Latest news with #RubaAlHassan
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: How AI is hiring employees, cutting processing time from hours to minutes
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future ambition for Abu Dhabi's public sector — it's already changing how government employees are hired, trained, and evaluated. In its newly released Emerging Trends Report in Talent Management 2024–2040, the Department of Government Enablement (DGE) outlines 16 major trends expected to transform the future of work. But several of them are already in motion. 'We piloted it, it worked, and we rolled it out,' said Ruba Al Hassan, Director General of Strategic Affairs and Future Foresight at DGE, during a media roundtable on Wednesday. 'Why should we do things the old way?' AI now screens CVs, predicts resignations, and writes your goals. One of the report's boldest insights, automated recruitment and predictive attrition, is already being piloted by Abu Dhabi government entities. 'You post a vacancy and get 2,000 applications,' said Al Hassan. 'HR isn't looking through them. But AI can. You feed it your criteria, bilingual, specific background… and it gives you your top ten.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. She said the technology also assesses which candidates are most likely to stay. 'It doesn't just help you hire; it helps you think about how to retain them.' Meanwhile, DGE's AI Objective Builder is already streamlining performance planning across government departments. 'It knows your job description and tells you if your goals are specific, targeted, realistic,' she said. 'It's tied into your role, your team's plan, and your KPIs.' Instead of spending days on mid-year reviews, she said, 'This cycle took me minutes to approve 20 objectives. Before, it took hours and back-and-forth.' Annual performance reviews are moving away from traditional, rigid performance metrics, shows the report. It is transitioning to a more fluid, dialogue-based ongoing approach. 'The future is about constant conversations, not static numbers. Your boss doesn't need to drop a rating on you once a year,' said Al Hassan. 'We already see AI making that shift possible.' Work becoming a game To boost engagement, DGE has introduced gamification in its internal learning app Tomouh, which awards points, stars, and leaderboard rankings based on employees' progress. 'It's personalised; it greets you, nudges you, suggests courses,' said Al Hassan. 'It talks to you like a person, like 'welcome back. You've been away a few days.'' She said the format works especially well with younger employees Gamification is also being tested in public services. Through TAMM's Snap and Report feature, residents can earn points for reporting potholes, fallen trees, and other issues. 'That tiny tweak — a leaderboard, made the whole system more active.' VR replacing PowerPoints Another concept from the report already in use: immersive learning via VR. 'Abu Dhabi Police have had a VR training centre since 2022,' Al Hassan said. 'I did a VR innovation course with INSEAD — we were solving problems together in space.' She said traditional training formats are losing relevance. 'No matter how good the PowerPoint is, nothing compares to actually feeling the experience. You remember it. You live it.' What can you actually do? The report flags a growing shift from degrees to skills. Al Hassan said this trend is already influencing hiring decisions. 'You've got to show what you can actually do,' she explained. 'Can you think strategically? Solve problems? Bring ideas? I don't just want a comms expert - I want someone who thinks beyond their job title.' She added that employers are now looking for 'neo-generalists' - professionals who can combine deep knowledge with adaptability and creativity. AI is also starting to play a role in staff well-being — offering tools for workload management, flexible schedules, and burnout prevention. 'This isn't just about yoga memberships,' said Al Hassan. 'It's about designing work to fit people's lives.' So, instead of spending hours doing mundane tasks that a worker hates – like reading dozens of emails. She gave an example of how AI can summarise those emails and pinpoint the main lines that need action, 'I would still reply to them myself.' She said AI even read out her emails while she is driving. 'It is giving me time back, and I can use that time to do the things I love, like brainstorming with my team.' While several trends are already in use, DGE clarified that the report is not a blueprint to follow rigidly. Some trends, such as flat, team-led organisational models or early retirement in one's 30s, are seen as 'wildcards' or weak signals, worth watching, but not guaranteed. 'We're not saying everything in here will happen,' said Al Hassan. 'It's about testing what makes sense and being ready to pivot,' she concluded.
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
UAE workplaces tipped to embrace 'gamification' in effort to boost productivity
The UAE is primed to " gamify ' the workplace to foster healthy competition and increase productivity as part of a vision for the office of tomorrow. A new report has highlighted how the trend – where leader boards, competitions and achievement badges are used to improve job satisfaction and achieve better results – could reshape the workplace by 2040. The study also predicts that 'extended reality (XR)', referring to immersive technologies, could reduce demands for conventional office environments, while artificial intelligence could be used to assess staff. It also pinpoints the rise of 'early retirees' – where employees in their 30s and 40s are opting out of traditional career paths in pursuit of greater freedom. These are some of the predictions in the major report issued on Thursday by Abu Dhabi's Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE). It forecasts significant changes in how people will work by 2040 – influenced by the rise of artificial intelligence. Switched on to the future Ruba Al Hassan, director general of strategic affairs and future foresight at DGE, said they were already seeing gamification of the workplace and immersive learning. 'They're happening now,' Ms Al Hassan told The National. 'It's not a distant 2040 future.' The Emerging trends report in talent Management (2024–2040) highlights 16 global disruptive shifts but also helps governments and employers respond to the challenges. One of the interesting findings among the 16, said Ms Al Hassan, was the rise of the 'neo-generalist' – someone who can blend expertise with broad knowledge across multiple fields and become a big-picture thinker. 'It is about people becoming more adaptable to think about things that they don't usually,' she said. Aside from the "gamifying the workplace' trend that taps "into natural human tendencies for competition and achievement by converting work tasks into game-like challenges' another is the rise of AI in recruitment. Interview robots, for example, can assess candidates' skills while reducing bias in gender, age and appearance. AI-powered background checks could also minimise bias, while it could also be used to help companies promote the best candidate. The rise of AI is dominating conversations across the world and the subject of many headlines, but Ms Al Hassan said it was her opinion that its potential was 'under-hyped'. 'I remember when I was in college when everybody started using the internet and how fast it happened overnight,' he said. 'This has been faster,' she said. 'You've seen the numbers on the users of ChatGPT. 'If we figure out how best to use it, you can capitalise on its full potential and that means people's full potential will be realised.' Another finding on the office predicted that the rise of virtual reality, augmented reality, and holographic technologies will enhance remote collaboration and 'could potentially render traditional office spaces obsolete'. The return to the office has been a lively conversation since wholesale work from home practices became common during the Covid-19 pandemic. A separate report from Michael Page this week showed that despite economic uncertainty, 77 per cent of UAE professionals are "actively exploring' new job opportunities, compared to 65 per cent in 2024. The "growing pressure to return to the office could be a tipping point', the Michael Page report said. Further predictions include an increase in demand for data scientists; potential levies on companies utilising AI and automation that could fund income for people if they no longer need to work and waning relevance of some higher education degrees in favour of practical experience. Speaking broadly about changes sweeping workplaces, Ms Al Hassan said every breakthrough in technology – from printing press to the radio to the TV – came with the discussions about whether it would take over something but people still listened to radio and TV still exists and it was about adapting. 'We're a government that has its eye on the future,' she said. 'Not because we're sitting there saying 'I need to predict this or that', but because we want to be part of building it. That's … what we're trying to do. 'What can we get out of this new technology to make people's lives better?' The study, meanwhile, draws on the 'futures platform' – a tool used by governments, corporations and research institutions to track more than 1,000 signals of change across industries. It combines these insights with DGE's internal analysis. DGE, established in 2023 to lead the digital transformation for the Abu Dhabi Government, is already applying its findings such as using AI to reduce attrition and to reimagine career paths to stay competitive, it said. Ms Al Hassan said she was optimistic about the rise of this kind of technology once it was done right and ethically with correct guardrails and policies that focus on people. 'I'm very optimistic that this is going to be great for us.'
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Paying fines, getting licence in Abu Dhabi: How Tamm simplifies online services
At the heart of Abu Dhabi, the Tamm Factory is revolutionising how over 1,000 public and private services are delivered — conveniently accessible through a single app. As the headquarters of the emirate's unified government services platform, Tamm is redefining the way citizens and residents interact with government. Stepping inside, the layout is anything but conventional. Teams are gathered in circular clusters around their screens, while huge digital dashboards display real-time metrics on user behaviour, technical performance, and customer satisfaction. The atmosphere is alive with energy, just like that of a busy beehive. 'It's kind of like a honey hive,' said Dr Mohamed Al Askar, Director-General of Tamm. 'Each section has its own team, responsible for a core function. This setup lets us be proactive and act quickly —fixing issues in real time and ensuring our customers are not just satisfied, but delighted.' This emphasis on delight over mere satisfaction is central to Tamm's philosophy, noted Ruba Al Hassan, Director General of Strategic Affairs and Future Foresight. Thanks to real-time monitoring, the team can spot and resolve issues before users even report them. That the team does not wait for complaints. "We are more proactive, more integrated with the entire system," Ruba said. 'It's like monitoring a patient with connected medical devices — the doctor sees the data and can take immediate action.' Seamless government services Tamm's journey began in 2005, when UAE President Sheikh Mohamed initiated the first government service centre in Al Dhafra. The goal: spare residents a 250km trip to Abu Dhabi for routine paperwork. Initially a physical one-stop shop, Tamm transitioned to a digital platform following the launch of the emirate's e-government strategy in 2006. What distinguishes Tamm today is the seamless integration of government services, a design philosophy deeply embedded into its tech-driven infrastructure. 'Tamm is all about destroying the barrier between different government entities to provide a seamless experience that is effortless for our customers,' described Dr Al Askar. The workspace itself mirrors this openness — there are no closed doors, only open spaces that encourage collaboration and speed. 'Everybody can talk with each other; you can walk up to anybody here, ask him for something, and things move faster.' AI at the heart of service At the centre of the facility lies an oval-shaped hub: Tamm's AI team, deliberately placed at the heart of operations. 'It was kind of symbolic for us,' said Dr Al Askar. 'We want to emphasise that AI is at the heart (of everything). We design every service from the beginning with AI in mind.' This commitment to AI has attracted international interest. In January, Microsoft President Brad Smith toured the facility. Weeks later, he mentioned Tamm during a US Senate hearing, citing it as a model for tech-powered governance. A Touch of Humanity But for all its technological sophistication, it's the human element that truly sets TAMM apart. One flight up, in a sleek, circular glass room, sits the TAMM Care and Advocacy Team — described by Ruba as 'the soul of the operation.' Unlike conventional call centres, this team acts proactively. 'We created the team about a year and a half ago,' said Dr. Al Askar. 'They reach out before you even ask for help.' Meanwhile, Ruba Al Hassan shared a personal experience that perfectly illustrated Tamm's proactive approach. 'One morning, my husband mentioned I had received a radar ticket,' she recalled. 'Just minutes later, someone from the Tamm Care and Advocacy Team called to inform me that the radar in question appeared to be issuing an unusually high number of tickets. They offered to file an appeal on my behalf." That unexpected act of support, she said, embodied what Tamm strives for: not just meeting expectations, but creating moments of customer delight — a core principle that defines the platform's culture. Intuitive design, inclusive access User experience is another key pillar of Tamm's success. The platform is designed to be visually appealing yet highly intuitive, whether you're tech-savvy or using it for the first time. To report an issue, users simply need to shake their phones. A screenshot is instantly created and submitted. Tamm's AI-powered chatbot, activated via a falcon icon, can answer queries or perform tasks directly. Users always have the option to connect with a human agent. Special care is given to senior citizens and people of determination, who receive priority access and enhanced support. International recognition on the horizon TAMM's innovations have not gone unnoticed. The platform is currently competing for a prestigious United Nations award, standing alongside some of the world's most advanced tech systems. Reflecting on TAMM's evolution, Ruba shared, 'It's taken nearly 20 years to get here, and yet we still feel like we're just beginning.'
