In recent years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has positioned artificial intelligence (AI) as a key driver of economic diversification and developmentThe government has actively crafted AI strategies and policies, investing substantial resources into building AI infrastructure and promoting interdisciplinary applicationsThese efforts have yielded remarkable advancements in AI deployment, significantly energizing its economic and social evolution.
The UAE government rolled out the "UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031" in October 2017, which laid out a clear vision to transform the nation into a global leader in the AI domain by the year 2031. This strategy aims to elevate public service efficiency and catalyze economic growth through the implementation of AI technologies across various sectors, including energy, transportation, tourism, and educationA notable milestone in their commitment to AI was the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Ministry, making the UAE the first nation in the world to do soFurthering these initiatives, the UAE Cabinet founded the AI Committee in 2018 to oversee the AI integration process in governmental and educational sectors, strategizing to meet the national AI objectivesBy 2019, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) opened its doors as the world’s first postgraduate institution dedicated to AI studies, poised to nurture talent in this critical field.
In response to the burgeoning role of AI, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, founded the Dubai Future Foundation in 2016, leading to the launch of multiple AI-related projectsThe "Dubai Future Accelerators" program supports innovative AI technologies in both public and private sectors, while the "Dubai AI Lab" focuses on testing and implementing advanced AI solutions, especially in smart city frameworks and public servicesRecently, in June 2023, Dubai established an AI Center, which aims to assist the government in deploying future technologies across key domains, supporting over 20 local and global startups specializing in cutting-edge tech
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By August 2023, the Dubai International Financial Centre began issuing business licenses to AI and third-generation internet tech companies, providing subsidies and encouraging innovation through legal and technical support options for entrepreneurs.
The landscape of AI in the UAE has continued to evolve with significant contributions from the Mubadala Investment Company and its formation of G42 in 2018, a central player in pushing the national AI strategyG42 encompasses various tech-focused initiatives, including the 42X Fund, the first large-scale Arabic language model ‘Jais’, and Khazna, a provider of data center servicesIn January 2024, Abu Dhabi established its own AI and Advanced Technology Committee aimed at formulating and implementing strategic policies related to AI research, infrastructure, and investmentIn May 2024, Mubadala and G42 collaborated to form MGX, focused on advancing and deploying AI and advanced technologiesResearch from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce indicated that, as of mid-2024, a new AI company was being registered in the emirate every two days on average, making AI one of the fastest-growing sectors for new business registrations.
The UAE is also fostering international cooperation in AI technology, enhancing local capabilities and elevating its standing in the global tech landscapeCollaborations with tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have led to the establishment of AI laboratories and research institutions for jointly developing algorithms and innovative technologiesThe Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi announced an upgraded version of its "Falcon" series of open-source AI models in May 2024. Moreover, in August 2024, G42's subsidiary, Inception, launched an advanced language model specifically designed for natural language processing solutions in Arabic, facilitating the integration of generative AI services across various industries.
The UAE government has leveraged AI technology to drastically improve service efficiency and resource allocation, significantly enhancing the quality of life for its residents
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For instance, Abu Dhabi's unified government services platform, "Tamm," integrates cross-department services, enabling residents to expedite their tax, visa, and business licensing processes through AI recommendationsThe UAE’s immigration services have launched an intelligent visa application platform, introducing AI to streamline application, approval, and updating processes, effectively reducing processing times while enhancing accuracyFacial recognition systems powered by AI have been deployed at airports and border checkpoints, ensuring a secure and efficient clearance experience for travelers.
Moreover, major cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi have utilized AI to optimize traffic management, energy distribution, waste management, and public safetyInitiated back in 2014, Dubai's "Smart City" strategy targeted the implementation of 100 initiatives across transportation, communications, infrastructure, and urban planning, managing to achieve digitization of 1000 government services by 2017. The Dubai government subsequently introduced the "Smart Dubai 2021" strategy, aimed at effective governance and resource optimization through AI technologyBy establishing the Dubai AI Center in 2023, the government further committed to enhancing operational efficiency through AIIn law enforcement, the Dubai Police employ AI-powered cameras and facial recognition technologies to quickly identify suspects and improve community safetyVirtual police stations enable residents to manage various tasks without human intervention, including reporting incidents, fee payments, and document requests.
The broad application of AI in the transportation and logistics sectors not only enhances efficiency and accessibility but also propels green development and smart transformation initiativesFor instance, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority employs AI to optimize traffic signals and monitor real-time flow, dynamically adjusting traffic light durations to alleviate congestion
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