Latest news with #Olama
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE Government launches Chief AI Officers' Training Programme to enhance future tech leadership
1 June 2025 14:44 DUBAI (WAM)In line with the UAE's ongoing efforts to enhance its position as a global hub for developing future technologies, the UAE Government has launched the Chief AI Officers' Training by the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, the programme is held in collaboration with the University of Birmingham in initiative aims to upskill and empower AI leaders across federal government entities, ensuring sustained progress in adopting and developing smart represents a strategic move to enhance government readiness, fast-track advanced technology integration, and reinforce the UAE's global leadership in artificial Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated that investing in leadership is essential to building a sustainable and innovation-driven future."Empowering leaders with the right tools and knowledge drives a culture of positive transformation, fuels national ambitions, and empowers leaders capable of driving innovation and proactively shaping future opportunities,' he Olama added that the UAE Government remains committed to nurturing national talent, and creating a competitive, innovation-led ecosystem rooted in technology and sustainable development, which are key pillars that support the UAE's vision for global two-week executive training programme combines academic theory with practical experience. It equips Chief AI Officers with a deep understanding of the latest AI trends, governance models, and sector-specific applications, empowering them to lead transformative projects within their respective curriculum also covers ethical, regulatory, and technical considerations related to AI implementation, while fostering innovative thinking and strategic by a world-class international experts and academics, the programme enhances dialogue between UAE AI executives and global thought leaders to exchange insights and best engage in intensive modules covering the fundamentals and frontiers of AI, including governance, generative AI, machine learning, big data, and economics of AI. Sessions also explore real-world use cases in key sectors such as health, cybersecurity, energy, urban development, government services, and Chief AI Officers were nominated following the UAE Cabinet's approval, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to formally establish the role across federal ministries and government was based on candidates' ability to navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape, and their readiness to integrate AI into government operations. This initiative aligns with the goals of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and the broader "We the UAE 2031" vision, which seeks to position the UAE at the forefront of global AI and digital transformation.
Entrepreneur
20-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
ICYMI: The Inaugural 'Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit' Revives the Discourse on Ethical and Responsible AI Development
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Ethics in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), cross-border data governance, cybersecurity resilience, and post-quantum security were among the major topics of conversation during the inaugural Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit (GETS 2025), which was held in Abu Dhabi from May 5-6, 2025. Launched under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the event was organized by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) in strategic partnership with the UAE Public Prosecution. The first-of-its-kind regional convention brought together 1,000 participants from more than 20 countries —including policymakers, legal experts, technologists, and youth leaders— with an aim to clearly define the frameworks for responsible governance of advanced technologies. Noteworthy dignitaries among the many high-level attendees at GETS 2025 included the Attorney General of Qatar, the Attorney General of Egypt, and the Deputy Attorney General of Oman. The two-day event put a spotlight on the UAE's position as a leading force in shaping responsible, inclusive, and forward-looking technology governance. That sentiment was perhpas most evident during a keynote speech from Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. While addressing the audience, Olama underscored the UAE's early investment in building a national AI ecosystem that prioritises flexibility, responsibility, and competitiveness. "Guided by visionary leadership, the UAE recognised early on the importance of artificial intelligence and the need to shape its future through bold action and responsible governance," he said. "We have mobilised national capabilities, enacted forward-looking regulatory frameworks, and launched pioneering initiatives to stay ahead of rapid transformations and enhance our global competitiveness. The UAE's approach is rooted in flexibility, global collaboration, and the development of technologies that empower societies and drive responsible innovation. This summit reflects our national commitment, providing a global platform to advance policy dialogue and build a balanced international framework for governing advanced technologies." Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications at GETS 2025. Image source: GETS Olama's emphasise on innovating responsibly had earlier been highlighted by UAE Attorney General Chancellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, who decalred that "innovation without ethics is incomplete," during his keynote address. "And the future of emerging technologies must be guided not only by advancement, but by a higher purpose—serving humanity and society," he added. Dr. Al Shamsi's words hold added gravitas in the added knowledge that, during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos earlier this year, the UAE government and WEF jointly launched the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (GRIP)- a platform that aims to understand, evaluate, and design human-centered legislation that serves communities in an era of rapid technological and digital advancements. During a high-level dialogue, Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology and Secretary-General of ATRC, reiterated this purpose-driven approach towards innovation by stating that, "Tech organisations must take some responsibility for the technologies they release. It cannot be that they issue it and let society deal with the consequences. This requires strong, ongoing collaboration between technology players and regulators." Backing up this conversation was Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet, who also shed light on the UAE's long-term vision for governance. "Embedding responsible technology governance into national policy is not a short-term ambition," Al Hammadi declared. "It is part of a broader commitment to shaping agile institutions, forward-looking legislation, and resilient societies capable of navigating the complexities of the digital age." Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet at GETS 2025. Image source: GETS Indeed, the notion that the right governance policies will eventually trickle into other entities in the UAE's wider business landscape was vividly pointed out by Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, when she spoke about the critical role of AI in preparing future generations. During a panel discussion —which saw Al Amiri being joined by experts from fMohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abundance Studio, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lameen Abdul-Malik— she noted that fundamental technological transformations, particularly within AI, require accelerated efforts to prepare students and empower them with the necessary tools to contribute to the advancement of society. This, she added, also requires establishing ethical frameworks related to these technologies, enabling them to maximize their benefits and applications in daily life. "Integrating AI concepts and tools into academic curriculum represents a strategic investment in building more resilient societies prepared for the demands of the future," Al Amiri said, adding that that the education system in the UAE has worked to incorporate AI into its curricula, in a bid to stay future ready while also staying committed to anticipating the global education shifts and trends. Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education at GETS 2025. Image source: GETS Similar sector-specific sessions delved into the role of AI in healthcare, civil defence, education, creative industries, and manufacturing. During one such session, Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary of the Health Regulations Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), along with representatives from NMC Healthcare and the Al Dhafra Youth Council, examined how governance frameworks must keep pace with the deployment of AI in clinical environments to ensure data protection and improved patient outcomes. In a separate session, leaders from Honeywell, BP, AIQ, and Coders Launchpad discussed the industrial transformation underway through smart manufacturing, and the safeguards needed to ensure responsible and secure deployment. Separately, in a key session titled "From Vision to Empowerment: The Roadmap to Justice 2030", Chancellor Salem Ali Al Zaabi, Head of Public Prosecution at the Office of the UAE Attorney General, presented the UAE Public Prosecution's Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030. The strategy aims to enhance efficiency in the justice system, support decision-makers, and improve service quality—while upholding the highest ethical and legal standards. Insights on creative sector governance were also shared at GETS 2025, as speakers from the National Library and Archives, Byteplus, and Lune Technologies addressed the risks and rights associated with generative AI and digital content ownership. With global reccomendations being shared over the course of the two days, the Summit also witnessed calls for a global charter on human-AI interaction that integrates ethics and equity into innovation from the outset, discourse on the need to empower youth in shaping governance, and multiple talks on prioritising digital trust and cybersecurity as national imperatives. Notable sessions included those by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), co-founder of Binance and Giggle Academy, who explored how regulatory systems can evolve to meet the demands of a decentralized Web3 landscape; and Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute, who highlighted the dual imperative of innovation and resilience in an era shaped by AI and quantum disruption. GETS 2025 also brought post-quantum readiness and next-generation encryption to the forefront, with experts pushing for the pivotal need for early data audits, encryption upgrades, and alignment with post-quantum standards. The Summit also spotlighted digital inclusion and linguistic equality in AI, advocating for increased investment in local datasets, digital literacy, and AI accessibility to bridge global and language divides. Regional and global experts also explored the cyberrisks that are innate to emerging technologies and emphasized the need for coordinated action among governments, technology developers, and society to build a fairer, more secure digital future.
Al Etihad
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Al Etihad
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAEV host 3rd EV Majlis
22 Apr 2025 11:05 ABU DHABI (WAM) The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), in cooperation with UAEV - a joint venture between MoEI and Etihad Water and Electricity to provide fast and accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the UAE - on Monday hosted the 3rd EV Majlis, which drew the participation of leading global EV for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI and Chairman of UAEV, Sharif Al Olama, headed the Majlis, during which he highlighted the latest developments in the EV ecosystem, including cutting-edge technologies and sustainable transport infrastructure shared key challenges they face and proposed solutions, such as aligning criteria and expanding EV charging also shared their visions for accelerating the adoption of EVs, in line with the UAE's net-zero by 2050 Olama underscored that the EV Majlis is a strategic platform that drives synergies between the public the private sectors to accelerate the shift to sustainable said, 'The UAE is strongly committed to developing the sustainable transport ecosystem and increasing the penetration of EVs. Through the EV Majlis, the Ministry is building an environment conducive to cooperation and experience sharing, which can help us overcome challenges and establish a more efficient and sustainable mobility sector. The Ministry is dedicated to enhancing the UAE's competitiveness in the electric mobility sector through developing national policies, leveraging smart charging technologies, and forging strategic partnerships with the private sector.'
Al Etihad
21-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
94% of UAE businesses see AI as key driver of growth
22 Apr 2025 00:31 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (Abu Dhabi) A new survey shows near-universal optimism about artificial intelligence among UAE businesses, with 94% of enterprises saying they believe AI will be a key driver of future growth, and 47% expecting significant returns on their investments within one to two YouGov survey, commissioned by enterprise solutions firm, SAP, also found that 97% of UAE IT decision-makers are confident in using AI-driven insights to guide critical business decisions. With 72% of respondents saying they were 'very confident,' which Marwan Zeineddine, Managing Director of SAP UAE, said reflected a growing trust in AI's ability to support strategic planning.'AI is already delivering tangible business value, and the UAE market is clearly ready to embrace its potential,' Zeineddine said. 'The survey shows that businesses recognise AI as a key driver of growth, but unlocking its full value requires the right strategies.' According to the survey, 76% of UAE companies are already using industry-specific AI solutions tailored to their operations, a statistic which reflects the evolving nature of AI from a hype-led trend to a digital reality within the workplace. A total of 58% of survey respondents said they were planning to invest in data consolidation and quality improvement initiatives over the next 12 months, a prerequisite for effective AI application. The results were released in conjunction with the SAP NOW AI Tour, held on April 16 at the Dubai Expo Centre ahead of Dubai AI Week which will bring together over 180 speakers across more than 150 sessions to discuss AI best practice. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, opened AI Retreat on Monday declaring that the country would continue its journey to become a world-leading AI centric economy. 'Every single company that's going to be in our digital economy, moving forward, needs to be an AI-first company,' Olama said. In a wide-ranging speech, Olama made the case for the responsible and productive implementation of AI, calling on all segments of society both public and private to work to ensure their work is focused on improving people's lives first and foremost. 'For those of you who have flown from around the world and have come to the UAE, you might have used the smart gates in Dubai airport, and that is an exceptional use of artificial intelligence that improves quality of life,' he said. 'That is the AI we want in the UAE, and that is the AI we think is done right, it's AI that is frictionless, it's AI that you don't feel is AI, and it's Ai that improves your quality of life overall.' Olama also highlighted that 325 companies had been awarded Dubai's AI Seal, a new certification that distinguishes firms offering secure and responsible AI solutions. 'We want to know who's really building best-in-class AI in the UAE, and who's simply repackaging open-source models,' he said, underscoring the need for transparency and quality in AI innovation.
Al Etihad
08-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Artificial Intelligence Programme launches 6th cohort in partnership with University of Birmingham
8 Apr 2025 13:22 DUBAI (WAM) The UAE National Programme for Artificial Intelligence has launched the sixth cohort of the Artificial Intelligence Programme, aimed at supporting the UAE government's strategic vision and efforts to build a future that enhances the UAE's leadership in the global technology is achieved by empowering exceptional national talent, equipping them with the latest tools and knowledge, and providing opportunities to explore key global trends in artificial intelligence and generative by the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with the University of Birmingham in the UK, the sixth cohort will run from May to September programme focuses on deepening technical expertise and targets employees from government entities, semi-government organisations, and the private sector. It aims to empower participants in the field of AI by refining their skills in advanced technology of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Omar Sultan Al Olama, emphasised that the UAE government's vision is focused on shaping the future with the expertise and innovation of its distinguished national workforce. This talent pool is skilled in advanced and emerging technologies, with artificial intelligence being a core foundation in the UAE's digital Olama emphasised that the UAE's Artificial Intelligence Programme is a key component of the nation's strategy to drive future growth. This initiative is a testament to the UAE's commitment to empowering its talents to take the lead in shaping the digital future. By nurturing innovation and forward-thinking, the programme strengthens the UAE's position ahead of global technological trends and fosters groundbreaking solutions for the challenges programme aims to introduce participants to the concepts of artificial intelligence and generative AI, along with their rapid global advancements. It addresses future challenges and opportunities relevant to participants' roles and areas of work, highlights trends in AI adoption, explores the application of large language models, and outlines mechanisms for developing solutions to security-related programme's five modules include an introduction to artificial intelligence, generative AI, data strategies for machine learning, studies on generative models, and the implementation of generative AI technologies. It aspires to empower a generation of innovators capable of designing the digital future, steering the course of global technological progress, embracing forward-looking visions, and enhancing the readiness of top talent to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial sixth edition of the programme includes a distinguished group of global experts as part of its academic faculty, including Professor Nigel Mehdi, BSc MA MSc PhD FRICS FBCS Fellow of Kellogg College, University of Oxford; Professor Kashif Rajpoot, MSc, DPhil, SFHEA Deputy Head of Computer Science, University of Birmingham; Dr. David Johnson, BSc MSc PhD Associate Professor of Information Systems, Uppsala University, Sweden; and Dr. Farah Shamout, BSc DPhil Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering, NYU, Abu Dhabi. Employees from government, semi-government, and private sector entities interested in joining the programme can register through the following link: The AI programme has graduated over 370 employees from more than 100 government and private sector organisations across previous cohorts. These graduates hold leadership roles, including the Chief AI Officer role, which was established recently by the UAE government. Graduates also contributed to the development of innovative AI projects. The programme has provided participants with the opportunity to strengthen their skills and enhance their performance across different sectors, leveraging the UAE's advanced technological infrastructure.
