UAE: A World Within a Country, Says Al Olama

Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Deputy Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation, emphasized today that the UAE has transcended the conventional notion of a country and has evolved into a world within itself. This transformation, he attributed to the visionary leadership of the country’s founding fathers.

Speaking at the Dubai Future Forum, Al Olama underscored the inherent trait of Emiratis to design the future. He highlighted the UAE’s ability to shape the future through confident and human-centric visions initiated by the founding fathers and continued by the current leadership. According to him, the UAE stands as a global exemplar for future design and a beacon of hope in the region.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, Al Olama described the UAE as a space that fosters creativity and empowers individuals, institutions, business sectors, and societies to realize their aspirations.

Reflecting on the UAE’s journey since its founding in 1971, Al Olama highlighted the unity principle of the founding fathers, who aimed to shape the future for generations to come and empower the people of the UAE. He provided examples such as the development of Port Rashid, emphasizing the country’s transformative progress.

Discussing the UAE’s commitment to a future powered by renewable energy, Al Olama credited the visionary energy transition led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. He asserted that the UAE not only envisions the future but actively designs and accelerates it.

Al Olama also delved into the UAE’s space program, emphasizing how achievements like the Hope Probe mission to Mars showcase the capability of Middle Eastern youth to create hope and shape the future.

Addressing the influx of talent in recent years, Al Olama emphasized the critical role of talent and knowledge in creating the future. He stated that empowering young people is key to shaping the future they aspire to.

Touching on the UAE’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Al Olama highlighted pioneering initiatives to provide digital education for children and young people, including the Arab Reading Challenge, a crucial initiative in preparing future generations.

Summing up, Al Olama described the Dubai Future Forum as a platform gathering the brightest minds and foresight experts to discuss various aspects of designing the future. He expressed anticipation for the forum to be a platform for those dedicated to imagining, designing, and implementing a prosperous future for the world.

The second Dubai Future Forum, scheduled for November 27-28, features over 150 speakers engaging in 70 dialogue sessions, keynote speeches, and workshops covering topics such as space, sustainability, environment, energy, food, health, medicine, education, technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy, governance, and more.