UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence to drive growth in the country

The UAE seeks to be a major hub for developing AI techniques and legislation

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday announced the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI), a major initiative within the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives.
This is the first such strategy of its kind in the region and the entire world to promote government performance and create an innovative and highly-productive environment by means of investing in AI and its applications across multiple domains. The strategy is premised to ensure best utilisation of all resources and invest in all available potential in creative manners that accelerate the execution of developmental projects.
"UAE Centennial 2071 forges ahead now by launching mega enterprises like Artificial Intelligence to lay a solid basis for the coming period," said Sheikh Mohammed, affirming that AI is "the new wave after the Smart Government upon which all our services, sectors and future infrastructure will rely on."
"We initiated electronic services 16 years go and today we are launching a fresh stage relying on Artificial Intelligence," Sheikh Mohammed added, noting that "we are seeking to adopt all tools and methodologies related to artificial intelligence to expedite and ensure more efficiency in government services at all levels."
The UAE seeks to be a major hub for developing AI techniques and legislation, he said. "Our 2071 strategy is founded on a set of fundamentals, primarily Artificial Intelligence across all our government and private sectors," he added.
"The coming period requires qualified Emirati cadres well-versed with Artificial Intelligence to meet our supreme national interests," he said, affirming that AI applications will generate revenues and provide fresh opportunities for the national economy.
The Artificial Intelligence Strategy will enable several vital sectors in the country, including transportation, healthcare, space exploration, smart consumption, water, technology, education and agriculture. AI can help governments develop preventative mechanisms, for example, to predict traffic accidents and congestion and in developing effective traffic policies. Governments can also utilise AI to cut costs, with 50 potential savings by reducing paperwork and streamlining transactions and interactions. AI solutions can also cut down transportation and logistics costs and make a significant contribution to GDP.
The strategy consists of five interrelated core axes that serve as stages of development, research, preparation and progressive application of AI technologies in various government efforts in the country.
It will focus on how AI can support employees in the public and private sectors and allow them to channel their energy into creative work. It will also develop a legal framework ensuring the safest standards for the human and machine working relationship.
The UAE is one of the most prepared countries in the region to adopt AI technology because the government has already built a thorough technology infrastructure over the past two decades. The UAE was the first country in the region to adopt e-government services which quickly transformed into a Smart Government system in 2013. This was also a first in the region and was part of Sheikh Mohammed's vision to provide the country with the highest and most efficient services and quality of life.
The strategy will complement and build on the already established Smart Government to achieve tangible progress in all areas of government work and to improve overall institutional performance.

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