Latest news with #DepartmentofEconomyandTourism
TECHx
5 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
Arab Media Forum 2025 Highlights AI Dominance
Home » Latest news » AI Dominates Discussion at Arab Media Forum 2025 A session titled 'AI: Secret Weapon or Your Worst Nightmare?' drew strong attention during the Arab Media Forum 2025. It was held under the auspices of the Dubai Media Council as part of the Arab Media Summit. The session featured Dr. Marwan Alzarooni, CEO of Artificial Intelligence at Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, and Hamad Al Shirawi, Director of Projects at Dubai Future Foundation. Dr. Alzarooni revealed that AI is already impacting every part of life. He firmly stated, 'AI is here to stay.' He reported that the UAE is taking bold steps to harness AI's potential. He added that this is only the beginning. Dr. Alzarooni also noted that economic initiatives are now supporting content creators in the media sector. He said individuals in the UAE have many chances to upskill using online platforms and national initiatives. He emphasized the need for people to use AI to their benefit across life and work. He also pointed out Dubai's continued success in applying AI in government. He revealed that key sectors like healthcare, logistics, proptech, and sustainable manufacturing are among the main focus areas. Moreover, Dr. Alzarooni warned that the divide between AI users and non-users will keep widening. Those who embrace AI will gain access to richer, scalable content. He also predicted the rise of 'vibe coding,' where one-person startups will manage complex tasks with fewer resources. Meanwhile, Al Shirawi highlighted the UAE's vision to embrace AI. He announced that Dubai is working closely with public entities to collect and share best practices. He reported that Dubai Police used AI to boost efficiency in lost-and-found cases by 300%. This task, once prone to human error, has now improved due to AI implementation. He stated that public trust and inclusion remain key to AI rollout in Dubai and the UAE. Al Shirawi addressed AI fears by comparing them to the internet's early days. He reminded the audience that innovation often brings concerns, but adaptation follows. He reaffirmed that AI can bring major productivity gains and stated Dubai remains a leading innovation hub. He also cited the One Million Prompters initiative, which aims to empower AI users through real-world use cases across sectors. Dubai Police improved case-solving by 300% using AI UAE's AI strategy includes training, innovation, and public inclusion In closing, Al Shirawi remarked that AI is no longer optional. He said it has become a necessary tool for progress. Choosing not to use it, he warned, could lead to serious setbacks.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Code to Corridors: How Dubai is Building a Tech-First Policy and India-Focused Scale
From Code to Corridors (ET Spotlight) 35:13 Min | May 22, 2025, 3:03 PM IST What does it take to turn a sandbox into a globally-competitive innovation ecosystem? In this episode of Live, Work & Play in Dubai, we sit down with Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO of AI at Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), to decode the blueprint behind Dubai's digital transformation—from AI regulation and startup readiness to blockchain strategy and the city's expanding corridor with India. Dr. Marwan shares personal anecdotes, including lea ...Read More rning to code in Arabic at age eight, and unpacks how Dubai's policy approach — agile, feedback-led, and human-centric — is helping entrepreneurs, regulators, and technologists co-create the city's future. From digital identity and single-window platforms to Golden Visas and Unicorn 30, this episode explores how Dubai is not just anticipating the future, but building it. ...Read Less
Tourism Breaking News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
VFS Global launches world's largest visa application facility in Dubai
VFS Global announced the launch of its flagship Visa Application Centre in Dubai's Wafi City, marking the opening of the largest visa application facility in the world. The centre was inaugurated by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism; His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai; and Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism said, 'This milestone is more than an infrastructure achievement — it reflects the strategic direction Dubai is taking to enhance global mobility, unlock access to opportunity, and accelerate growth across our visitor and business economy. As we advance the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, strengthening seamless access to and from Dubai remains a priority. Visa facilitation is a key enabler of talent attraction, tourism development, and international partnerships — all essential levers of our strategy to position Dubai as the world's most connected and future-ready city.' His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai said, 'Today, we witnessed the inauguration of a new milestone in the journey of excellence pursued by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular, with the opening of the world's largest Visa Application Centre, located in the heart of Dubai, a city that continuously redefines innovation. This achievement embodies a true reflection of the directives of our wise leadership towards strengthening the nation's position as a global hub for smart services and establishing a unique model for delivering government services with high efficiency and quality. We believe that continuous development is not an option, but rather a commitment to a more prosperous future.' Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, said, 'Operating in the UAE since 2004, our journey has been defined by our unwavering commitment and a deep-rooted connection with this dynamic nation and its visionary leadership. In these two decades we have witnessed the spectacular growth and development of the UAE to become a preeminent global hub of business, thought leadership, technology development and innovation. In line with the rapid development of Dubai, today we are pleased to launch the world's largest Visa Application Centre, serving over 200 nationalities in this Year of Community. Working closely with Emirati Entrepreneurs and Emirati Artists, the centre captures and reflects the multicultural fabric of the country that we are proud to call our Global Headquarters.' Designed to meet the surge in outbound travel and rising expectations for security, accessibility, and convenience, the state-of-the-art Dubai centre sets a new global benchmark — built not just for today, but for the travel demands of tomorrow. At nearly 150,000 square feet, the centre is equipped to handle up to 10,000 visa applications daily – a capacity that stands as the highest for any single location – and is supported by a skilled and diverse team of over 400 trained professionals from more than 25 nationalities.
Syyaha
20-05-2025
- Business
- Syyaha
Dubai becomes home to the World's Largest Visa Application Centre, revolutionising visa services for a new era
Future-ready, culturally rooted, and powered by AI — Dubai's new centre will serve 37 governments • Conceptualised as a next-generation global model for visa centres, setting new benchmarks in service, security, and customer experience• Built to support the UAE's growing outbound travel demand, with the capacity to handle 10,000 applications a day • 37 client governments. Over 200 submission counters. One powerful, unified destination for smart visa services. VFS Global, the global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure global mobility for governments and citizens, has announced the launch of its flagship Visa Application Centre in Dubai's Wafi City, marking the opening of the largest visa application facility in the world. The centre was inaugurated by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism; His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai; and Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism said, ' This milestone is more than an infrastructure achievement — it reflects the strategic direction Dubai is taking to enhance global mobility, unlock access to opportunity, and accelerate growth across our visitor and business economy. As we advance the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, strengthening seamless access to and from Dubai remains a priority. Visa facilitation is a key enabler of talent attraction, tourism development, and international partnerships — all essential levers of our strategy to position Dubai as the world's most connected and future-ready city.' His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai said, ' Today, we witnessed the inauguration of a new milestone in the journey of excellence pursued by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular, with the opening of the world's largest Visa Application Centre, located in the heart of Dubai, a city that continuously redefines innovation. This achievement embodies a true reflection of the directives of our wise leadership towards strengthening the nation's position as a global hub for smart services and establishing a unique model for delivering government services with high efficiency and quality. We believe that continuous development is not an option, but rather a commitment to a more prosperous future.' Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, said, ' Operating in the UAE since 2004, our journey has been defined by our unwavering commitment and a deep-rooted connection with this dynamic nation and its visionary leadership. In these two decades we have witnessed the spectacular growth and development of the UAE to become a preeminent global hub of business, thought leadership, technology development and innovation. In line with the rapid development of Dubai, today we are pleased to launch the world's largest Visa Application Centre, serving over 200 nationalities in this Year of Community. Working closely with Emirati Entrepreneurs and Emirati Artists, the centre captures and reflects the multicultural fabric of the country that we are proud to call our Global Headquarters.' Designed to meet the surge in outbound travel and rising expectations for security, accessibility, and convenience, the state-of-the-art Dubai centre sets a new global benchmark — built not just for today, but for the travel demands of tomorrow. At nearly 150,000 square feet, the centre is equipped to handle up to 10,000 visa applications daily – a capacity that stands as the highest for any single location – and is supported by a skilled and diverse team of over 400 trained professionals from more than 25 nationalities. Key features of the centre include: • Tech-enabled self-service kiosks, secure lockers, photo booths, and photocopy stations for last-minute needs• Touchscreen info kiosks, QR code-based check-ins with automated feedback at each visa desk• More than 400 on-site staff equipped with tablets to assist applicants, supported by trained volunteers for form and kiosk help• Intuitive, airport-style navigation with clear signage, spacious waiting areas, and a buggy service for easy movement• Dedicated prayer rooms, kids' play areas, and various convenience zones ensuring a truly customer-centric experience • ESG-compliant design with energy-efficient systems and fast-track lanes for seniors, families, and persons with disabilities With rising outbound travel from the UAE, personalised services like the Premium Lounge have become the preferred choice for applicants seeking enhanced comfort and convenience. Of the 200+ submission counters at the centre, 79 are exclusively available as Premium Lounges. The centre is one of the few globally, and just two in the UAE, to offer the Platinum Lounge service, which includes a personalised experience with chauffeur service, end-to-end application support, and a calm, modern setting. At the Core: AI and Innovation From real-time document validation to next-generation biometrics, the on-site AI Innovation Hub powers smarter, faster, and more secure processing. Complementing this is a Digitization Centre that converts paper documents into secure digital records and a Global Resilience Center (GRC) that ensures 24/7 operational uptime, data protection, and continuity for all partner governments. VFS Global has leveraged technology at every stage of the applicant journey to revolutionise the submission experience. Visitors use QR code-based e-tokens for check-in, guided by an advanced queue management system. This smart system, paired with electronic displays and mobile updates, minimises wait times and optimises applicant flow — even at peak capacity. By marrying innovation with human expertise, the centre reimagines visa application as a seamless, transparent, and efficient process. The launch of the world's largest Visa Application Centre in Dubai underscores VFS Global's commitment to the UAE Government's 'We the UAE 2031' vision. Aligned with the Year of Community 2025, the centre not only sets a global benchmark in service excellence but also integrates Emirati cultural installations that celebrate the spirit of Dubai's communities. This flagship facility represents a new model — one that blends breakthrough technology with local values to ensure a future of secure, connected, and community-oriented travel. VFS Global has been associated with the UAE since 2002 as the official visa service provider for Emirates Airlines passengers and has been headquartered in Dubai since 2013.
Al Etihad
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE becomes home to world's largest visa application centre
20 May 2025 14:25 DUBAI (WAM) VFS Global, the leader in trusted technology services, has announced the launch of its flagship Visa Application Centre in Dubai's Wafi City, marking the opening of the largest visa application facility in the centre was inaugurated by Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism; Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai; and Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VFS Global Saeed Almarri said, 'This milestone is more than an infrastructure achievement — it reflects the strategic direction Dubai is taking to enhance global mobility, unlock access to opportunity, and accelerate growth across our visitor and business economy. As we advance the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, strengthening seamless access to and from Dubai remains a priority."Visa facilitation is a key enabler of talent attraction, tourism development, and international partnerships — all essential levers of our strategy to position Dubai as the world's most connected and future-ready city.'Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said, 'Today, we witnessed the inauguration of a new milestone in the journey of excellence pursued by the UAE in general and Dubai in particular, with the opening of the world's largest Visa Application Centre, located in the heart of Dubai, a city that continuously redefines innovation."This achievement embodies a true reflection of the directives of our wise leadership towards strengthening the nation's position as a global hub for smart services and establishing a unique model for delivering government services with high efficiency and quality.'Zubin Karkaria, in turn, said, 'Operating in the UAE since 2004, our journey has been defined by our unwavering commitment and a deep-rooted connection with this dynamic nation and its visionary leadership. In these two decades, we have witnessed the spectacular growth and development of the UAE to become a preeminent global hub of business, thought leadership, technology development and innovation. In line with the rapid development of Dubai, today we are pleased to launch the world's largest Visa Application Centre, serving over 200 nationalities.' At nearly 150,000 square feet, the centre is equipped to handle up to 10,000 visa applications daily – a capacity that stands as the highest for any single location – and is supported by a skilled and diverse team of over 400 trained professionals from more than 25 nationalities.
