18 September 2024, Wed |
1:15 AM
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy, attended the inaugural Dubai AI & Web3 Festival. This two-day event, organized by the Dubai AI Campus in collaboration with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, has drawn over 6,800 business leaders and industry experts.
The festival, which runs until September 12, aims to solidify Dubai’s standing as a global leader in AI innovation. Sheikh Hamdan toured the venue, visiting over 100 exhibitor pavilions showcasing emerging technologies. His Highness emphasized the significance of the festival as a pioneering platform for technological advancement in the region.
Accompanying Sheikh Hamdan were Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC; and Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority.
Essa Kazim, in his opening keynote address, highlighted the profound impact of AI across various sectors, including healthcare, education, manufacturing, transportation, and financial services. “The transformative power of AI is evident across a wide range of economic sectors and applications,” Kazim said. He also outlined DIFC’s role in establishing Dubai as a global hub for technology and announced that the Dubai AI & Web3 Festival is set to become one of the world’s largest industry events, aiming to attract over 30,000 delegates annually by 2027.
Kazim introduced Challenge X, a new platform designed to advance AI globally. This digital community will host competitions for data scientists and machine learning enthusiasts, offering a stage for showcasing skills and fostering collaboration.
The festival features a stellar lineup of speakers, including Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, Founder and CEO of KBW Ventures; Faisal Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Chamber; Khalfan Behoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation; and international figures such as Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation of Ghana, and Maja Pantic, Generative AI Research Director at Meta.
Global industry leaders also in attendance include Adel Ahmad Al Redha, Deputy President and COO of Emirates Airline; Caroline Yap, Global Managing Director of AI Business and Applied Engineering at Google Cloud; and Younus Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment.
A recent PwC report forecasts that by 2030, the Middle East will gain US$320 billion in AI-related benefits, with the UAE leading the charge, followed by Saudi Arabia.
