UAE leverages AI across sectors to accelerate digital transformation

In a recent meeting of the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to employing artificial intelligence (AI) in various fields. Al Olama stated that under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE is embracing AI solutions and tools to expedite the digital transformation process and enhance performance standards.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in Dubai, was attended by members of the council, including representatives from government entities across different sectors. Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Director-General of the Department of eGovernment – Sharjah Government, Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Head of the E-Government in Fujairah, and other influential figures were present.

During the meeting, Al Olama emphasized the UAE government’s focus on keeping up with global advancements in order to proactively address opportunities and challenges. The UAE aims to foster collaboration among diverse government entities and leverage digital best practices and technological potential to create innovative models that contribute to a sustainable economy.

The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain is currently in the second phase of its work, which involves adopting AI initiatives in government entities, developing AI systems, and enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness in priority sectors. The council aims to deploy AI-powered customer services to improve well-being, enhance performance, and establish an effective legislative and regulatory environment.

Several committees within the council addressed specific areas of focus. The Energy Committee reviewed projects related to the unified data platform and the centralization of federal and local authorities. The Transportation and Logistics Committee examined the development of self-driving vehicles, while the Foreign Trade Committee discussed the UAE’s foreign trade smart program, which incorporates AI features to predict the future of the trade sector while ensuring data security.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of data sharing and highlighted efforts to unify initiatives within the environment and sustainability sector, in line with the UAE’s commitment to the Year of Sustainability 2023.

Additionally, the Industry Committee announced the completion of various projects aimed at promoting industrial sector growth. The Health Committee focused on enhancing health and smart services, including the “Tatmeen” platform, which facilitates coordination between the government and private sectors for efficient tracking of medicines. The Blockchain Committee worked on educating the community about government services provided through digital wallets, while the Data Sharing Committee and the AI-powered Educational System Committee discussed AI development and collaborative research in the field of AI.

The Artificial Intelligence Adoption Committee presented the latest statistics on AI initiatives in government services and discussed the unified Chatbot platform, which utilizes AI technology.

The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, established in 2018 and re-formed in 2021, continues to drive AI utilization efforts, develop blockchain technology, and positively impact society through innovative and effective work models.