised dialogue session was held, attended by Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary of Health Regulations Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), and Dr Scott Penberthy, Director of Applied AI and CTO of Healthcare and Life Sciences, Google Cloud, in the presence of government officials, leaders and decision-makers in the fields of healthcare, digitisation, technology, communications, and others.

The session discussed mechanisms for integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare systems and its profound impact on the future of medical practices, as well as how to enhance proactiveness in this field through constructive collaboration between the government and private sectors to formulate innovative solutions and strategies that build upon the transformative potential of artificial intelligence to develop the healthcare sector.

Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Health Regulations Sector at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), said, “Integrating artificial intelligence into the healthcare sector provides an opportunity to improve the healthcare system in an integrated manner, from diagnosis to designing treatment plans and facilitating administrative tasks, and this leads to enhancing the patient’s experience and raising the efficiency and quality of health care in record time and with high accuracy. In addition to the role that artificial intelligence plays in enhancing public health programmes and epidemic prevention, surveillance and control. The Ministry of Health and Prevention, in cooperation with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, launched artificial intelligence technology to detect tuberculosis in medical fitness tests since 2018, and later multiple technologies were used to detect other diseases such as breast cancer, cardiovascular diseases, all this allows us to take proactive and preventive measures to improve the quality of life of patients. The UAE is considered one of the most prepared countries to use and develop solutions that rely on artificial intelligence, as it has worked to develop electronic medical record systems that link health data and save it on the cloud. The Ministry also uses this technology to improve its services and enhance its customers’ happiness, as work is currently underway on a group of initiatives and projects aimed at automating services. For example, a programme is being developed to read health facilities’ designs and compare them with approved standards using artificial intelligence. The Ministry of Health and Prevention, along with the health authorities in the country, release the necessary legislations and standards to regulate the responsible use of these solutions to ensure their safety and proper utilisation and to protect patients’ health data.”

Dr. Scott Penberthy, Director of Applied AI and CTO of Healthcare and Life Sciences, Google Cloud, said, “AI is the healthcare revolution we've all been waiting for, and it's happening now - powered by nanoscale data, analysed by hyperscale AI. Programmes such as the AI Majlis bring our best AI minds together, working on shared missions. I'm deeply honoured to participate and hope to return soon."

The AI Majlis series focuses on a set of goals aimed at developing the infrastructure related to artificial intelligence applications and providing support, including hosting international experts discussing key topics such as future technologies, the future of work, sustainability, education, healthcare, and other vital sectors centred around human-centric approaches.

Amjad Saleh / Tariq Al Fahaam

The programme, which targets employees of government and private sector entities and is supervised by the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, focuses on enhancing the participants' capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence, introducing them to its concepts and developments, and increasing their knowledge of the latest advancements in generative AI. It also highlights future challenges and opportunities.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates believes in the importance of creative talents and minds and their role in anticipating the future of artificial intelligence and supporting comprehensive digital transformation in the country. Al Olama stated that the UAE is committed to investing in their capabilities and involving them in shaping the future of the UAE by innovating the best solutions to the challenges in this field and exploring new opportunities that enhance well-being and ensure a better future for future generations.

Al Olama said that the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Programme aligns with the comprehensive and accelerated national movement to adopt artificial intelligence technologies, develop innovative solutions, and employ its tools to create futuristic digital solutions. These efforts aim to enhance the UAE’s leadership and proactiveness in the field of artificial intelligence and keep pace with global changes in these areas by building capacities and skills, encouraging talents and creatives, and empowering them with the latest in these rapidly changing technologies to create a generation of artificial intelligence talents who will participate in shaping the UAE's digital future.

The fifth cohort of the programme witnesses wide participation from more than 30 governmental and private entities aiming to provide them with the necessary expertise in artificial intelligence within their respective fields of work and to enhance their knowledge and comprehensive understanding of AI applications. This includes the application of large language models (LLMs) and Generative Models, addressing security and ethical challenges. The programme is structured into five specialised modules that include an introduction to artificial intelligence, generative AI, data strategies for machine learning, studies of generative models, and the implementation of generative AI techniques. This contributes to advancing the UAE’s progress towards achieving its national goals in digital fields by enabling an understanding of global AI developments and keeping up with the latest advancements.

In its previous cohorts, The Artificial Intelligence programme has graduated more than 300 employees from over 100 governmental and private entities who hold leadership positions in their workplaces and have worked on developing a range of innovative projects in the fields of artificial intelligence and its applications.

Amjad Saleh / Binsal Abdulkader

This came during AlOlama’s participation in a keynote titled "Pioneering the Future of Artificial Intelligence and Empowering Society through its Applications", as part of the Digital Readiness Retreat conducted by the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation for UAE government leaders and officials from ministries and federal entities, aiming to promote digital integration and collaboration as well as showcasing exemplary digital government models and prominent digital projects.

During his session, AlOlama discussed the journey of the UAE towards development and prosperity, emphasizing its focus on keeping pace with global changes and technological advancements. He pointed out that artificial intelligence solutions have witnessed the fastest adoption in human history, necessitating governments to rapidly adapt to ensure leadership in this field, and benefit from this technology in various sectors including healthcare, education, media, and others.

He stated that the expectations for the economic returns of artificial intelligence reaching 320 billion dollars in the Middle East, and the expectations for the contribution percentage of the artificial intelligence sector to the UAE’s GDP by 14% by the year 2030, and the ability of this field to increase productivity by 50%, underscore the immense potential and opportunities of this sector in changing the landscape of sectors and economies around the world and redefining jobs, skills, and qualifications.

He highlighted the extensive array of opportunities and challenges within the artificial intelligence sector. On one hand, deepfakes were employed to steal $25 million from a global company, and artificial intelligence facilitated the rapid production of thousands of toxic compounds in less than 6 hours. On the other hand, global factories annually save millions of dollars by significantly reducing costs through artificial intelligence, and companies achieve a commercial value of 1.84 billion dirhams by leveraging artificial intelligence techniques.

Furthermore, the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi utilizes artificial intelligence techniques to monitor soil and verify the quality of 250 sites covering an area of 3.8 million square meters in just 50 days. This underscores the importance of the optimal use of artificial intelligence, emphasizing its potential to benefit communities and enhance human safety.

He pointed out that the government's role today lies in keeping pace with global changes to lead the future. The UAE realized this early on by developing data centres and focusing on skills development, ranking third globally in attracting artificial intelligence talent relative to its population size, according to a LinkedIn report. Additionally, the UAE focuses on developing educational institutions that keep pace with future changes, which is the first step in major projects such as the development of AI language models.

He stated that the UAE, with its flexible legislative environment and its efforts to collaborate with institutions and the private sector aims to provide an environment conducive to prosperity and development, embodying forward-thinking leadership and a future-oriented vision to integrate artificial intelligence across all fields.

Hatem Mohamed / Tariq Al Fahaam

The event was attended by six ministers, 20 speakers, and over 300 government officials representing 50 federal, local, and ministerial entities, with the aim of highlighting milestones of government digital transformation journey, exploring modern digital business models for government, eliminating digital bureaucracy, and boosting national digital integration.

The retreat unveiled the first-ever report on government digital transformation across 12 government sectors and launched four digital initiatives, including UAE University’s high-performance computing platform, first government digital community dedicated to national digital integration, the Unified Design Principles for Government Websites, and the GovTech platform. The event hosted seven signing ceremonies of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for enhancing digital collaboration across sectors, as well as three digital labs led by select digital leaders who explored eliminating digital bureaucracy, the future of APIs, and the principle of ‘One-Time Data Request’ in government digital processes to streamline government services.

Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Chairwoman of the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation, emphasised that "Digital readiness is a priority for the UAE’s wise leadership and a key government responsibility." She added, "The UAE has excelled in digital quality craftsmanship, and we see the reflections of its digital achievements in topping global rankings in digital transformation. The UAE is globally recognized as a preferred destination for investment and living, thanks to the quality of the digital experience in terms of lifestyle, services, and business."

She explained that adopting a ‘digital-first' mindset by institutions for digital thought, design and implementation of business models, services, and projects would empower government to sidestep digital bureaucracy. She added, “Digital transformation will remain a national priority, underpinning all digital development efforts across government sectors.”

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said, “Under the guidance of the wise leadership, the UAE has placed great significance on developing the government services system according to the best international practices and enabling innovative digital service models based on advanced technologies and AI”.

"The Ministry of Economy continues to digitally transform all services delivered to individuals, institutions, companies, and government entities with focus on user experience and accessibility. The ministry was the first federal entity to transform all its services into 100% digital," he added.

Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, stated, "The Digital Readiness Retreat is a key event where we showcase latest efforts, initiatives, and projects in support of the 'Zero Bureaucracy' program by embracing the latest technologies and innovations to streamline services and enhance digital customer journeys, thereby advancing the UAE’s prominent position as one of the world's leading destinations for living, working, and investing."

Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, stated: "Digital transformation represents one of the most important indicators for developing services and operations in various government and private entities across all sectors, and the UAE is one of the most successful global models in this crucial field. The Digital Readiness Retreat for the leaders of the UAE government is an opportunity for integration, coordination, and highlighting the latest digital solutions in the country."

She added: "The digital revolution has had a significant impact on the environment and climate by reducing consumption of natural resources and lowering the carbon footprint for individuals, organizations, and various sectors, making digital solutions one of the most important climate-smart solutions and a means to achieve a low-carbon economy."

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, Vice-Chairman of the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation, said, ” Under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and with the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the UAE adopts a comprehensive approach for leveraging rapid technological advancements to shape the next generation of government and enhance quality of life for society and individuals.”

He added, “The Digital Readiness Retreat reflects the forward-thinking vision of the UAE leadership, with a focus on expanding tech innovation, developing proactive solutions, and accelerating end-to-end digital transformation across sectors.” He underscored the significance of government collaboration in driving digital transformation and bolstering government resilience for the challenges of the digital era.

Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Cabinet, said: "The largest legislative transformation in the history of the UAE accomplished during the past three years has contributed to enabling digital transformation and digitization of business models in key sectors and providing the supportive environment for achieving this transformation.”

“Keeping pace with technological advancements, digital transformation, and contributing to accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies and transformative business models are essential criteria for adopting any legislative update. The legislative updates regulated digital commercial transactions that eliminated boundaries and barriers to the flow of goods and services, organized new digital sectors and provided a secure environment for digital transformation,” she added.

Engineer Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), stated, "Our life today is characterized by an era of rapid shifts and increasing reliance on data and AI, which calls for exchanging of views and proposals to unify efforts towards achieving the objectives of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision and the UAE Centennial Plan 2071."

“The Digital Readiness Retreat, which aims for a new milestone in the UAE's digital transformation journey, underscores the importance of enhanced integration and coordination among all federal and local government entities across all sectors,” he added.

Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the Cyber Security Council, said, “The Digital Readiness Retreat is a crucial step towards smart and secure government integration, serving as a fundamental pillar for achieving governmental system of excellence.” Dr. Al Kuwaiti pointed out that in the face of increasing cyber threats, the importance of digital security cannot be overlooked as a fundamental element to ensure the sustainability of development and the growth of the digital economy. He added, “Our coordinated efforts will undoubtedly contribute to cementing our country's position as a leading model in secure digital transformation, enhancing the trust of citizens and residents in digital government services, and driving sustainable development and the prosperity of the digital economy.”

Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Department, said, "At Sharjah Digital Department, we believe that digital transformation enhances the quality of services and the quality of life for residents, and drives sustainable development forward. Therefore, we have worked on developing a roadmap to enhance digital transformation for government services through advanced technological processes and systems that keep pace with the latest digital technologies and adhere to the highest international standards.” He added, “We have also strengthened the Emirate's capacity to use data by developing a data management and governance strategy to ensure its privacy, as well as to ensure optimal use of advanced technologies such as AI and big data analytics."

Dr. Mohammed Abdul Hamid Al Askar, Director General of the "Tamm" Program at the Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement, said, “As the UAE continues to steer the global discussions about Digital Transformation, Abu Dhabi Government seeks to reinforce these efforts by reaffirming its commitment to further solidifying the Emirate’s pioneering position in digital government services and exemplary model of government integration.”

Matar Saeed Al Humairi, CEO, Smart Dubai Government Establishment, Digital Dubai, said: "The Digital Readiness Retreat represents a gathering of the united national team to envision the next steps in the digital transformation journey, thereby enhancing our country's rightful position and leadership in this field. At Dubai Digital Government, we consider such gatherings as valuable opportunities for exchanging views and experiences to increase integration and connectivity opportunities, particularly in the era we live in, where new concepts and working methods emerge driven by artificial intelligence and other technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

Extensive Agenda

The agenda of the digital retreat covered five key themes with live interactive sessions attended by ministers, digital leaders, and international experts, highlighting new business models in government, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital integration, and zeroing digital bureaucracy.

New Digital Business Models The new digital business models took center stage at the retreat, featuring a session titled "From the Cockpit: Digitizing Government Tasks." The session was hosted by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Maryam Bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Cabinet. The session was moderated by journalist Ahmed Al Marzooqi. This theme included a session as well titled "The Secret Recipe for Digital Institutions: 5 Steps to Digital Transformation," hosted by global digital transformation expert David Rogers.

Artificial Intelligence Under the AI theme, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, spoke in a session titled: "Artificial Intelligence: A Futuristic Vision for its Applications in Serving Society".

Eliminating Digital Bureaucracy

The agenda moreover covered eliminating digital bureaucracy, featuring a session titled "Digital Bureaucracy… GIGO" with Mohammed bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services of the United Arab Emirates Government, followed by a session titled "The Paradox: Zeroing Digital Bureaucracy" with Leidy Klotz, Professor of Engineering and Architecture, University of Virginia.

Cybersecurity

In a session titled "Red Line: The State of Cybersecurity 2024," Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the Cyber Security Council, discussed the cybersecurity landscape and securing government digital assets and enablers to ensure sustainable development and growth of the digital economy.

Digital Integration

The Digital Integration theme included a session titled "Digital Integration in the UAE" with directors-general from TDRA, Sharjah Digital Department, "Tamm" Platform at the Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement, as well as Digital Dubai Authority. The session was moderated by journalist Faisal Bin Huraiz from Sky News Arabia.

This theme concluded with "Digital Packages: Integration for Better Human Life," with Khalil Ibrahim Khouri, Undersecretary for Human Resources Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, and Mohammad Al Zarooni, TDRA Deputy Director General for the Information and Digital Government Sector. The session was moderated by Ammar AlMaeeni of Government Development & The Future Office.

Interactive Digital Labs The Digital Readiness Retreat included digital labs attended by 120 government digital experts and specialists and led by top government leaders. Mohammed bin Taliah alongside Professor Leidy Klotz organised a lab titled "Zeroing Digital Bureaucracy." Another lab, "The Future of APIs," was organised by Mohammad Al Zarooni. Additionally, "One-Time data request for serving people" lab saw the participation of Brigadier Matar Al Saadi, Executive Director of the Corporate Support Sector at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.

Report: The State of Digital Transformation covering 12 government sectors

The retreat saw the launch of the first-ever report on government digital transformation across 12 government sectors in the UAE. The report highlighted digital transformation achievements across federal government entities and key government sectors, including the economy, financial services, human resources, health, education, society, culture & youth, nationality & residency services, and foreign affairs, as well as security, justice, infrastructure, energy, logistics and the environment.

The report highlighted the UAE's leading position on key global government indicators. The country ranked first globally in human-centric government services, government service index, and government procurement of advanced technology products. It also topped the charts on indicators measuring user engagement in service design and delivery, as well as service experience. The country secured the fourth position on the Government Digital Transformation Maturity Index and the sixth in E-Participation Index. It ranked twelfth on the Digital Competitiveness Index and thirteenth on the E-Government Development Index.

The report unveiled a significant milestone: the digital transformation of government services has reached an impressive 99 percent. This achievement is evidenced by the completion of a total of 36.4 million digital transactions. It also showcased savings achieved by the digital government since the implementation of digital transformation initiatives. The total savings by users amounted to 174.5 billion dirhams, while the government's total savings reached AED14.9 billion. The government was able to save 115.7 million hours and cut carbon emissions by 9.3 million tons with process digitalization.

Digital Initiatives

During the UAE Government Digital Readiness Retreat, four digital initiatives were inaugurated, including the UAE University’s high-performance computing engine, the first government digital community, the unified design principles for government websites and portals, and the GovTech platform.

High-Performance Computing The High-Performance Computing platform, launched by the United Arab Emirates University, aims to provide cutting-edge computing infrastructure to support advanced research, artificial intelligence research, space research, quantum computing, data analytics, and computational modeling.

Digital Community

The Digital Community Platform, launched by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), aims to facilitate exchange of expertise, knowledge, best practices, and professional experiences among federal government employees to enhance future digital readiness of federal human resources.

Unified Design

The Unified Design Principles for government websites, launched by TDRA, provides a system dedicated to developing government websites with efficient design practices focused on user-centricity and meeting personalized requirements. The system sets out standards, principles, and guidelines for creating government websites that facilitate service and information accessibility, while offering a unified theme and structure for all government websites.

GovTech

The GovTech initiative, launched by the Government Development & The Future Office, aims to develop digital solutions that meet the needs of government entities in business development and operations, providing rapid and efficient responses to challenges through collaboration with technology startups and business incubators in the country.

Digital MoUs

The retreat organised signing ceremonies for MoUs regarding government collaboration in digital areas, including agreements between the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, the Federal Tax Authority, Al Etihad Credit Bureau, Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, and Abu Dhabi Global Market. In addition to the MoUs signed between the United Arab Emirates University and Microsoft for the exchange of digital services and initiatives, and between Zayed University and Splunk for sustainable digital academic transformation and cybersecurity.

Hatem Mohamed / Tariq Al Fahaam

AlOlama made these remarks during the virtual meeting of the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, attended by council members. The meeting discussed the progress of the second phase, which aimed at activating and adopting initiatives from the subcommittees. These initiatives aim to realise the UAE's strategic objectives in AI and enhance the country's leading role in service development and improving well-being through advanced technology solutions and innovative AI solutions.

AlOlama highlighted that the government's commitment to accelerating the development and adoption of AI technology solutions aligns with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. Through pioneering initiatives, the UAE endeavours to shape future AI paths, innovate solutions to enhance the country's competitiveness, and lead in various domains.

Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, stressed the commitment to advancing the UAE's position as a leading financial hub. He emphasised the ministry's dedication to digital transformation by developing advanced solutions that contribute to the growth of various sectors, particularly the digital economy and advanced financial technologies.

He added that the Ministry of Finance spares no effort in developing AI systems, projects, and initiatives, including the generative AI platform and the Metaverse platform for digital procurement. These efforts align with the UAE government's vision of designing government services focusing on innovative and effective methods to make them the world's best. Al Khoori also elaborated on strategic projects in digital transformation that foster cooperation between the public and private sectors. The federal government's digital procurement policy simplifies procurement procedures for federal entities through a Digital Procurement Platform. This platform integrates technological and commercial best practices, facilitates electronic signing and online contracts, and enables companies to register and update their data electronically, qualifying them to participate in federal government tenders.

The UAE Ministry of Finance recently launched an updated catalogue for the Digital Procurement Platform in line with the UAE's Digital Government Strategy 2025 and the UAE Strategy for Government Services. Omar Alsuwaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the Industry Sector Committee in the Council, affirmed the committee's commitment to empowering industrial companies in technological transformation. The committee aims to promote innovation, adopt advanced technology in industrial systems and solutions, and support the UAE's position as a global destination for leading future industries.

Alsuwaidi highlighted the committee's efforts to enable industrial companies to adopt and implement these technologies, enhance the industrial sector's added value to the country's GDP, support industrial efficiency and sustainability, and attract Emirati investments in the industrial sector.

He added that the committee has conducted assessments for 389 companies in the industrial sector so far. The Council concluded the second phase of its subcommittees' initiatives, which aim to support the UAE's strategic goals in AI. The initiatives focus on enhancing the adoption of AI in government entities to enhance the UAE's competitiveness in priority sectors. The Council also discussed updates on the UAE Artificial Intelligence Award and its key plans aimed at adopting the best uses of AI.

Additionally, the Committee for Regulating Artificial Intelligence Purchases in Government Entities showcased the mechanism and updates of the digital procurement platform. This platform aims to enhance the digital transformation of procurement strategy in the federal government by utilising AI technologies to facilitate user experience, digitise financial procedures, and to improve procurement efficiency.

The Industry Sector Committee of the Council showcased the Guide to the Use Cases for the Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI). This Guide aims to empower the UAE's industrial ecosystem through AI and advanced technology solutions. It includes over 90 high-impact use cases identified as priorities out of more than 1,530 Industry 4.0 applications, with potential market opportunities worth AED1.5 billion based on the best use cases.

The Guide reviews several use cases of artificial intelligence within the industrial-technological transformation journey, including integrated and automated production planning and scheduling, activation of AI technologies and machine learning to improve processes and production efficiency, quality inspection, productivity monitoring, digital twin technology for product design and production improvement, employing robots in automated assembly line activities, cybersecurity measures, and improving water consumption using artificial intelligence.

Rola AlGhoul / Esraa Esmail

The retreat, organised by the Dubai Center for AI Applications in collaboration with the National Program for Artificial Intelligence, is the first event planned under the framework of the annual Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI), which was launched on 29 April following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the world’s most future-ready city.

To be hosted at the Museum of the Future, and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, the AI Retreat will bring together over 1,000 AI experts and specialists. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: “Today we announce the AI Retreat 2024, which is the first event to be held under the framework of the annual Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI). The retreat brings together over 1,000 AI experts and specialists who will discuss the various challenges and opportunities presented by AI locally and globally. During the Retreat, attendees will contribute to laying the foundational strategies for the acceleration of AI adoption across all sectors.”

“AI is set to transform the world. Dubai, which constantly strives to be at the forefront of progress, plans to lead in advancing AI implementation globally. Participants can register for the retreat on https://retreat.dub.ai/en/,” he added.

Dubai, home to top global AI experts in various fields, has created an exceptional infrastructure and launched progressive policies that support fostering a productive AI ecosystem.

Rich discussions

Participants in the upcoming AI Retreat are set to be part of scientific discussions and specialised workshops that address local and global AI trends. Discussions will focus on the importance of advancing AI locally, propose AI-related changes and legislation to foster adoption of AI technologies, develop policies in support of responsible adoption of AI tech, as well as the ethical uses of AI. The event ultimately aims to help spread the collective benefits of AI advancement.

Participants will also collaborate to create plans to harness AI for innovation and competitive advantage, brainstorm AI applications that can significantly improve quality of life and engage with local AI communities and talents. DUB.AI, the annual Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, is a road map for enhancing quality of life in Dubai by implementing AI in all areas of future relevance, making Dubai a global leader in adopting AI technologies and advanced applications.

DUB.AI objectives

The blueprint also aims to provide the optimal environment for international AI businesses and talent, make Dubai a leader in adopting AI in government operations, boost Dubai’s stature as a global AI governance and legislation lab, and provide access to the best AI applications across strategic sectors.

Additionally, DUB.AI supports the realisation of the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which include generating an annual contribution of around AED 100 billion to the new economy, making Dubai one of the world’s top three urban economies and raising productivity by 50% through innovation and the adoption of digital solutions.

The Machines Can See Summit 2024 hosted at Dubai Museum of the Future on April 17, 2024 will showcase a diverse agenda through two parallel tracks: scientific and business. In the scientific track, renowned researchers will delve into the latest advancements in image generation and recognition, machine learning, providing insights into cutting-edge developments shaping the future of AI. Meanwhile, the business track will explore practical applications of AI across various industries, showing use cases aimed at streamlining business operations and enhancing urban living.

Moreover, 15 outstanding startups will showcase disruptive innovations in the field such as healthcare, retail, tourism, and more. The summit will also be attended by contributors to cutting-edge academic posters (representations of academic research). With an attendance of over 2,000 researchers and innovators in AI, computer vision, and machine learning, the summit will ensure a curated audience of experts and enthusiasts in relevant fields. The summit will be supported by leading innovative companies: NVIDIA, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), AI71, Core42, Intema, Dubai Business Events (DBE), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and Emirates.

Saqr binghalib, the Executive Director of the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office, affirmed that the UAE represents a global hub for fostering initiatives aimed at developing artificial intelligence. It is the most suitable destination for organizing and hosting future dialogues and provides an ideal environment for attracting the best minds in advanced technology and artificial intelligence fields to shape the future of this sector, enhancing its leadership and global competitiveness.

Saqr binghalib stated that hosting the "Machines Can See" Summit in its second edition reflects the great success of its first edition, which was organized last year in collaboration with leading global technology companies and academic institutions. It represented an important opportunity for experts and specialists to envision the future of artificial intelligence.

Commenting on the summit, Mr. Alexander Khanin, CEO and Founder of Polynome Events FZE, the official organizer of “Machines Can See” said, "Building upon our past successes, Dubai's prominence in pioneering AI research, and the global momentum of AI, Machines Can See is aligned with the UAE’s strategy to establish Dubai as the AI capital of the world."

The summit showcases 12 groundbreaking keynotes from luminaries such as Ali Farhadi, CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, Andrew Jackson, EVP, Chief AI Officer at Core42, Yaser Sheikh, Vice President of Meta Reality Labs in Pittsburgh, Alon Halevy, Senior Principal Applied Scientist at AWS, Luc Julia, Chief Scientific Officer at Renault Group, co-creator of Siri, Heather Domin, Global Leader for Responsible AI Initiatives at IBM, World Economic Forum Fellow, Merouane Debbah, Senior AI Advisor at TII, Nicu Sebe, Professor at the University of Trento, Professor Fahad Khan, Deputy Department Chair of Computer Vision and Professor at MBZUAI, among others.

Machines Can See is an exclusive event tailored for industry professionals, offering a platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange with 5000 industry leaders. Select sessions will be broadcast online, allowing a wider audience to engage with the discussions and insights shared during the summit.

Amjad Saleh

He made this statement during the launch of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Award, with the objective of promoting the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies within federal and local government entities. This initiative is designed to enhance the services' performance by leveraging artificial intelligence solutions and to proactively shape a more promising future based on the digital solutions and collaborative efforts among entities in the UAE.

His Excellency Omar Sultan AlOlama emphasized that the UAE government is working continuously to expand the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. Through a range of initiatives, the government aims to proactively anticipate the future of artificial intelligence, bolster the nation's competitiveness, and ensure its leadership across diverse sectors.

His Excellency Mohamed Bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services of the UAE Government, stated the significance of these strategic initiatives, which are designed to elevate the utilization of artificial intelligence within governmental services.

His Excellency Mohamed Bin Taliah emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration between government and semi-governmental entities in the advancement of government services. This endeavor aligns with the leadership's objectives of cultivating an adaptable government framework, one that continually strives to enhance the society’s well-being and deliver an optimal government service experience to diverse segments of society.

The Award categories include Service Excellence Category, Decision Making Category, Operational Efficiency Category, Emirati AI Solutions Category. The evaluation criteria will be by the level of innovation, AI ethics compliance level, level of maturity, scalability and replicability and level of impact.

The aim of the categories is to provide effective, easily accessible, and high-quality services through innovative uses of artificial intelligence and technology, enhancing decision-making processes and increasing efficiency by utilizing artificial intelligence techniques for data-driven decision-making. The categories also aim to reduce operational costs, improve processes, elevate service delivery, and ensure the development of artificial intelligence solutions in the UAE, solidifying it global position in this field.

For entities seeking to register and participate in one or more categories via the link: https://ai.gov.ae/aiaward/

Amjad Saleh/ Muhammad Aamir

The session included a fireside chat moderated by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, with Huang that explored the success story of NVIDIA and the vision of its founder that led it to global success in the artificial intelligence sector.

The session delved into the initial spark that led him to establish NVIDIA and its journey to an accelerated computing company that is now becoming an accelerated cloud computing company.

Furthermore, the session discussed ways to foster a culture of innovation, the importance of team dynamics in the entrepreneurial journey, emerging trends and industries that hold the greatest promise for those venturing into entrepreneurship, and the insights to impart to future generations of entrepreneurs.

“Our vision is simply this. All of the challenges that we thought in the past were too big, too great, too large scale, the computer simply can't solve. It is now within our grasp.” Huang said.

Huang started NVIDIA with two friends in 1993 and has served since its inception as president, chief executive officer, and a member of its board of directors. Since its founding, the company has sparked the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined computer graphics, and ignited the era of modern AI, which is transforming every industry.

The Get Inspired HQ is keen on hosting global CEOs of digital companies in interactive sessions to shed light on their success stories and pioneering, inspirational experiences during their journey in the world of technology, to instill passion among young programmers to develop their capabilities and experiences and motivate them to actively participate in innovating technological solutions for future challenges.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Arab States, and Saqr bin Ghalib, Executive Director of the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office in the UAE government.

Dr. Al Dardari said, “United in purpose, we pledge to explore ethically and responsibly the possibilities of artificial intelligence. Our collaboration with the Government of the United Arab Emirates is focused on fostering innovation and advancing the attainment of the SDGs. By emphasising the role of research and development in AI, we are integrating advanced AI and digital ecosystems through various sectors to promote impactful progress and serve people in the Arab region and beyond.”

Saqr bin Ghalib affirmed that the government of the United Arab Emirates, with its future vision and proactive forward-thinking approach, is expanding the scope of various partnerships to explore the prospects of technological opportunities and increase the adoption of these technologies to serve communities, which is a top priority to enhance well-being and ensure sustainable development in line with the directives of the leadership to expand the fields of artificial intelligence adoption for the benefit of humanity.

Saqr bin Ghalib further added that the World Government Summit serves as an ideal platform for solidifying these purposeful partnerships in line with its objectives to enhance society’s well-being, support future efforts, and devise innovative solutions to various challenges.

The agreement aims to enhance partnerships in areas of common interest to promote artificial intelligence and benefit from it to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development goals, exploring the necessary factors and requirements for developing and utilising artificial intelligence and digital ecosystem and formulating ethical policies that promote the guiding principles within responsible artificial intelligence development and ensure the compatibility of these standards with societal values.

Additionally, the agreement aims to support innovation and digital inclusion, with a focus on benefiting communities and leveraging artificial intelligence as a development priority, exchanging knowledge, supporting joint development of digital initiatives, enhancing decision-making processes based on artificial intelligence technologies and digital tools, including data-driven governance frameworks and advanced policy analytics, and using artificial intelligence for data analysis to ensure reliable information for developing various policies and establishing robust data management frameworks and ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence and enhancing trust and increasing adoption of these technologies by reducing associated data risks.

In terms of skills development, the agreement seeks to exchange knowledge, refine experiences and capabilities, empower individuals, strengthen institutions and initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence, including training in data science and machine learning, exchanging views and practical theories, and best practices on current platforms and applications. UNDP with a global presence in nearly 170 countries serves in many respects as the operational arm of the United Nations at the country level and works with partners in numerous countries to promote sustainable development, eradication of poverty, advancement of women, good governance and the rule of law.

Amjad Saleh / Hazem Hussein

The memorandum of understanding was signed with the government of the Republic of Austria by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Florian Tursky, State Secretary for Digitalisation, Government of the Republic of Austria. Also, the UAE government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Republic of Mongolia by both Omar Sultan Al Olama and Uchral Nyam-Osor, Minister of Digital Development and Communications of Mongolia.

Additionally, The UAE government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Republic of Colombia by both Omar Sultan Al Olama and Mauricio Lizcano, Minister of Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia.

Omar Sultan Al Olama emphasised that the UAE is continuously seeking to strengthen global partnerships aimed at developing frameworks for meaningful cooperation to enhance the performance of various vital sectors that primarily impact humans. This aligns with the steps and visions of our leadership, which promote the AI adoption sector as a new futuristic approach to shaping the future of governments through establishing common digital frameworks and expanding global partnerships in future fields to achieve greater benefits for diverse societies.

He added that the World Governments Summit consolidates its position as a leading global platform for establishing partnerships with governments worldwide and embodies dialogues to shape the future based on identifying current challenges to formulate a better tomorrow.

Florian Tursky said, “The United Arab Emirates are a close strategic partner for Austria and our most important trade partner among the GCC countries. I was therefore glad to meet my counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Omar Al Olama, today on the margins of the World Governments Summit in Dubai. We have signed a MoU to establish a close cooperation in all fields of Artificial Intelligence. This collaboration is very promising, and we can learn from each other’s experiences as nations of a similar size and shared goals.”

Uchral Nyam-Osor, Minister of Digital Development and Communications of Mongolia, said, ‘The UAE is an important partner and close friend of Mongolia among the GCC countries. I was therefore glad to meet my counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Omar Al Olama, today on the margins of the World Governments Summit in Dubai. We have signed a MoU to establish a close cooperation in all fields of Artificial Intelligence. This collaboration is very promising and we can learn from each other’s experiences as nations of a similar size and shared goals.’

Mauricio Lizcano said, “Colombia is the UAE’s primary ally in Latin America. We have come to the World Governments Summit to sign a new technology-focused agreement and to craft a clear roadmap for effective collaboration on AI and digital education. Our goal is to develop with the UAE a far-reaching AI Hub in Latin America based on our mutual strengths”.

This cooperation aims to expand the scope of partnerships to include policies related to AI-based technologies, support potential areas of collaboration related to AI, and collaborate to establish an international governmental committee concerned with AI. It also aims to develop research frameworks across relevant institutions and academic institutes and facilitate joint research projects.

The three agreements aim as well to enhance talents, experiences and skills through education and training programmes, support the development of digital services based on these technologies, and facilitate private investments in the field of artificial intelligence.

The World Governments Summit 2024, held from 12th to 14th February, 2024, featured more than 120 interactive sessions and workshops, 15 forums, and hosted over 200 speakers and 140 governments to envision the future of policy-makers and governments, by discussing the latest global developments.

Amjad Saleh

The Forum gathers top decision-makers, government officials, civil and commercial space organisations, and experts to follow up on key outcomes of the recent World Radio Conference (WRC-23) and COP28 meetings hosted in Dubai.

In his opening remarks, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, emphasised the importance of shedding light on common goals such as cooperation, knowledge exchange, and exploring opportunities to enhance the integration of efforts in the climate, data, technology and space sectors, and confronting the current challenges in these sectors to explore new horizons that promote innovation and pave a path towards a more sustainable and developed future.

Al Olama stated that the forum hosted more than 30 experts and leaders in the fields of climate, technology, and space to shape a new, advanced landscape concerned with the infrastructure of these areas, characterised by flexibility, development, full awareness, and keeping pace with global developments to achieve global climate goals and sustainability principles supported by technological advancements with a spirit of cooperation.

Fruitful Dialogue

Frederick Kempe, President and CEO of the Atlantic Council, said, "The Atlantic Council welcomes our continued partnership with the WGS in organising the forum, which serves as a means to bring decision-makers and experts into dialogue over cooperation in civil and commercial space – a global priority. This forum fosters rich dialogue between decision-makers from around the globe aimed at reducing risks and maximising the use of space to achieve sustainable development goals, especially those associated with climate. It is also our hope that the forum will strengthen international cooperation to formulate policies and solutions that promote the development of resilient in-space infrastructure.”

Dr. Lloyd Whitman, senior director of the Atlantic Council GeoTech Centre, added, “As nations begin to assert their presence and capabilities in and around the Moon, this event acts as an important forum to discuss the importance of responsible international behaviour for advancing national space priorities and the space economy.”

Multi-sector Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Space The Forum highlights resilient in-space infrastructure, the need for multilateralism on the Moon and cislunar space, and the importance of commercial space to global climate goals.

The Forum comes on the heels of WRC-23 and COP28 hosted by the UAE, including the first-ever WRC resolution addressing the future development of communications beyond LEO, and extensive discussions at COP28 around the importance of space, broadly, across climate issues.

The Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, Aarti Holla-Maini, added, “Without space, we wouldn’t know there was a climate crisis on Earth; 26 of the 55 Essential Climate Variables can only be measured from space. A safe and sustainable space environment is, therefore, a pre-requisite to implementing sustainable development, and responding to climate change, here on Earth. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), having agreed the global governance of outer space and the space treaties, continues to drive global consensus around space sustainability and international space law. There is no better forum for it. I’m pleased that the World Governments Summit can bring together leaders to address implementation of these commitments and scale space solutions."

The forum included several panel discussions, starting with a session titled “Creating Resilient In-Space Infrastructure for the New Space Economy” featuring Mike Gold, Chief Growth Officer, Redwire Space; Andrew Faiola, Commercial Vice President, Astroscale; Kevin O'Connell, Chief Executive Officer, Space Economy Rising and Ellie Creasey Assistant Director, GeoTech Centre, Atlantic Council. The session discussed ambitious goals for scientific exploration and the use of lunar space as a gateway to explore the rest of the solar system, international competition in this field, various programs enhancing lunar space capabilities, national space priorities, space economy, and the importance of responsible international cooperation in achieving common goals.

The forum also included Navigating “Multilateralism on the Moon and Cislunar Space” session featuring Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs; Dr. Sherif Sedky, Chief Executive Officer, Egyptian Space Agency; Kevin O'Connell, Chief Executive Officer, Space Economy Rising; Ron Garan, Chief Executive Officer, Ispace US; Andrew Faiola, Commercial Vice President, Astroscale and Mike Gold Chief Growth Officer, Redwire Space. The session discussed the importance of expanding the infrastructure supporting global commerce on Earth, such as data networks and smooth traffic management (land, air, and sea), to outer space, and the technical and political considerations that a new communications protocol system will require, including joint construction between the public and private sectors to keep pace with rapid advancements in the space sector.

The forum also included a session on “The Importance of Commercial Space to Global Climate Goals” session which featured Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs; Madin Maseeh, Founder and President, Maldives Space Research Organisation; Andrew Zolli, Chief Impact Officer, Planet; Dr. Amna Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE; Dr. Lloyd Whitman, Senior Director, GeoTech Centre of the Atlantic Council. The session discussed the role of space-based monitoring in understanding and monitoring Earth's climate, the opportunities and capabilities of the space sector in climate change measurement, monitoring, and modelling, the potential number of future satellites enabling real-time global insights into Earth's biosphere and atmosphere from ground, sea, and orbit-based sensors, the importance of cooperation in necessary data standards, data exchange frameworks, and space traffic management to explore the opportunities and challenges facing space capabilities in contributing to global climate goals.

The World Governments Summit 2024 is hosting a set of interactive dialogue sessions on 6 main themes, including Government Acceleration and Transformation, Artificial Intelligence and The Next Frontiers, Reimagining Development and Future Economies, Future Societies and Education, Sustainability and The New Global Shifts, and Urbanisation and Global Health Priorities.

Amjad Saleh / Khoder Nashar

The forum brings together technology leaders from around the world to discuss the future of responsible artificial intelligence and envision the future of this promising field through international efforts and the integration of expertise from technology professionals across all countries.

Omar Sultan Al Olama emphasised in his opening remarks that the World Governments Summit continues to establish itself as a leading, global, and exceptional platform. It serves as a bridge bringing governments, their leaders, and decision-makers together to shape a future based on collective efforts and to enhance communication between governments and people. The summit sheds light on the state of governments, focusing on the path of integration, collaboration, and how to achieve prosperity as a top priority.

Al Olama further stated that the World Governments Summit renews optimism for the world in solving various challenges the world is facing today. It anticipates the development of the generative artificial intelligence sector, which is experiencing rapid growth globally. "The market is expected to grow by 33 percent in 2024, reaching around US$20 billion by 2025. "

Al Olama said, “Approximately 97 million people are expected to work in the field of artificial intelligence which underscore the importance for governments to recognise the potential of this transformative force. Understanding its capabilities is crucial for bringing about fundamental changes and adapt to its various trends to achieve the best possible utilisation of these technologies for the development of the digital economy."

The next session discussed the Next Wave of Intelligent Solutions​ with Jack Hidary, CEO, SandboxAQ moderated by Rebecca McLaughlin-Eastham, TV Anchor. The session explored the frontiers of AI beyond Large Language Models (LLMs) and the rise of humanoid robots and this intimate format that allows for an in-depth discussion on how these technologies impact society. The session further delved into their potential, challenges, and ethical considerations, offering insights into the future they are creating.

The session on Embedding Trust in the AI Data Pipeline featured a panel discussions between AJ Abdallat, President and Chief Executive Officer in Beyond Limits, Arya Bolurfrushan, Chief Executive Officer of Applied AI Company and Gary Kazantsev, Head of Quant Technology Strategy at Bloomberg moderated by Gary Sorrentino, Global Chief Information Officer at Zoom. They highlighted the importance of building trust in artificial intelligence data, considering its integration and impact on various sectors. They emphasised the role of ensuring the safety, transparency, and reliability of data in these systems, from collection to processing and analysis.

The forum also held a session titled 'AI: Lifeline Or Landmine?' and featured a dialogue with Yann Lecun, Meta Chief AI Officer, moderated by Saqr binghalib, Executive Director of the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office. The session addressed the burgeoning debate surrounding AI's impact on society and unravelled the myths and misconceptions that often cloud public understanding of AI, particularly the fears of an AI-driven apocalypse. It also provided a nuanced perspective, distinguishing the field of science fiction from scientific reality in the context of AI's capabilities and potential challenges.

Furthermore, the session titled “The Intersection of Responsible AI and Scientific Discovery” brought together Prof. Serge Haroche, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics 2012 and Greg Wilson, Worldwide Public Sector Government Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft moderated by Dr. James Canton, CEO and Chairman of the Institute for Global Futures. They explored the transformative potentials of artificial intelligence and its trajectory in the coming years, its capability in redefining the essence of scientific research and its role in enhancing the role of human scientists, and insights into how artificial intelligence impacts scientific discoveries in a way that provides a clear vision for making accurate assessments

Dr. Werner Vogels, Chief Executive Officer at Amazon discussed as well during his session insights from his tech journey and Amazon's culture of innovation as he delved into the impact of AI, offering a unique historical perspective on its evolution and the positive impact AI has already been making on society and environment. The session moderated by Dr. Tariq bin Hendi, Senior Partner in Global Ventures and highlighted the importance of accessible technology and collaborative AI development across industries. Additionally, Dr. Werner offered his predictions on major technology trends for 2024, providing a window into the future of tech.​

The session of the UN AIAdvisory Body gathered His Excellency Amandeep Gill, Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology, UN, Carme Artigas, Co-Chair AI high-level advisory body, UN as well as Omar Sultan Al Olama and Philip Thigo, Advisor in the Government of Kenya discussed the promotion of artificial intelligence for rapid progress in various fields, including healthcare, education, economy, and others. The session moderated by Naina Bajekal, Executive Editor and International Editor at TIME delved in the responsible role of artificial intelligence in enhancing the functioning of governments and societies and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 was emphasised.

The sessions also discussed harnessing artificial intelligence technology responsibly, ensuring its inclusivity and availability to individuals worldwide, including developing countries. Responsible international governance for artificial intelligence, the importance of studying challenges, opportunities, and key success factors in leveraging artificial intelligence were highlighted. The session called for advancing artificial intelligence transparently and comprehensively, with a focus on global cooperation to ensure universal access to these technologies.

The World Government Summit 2024, taking place from 12th to 14th February 2024, hosts more than 120 interactive sessions and workshops, 15 forums, and host over 200 speakers and 140 government delegations. The summit aims to envision the future of policymakers and governments by reviewing the latest global developments.

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“For various reasons, the UAE would be well-positioned to lead discussions on this matter. I propose hosting a one-day conference where global leaders can brainstorm and strategise on these important issues,” said Altman, speaking via video conferencing in a session with Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. Altman said, “I often use the example of the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as a model for handling the impact of the most powerful AI systems. Establishing auditing and safety measures before deploying superintelligence or artificial general intelligence (AGI) is crucial.”

He noted that the readiness of the UAE positions it to lead global discussions on leveraging artificial intelligence systems while implementing secure measures. Altman highlighted the ‘remarkable’ future awaiting humanity with the advancement of AI systems. Once fully developed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will revolutionise education, healthcare, and new sciences, he said.

Altman said despite its growth, the world is still witnessing the early stages of AI. “We haven’t seen this much world changing, and I think the reason is that the current technology we have is like a black and white TV screen,” said Altman, noting that “we have a long way to go.”

AI will make intelligence broadly available, inexpensive and a tool to let humanity build the future. However, its full advancement and growth will require time and patience, similar to that of the progress of cellular phones from primitive mobiles to today’s iPhones.

“In a few more years, the technology will be much better than it is now and, in a decade, it should be remarkable,” said Altman. “We don’t realise how limited we are now, and how limited our intelligence is and how expensive and difficult the technology is.”

Altman urged governments to adopt AI technologies to better serve citizens and modernise the workplace.

Asked about what can be expected from ChatGPT 5, Altman said, “It is going to be smarter, it will be multimodal, it will be faster. But what I think matters is it’s going to be smarter.”

Altman said ChatGPT, which was developed by OpenAI, revolutionised education and made scientists more productive.

“Imagine a world where everyone gets a great personal tutor, a great personalised medical advice, and how we can use these tools to discover new sciences and build healthy environments,” said Altman.

He stressed the need for governments to collaborate towards adopting the new technologies, putting the right measures in place and patience until the new technologies take their full shape.

Altman noted that this generation is unbelievably lucky to be living “in the best time of human history,” noting that although rules are shifting, the ability AI will give people to express their creative imagination and will is remarkable.

Running until 14th February, this year’s WGS brings together more than 25 heads of state, more than 85 international and regional organisations and global institutions, 140 governments, and distinguished global thought leaders and experts.

Over 200 prominent speakers are addressing global future trends during more than 110 dialogues and sessions. WGS 2024 also hosts more than 4000 attendees, as well as more than 23 ministerial meetings and executive sessions attended by more than 300 ministers.

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This came during a session in which he was interviewed by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Vice President of the World Government Summit Organisation, within the first day of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024.

Huang said that there is no room for fear of artificial intelligence technology; Rather, we ought to work to benefit from it, calling on each country to have its own sovereign artificial intelligence system, so that it possesses the data necessary to document its history and future.

When asked about the advice he gives to heads of state regarding computing matters, Jensen Huang replied, “We are at the beginning of a new industrial revolution with the emergence of artificial intelligence, similar to the industrial revolutions that took place with the production of energy from steam and electricity and the emergence of computers, as well as the Internet revolution.”

He added, “The volume of investment in data centres has reached approximately one trillion dollars, a number that will multiply several times in the coming years,” pointing out that the new generation is generative artificial intelligence, which will contribute to improving and accelerating the performance of computers at the same time."

He noted, “One of the best contributions we have made is the development of computers and artificial intelligence a million-fold in the past ten years, and therefore we have to take into account that it will be faster and more efficient.”

Regarding the countries unable to bear the cost of this development, Jensen Huang saw that “the current development calls for (democratisation of technology); there are researchers from various universities working in this direction, and therefore we must harness the experience of researchers to accelerate the level of innovation, which will make the cost of buying and selling much lower.”

The president of “NVIDIA” explained that artificial intelligence is a technology that we should not be feared of, but rather be benefited from as it is the beginning of the new industrial revolution.

He continued, “It is not an energy or food revolution, but rather the production of intelligence, and therefore every country must own the production of its own intelligence, and here comes the idea of ‘sovereign artificial intelligence’, so that the country possesses data to document its history and future.”

“My advice to countries is the necessity of owning their national intelligence and not to allow someone else to do it,” he added.

Huang responded to Omar Sultan Al Olama’s talk about the UAE’s methodology, which is rapidly seeking to enhance its artificial intelligence systems, by saying that the UAE has solidified its position by incorporating the Arabic language into its developed systems and innovating a UAE-made AI model, praising the efforts of “Core42” and various technology companies in the UAE.

Jensen Huang said, “The first thing that every country should do is build infrastructure and not work on a specific application; If you want to develop energy, you must build generators, if you want food, you must build farms, and if you want artificial intelligence, you must build infrastructure. It is not expensive, but there are companies that want to scare everyone, while in reality they are computers that you can buy, and every country is capable of doing that."

He added, “Artificial intelligence is key to supporting many sciences and fields, and if we build an infrastructure, we can then strengthen innovative personalities and experts to support the artificial intelligence system.”

Regarding the obstacles to regulating artificial intelligence, the CEO of “NVIDIA” explained that any new technology that is created requires the necessity of developing it safely and helping everyone to use it safely, just like the manufacture of cars, pharmaceuticals, and all industries that witness great regulation, and artificial intelligence will appear through various industries and contributes to their automation.

And he continued, “We want to democratise this technology to achieve safety and compatibility.”

Regarding the relationship between artificial intelligence and children’s education in the future, Jensen Huang commented, “You may remember the past 10 years; everyone believed that it was necessary for children to learn computer science and how to program, and the truth is that the opposite is true; we can produce computer technology so that everyone does not have to program, and thus everyone is now a programmer and this is the miracle; many people interact with artificial intelligence and every company talks about artificial intelligence today, and anyone can become a scientist or expert.”

He concluded, "The technological leadership of any country has been reset, and countries and people who understand how to solve problems in different specialisations can now use the technology available in their hands. Computers help you automate and organise your work wonderfully, making the use of artificial intelligence easier than ever before regarding computer use, and developing this process will be very facilitated.”

Tariq Al Fahaam / Khoder Nashar

The initiative aims to empower 100 Emirati women by offering a comprehensive and free training programme in data labeling and annotation, strategically designed to enhance their skills and foster their entry into the burgeoning fields of technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

This pioneering initiative is a testament to the commitment to provide tangible opportunities for personal and professional development, particularly for stay-at-home mothers seeking to upskill and enter the workforce. The training programme will equip participants with practical skills in data labeling and annotation, ensuring they are well-prepared for in-demand roles within the tech and AI industries.

This initiative marks a crucial step towards fostering gender inclusion, skill development, and empowerment in the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and artificial intelligence.

Saqr Binghalib, Executive Director at the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications office, stated that the National Programme for Coders is a hub for the development of digital skills, and it reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. This vision revolves around the development of talents and capabilities as a fundamental element in the UAE’s journey towards success and excellence.

Saqr Binghalib added that through such initiatives, we aim to enhance the empowerment of all the society to ensure technological progress and enable them through comprehensive programmes that keep pace with the latest technological developments.

The "AI-Forward" initiative is designed to unfold over a comprehensive 24-week timeline, organised into three cohorts delivering the same curriculum, quizzes, and classes to ensure a thorough learning experience for all participants and offering several opportunities to accommodate their diverse schedules. Each cohort extends for a duration of 8 weeks. This programme, delivered virtually, and presented by Dr. Fayeq Oweis, Director and Founder of Aqlama.ai and Dr. Tasnim Ali, CEO and Founder of Shai for AI, provides participants with a flexible, self-paced learning environment on a module-by-module basis.

Meem Foundation, led by Muna Easa Al Gurg is a driving force behind this initiative, and is generously supporting the programme. Meem Foundation believes in holistic, innovative approaches to addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls in the region.

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He stated that the UAE government is intensifying efforts to accelerate the adoption of digital solutions, aiming through its initiatives and projects to envision and shape the digital future, enhancing the UAE’s leadership and global competitiveness in various fields.

This came during Al Olama's chairing of the meeting of the UAE Council for Digital Economy held at the Securities and Commodities Authority in Dubai.

The council reviewed the updates regarding several strategic initiatives aimed at supporting and accelerating the implementation of the UAE's strategic objectives for the digital economy, in areas such as infrastructure, digital transactions, e-commerce, financial technologies, stimulating investment in digital sectors, attracting and developing digital skills, supporting SMEs and the latest developments in digital economy statistics gathering and the annual report on measuring the digital economy, prepared in cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.

The council reviewed as well the developments in digital infrastructure development in the country, and the level of adoption of technological solutions, which have significantly increased in recent months. The adoption of the use of digital signatures increased by 216 percent in 2023, while blockchain was used as well, involving 9 banks, 6 exchange houses, and 3 insurance companies.

The council further reviewed digital services in the federal network, which were launched to include voice-to-text and text-to-voice conversion, translation, analysis of different emotions, extraction of key phrases, language analysis, and services suitable for accessing high-performance computing resources for machine learning, deep learning, and other applications.

The council discussed topics such as the government service level policy, data centre distribution and cloud computing deployment in Gulf countries, cloud computing companies in the UAE, as well as the latest Internet network indicators and the performance and coverage of the fifth-generation network in the country. In addition, the adoption rate of the sixth version of the Internet Protocol reached 50.7 percent in January 2024, and the level of mobile network coverage continued to achieve 100 percent coverage, ranking the first position in the Middle East in Internet exchange traffic and the first position globally in fifth-generation network speeds in 2023.

The UAE Council for Digital Economy is responsible for implementing the digital economy agenda, achieving its strategic indicators, shaping the future of the digital economy, and its strategic directions in the UAE.