Page 84 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

United Arab Emirates

Dubai aims to be a business-friendly artificial intelligence hub with equipping educators with the “right tools” to help students. Over
every future digital company being AI-driven, according to a UAE 10,000 students benefitted from launching AI week in educational
Minister. It is part of a roadmap that will see the emirate further institutes last year.
cement its status as one of the leaders in AI adoption. Speaking (April 21, 2025) www.khaleejtimes.com
at the opening of Dubai AI week, Omar Sultan AlOlama Minister
of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Omran Sharaf, the UAE’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced
Work Applications, said that the emirate has set several targets Science and Technology, has warned that the rapid rise of AI
to improve its use of AI over the next year, one of which will be an technologies could lead to dangerous outcomes if they fall into the
integration of government and private sector. “Dubai understands wrong hands. Speaking at the Global Conference on AI, Security,
business and artificial intelligence,” he said. “We know that we can and Ethics in Geneva, Sharaf emphasized the importance of
work with the best of the brightest to be able to ensure that Dubai putting controls in place to prevent non-state actors and militants
is the place where artificial intelligence is deployed and where the from accessing advanced weapons technologies. He highlighted
benefits are reaped.” He added that there is going to be “a shift” the blurring lines between peaceful and military uses of technology
when it comes to startups, success, and artificial intelligence. and noted that emerging technologies are increasingly being
“Every single unicorn that has come out of the UAE was an AI used by non-state actors, sometimes more effectively than even
company,” he explained. “Whether it's Careem or Souq.com, they state governments. Sharaf called for responsible and transparent
are all companies that were AI first. Every single company that's handling of these technologies, urging global cooperation to set
going to be in our digital economy moving forward needs to be standards and avoid reckless approaches. The UAE, which has
an AI first company. And that's going to be a key focus for the been a leader in AI initiatives, also aims to have a fully AI-powered
next phase.” AlOlama said that Dubai was committed to creating government by 2027, showcasing the country’s commitment to
a talent pool. “We want to be a hub that grows the best talent, advancing technology while managing its risks.
nurtures them, and hopefully exports their ingenuity to the rest of (April 2, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com
the world,” he said. To do this, Dubai will invest in education and

84 MAY 2025