Mohammed bin Rashid says promoting digital economy is next priority
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said that the next priority of the UAE is to increase the contribution of digital economy in the national economy, and to promote smart infrastructure of the nation, as well as enhance the digital readiness of the UAE government to ensure business continuity regardless the circumstances.
Sheikh Mohammed also said digital economy is a key catalyst for the growth and development of new economic sectors, and increase our international competitiveness and in the economy of the future.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he reviewed future work plans of Ministry of State for Digital Economy, AI and Remote Working Applications, in term of AI, digital economy, and remote work applications, as the country gear up to develop government work post COVID-19, given the importance of digital economy and smart application in managing businesses and supply chains locally and internationally.
Sheikh Mohammed said that digital economy’s contribution to local GDP in 2019 reached 4.3%, where a dedicated minister was appointed to handle this subject and double the number. “Digital economy proved its importance and efficiency during the pandemic,” His Highness said. “Digital economy doesn’t require huge infrastructure or huge financial resources, as it requires brighter minds.”
Sheikh Mohammed also said that the future holds many changes in the domain of healthcare, education and commerce, where have to be ready for it starting from today.
The meeting of AI and digital economy and remote work applications was attended by Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Al Gergawi; Minister of State for Government Development and The Future, Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi; and Under-Secretary for Government Coordination Department, Rashid Saeed Al Amri.
During the meeting, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications, briefed His Highness about plans if the ministry, which seeks to develop tools and infrastructure to further promote the UAE leadership in this domain.
Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, presented a comprehensive plan that focusses on employing future opportunities and offers the tools and infrastructure to support the UAE’s leadership in foreseeing and preparing for global changes.
"The UAE government is leading globally in the field of digital economy. The main importance of this sector is its capacity to create new job opportunities and increase economic and investment opportunities, as well as its significant contribution to ensuring economic diversification and achieving sustainable development, which will help reinforce the UAE’s leading position in all international competitiveness indexes," Al Olama said.
He added that the digital economy includes all economic activities and government services that depend on the use of digital technology, especially e-commerce, cryptocurrencies, financial platforms, asset digitisation, communication services networks, crypto products, programmes and cloud computing technologies, noting that it accounted for 4.3 percent of the UAE’s GDP last year and will contribute a larger percentage next year.
Al Olama stressed that plans for the digital economy sector will focus on creating a financial cooperation economy, freelance economy, digital markets, sharing economy, digital content economy, and information and data economy.
He also discussed the topic of teleworking applications, which was added to the new structure of the government for the post-COVID-19 period as part of the AI portfolio, stating, "It is highly important to employ teleworking applications to achieve the vision of the leadership to improve governance flexibility and create an infrastructure that will ensure productivity, efficiency and employee performance in the public and private sectors."
He then presented the key tasks and future goals of teleworking applications, which include reducing the organisational costs of public and private entities, creating remote job opportunities and improving the level of government and private services and making them available around the clock.
Al Olama stressed that the UAE gained successful experiences in the fast and flexible shift to teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic and the employment of advanced technologies, in addition to utilising its advanced infrastructure to facilitate remote learning while highlighting its telemedicine experience, which provides access to various health services for members of the community.
During the meeting, Al Olama explained the details of key national AI projects and initiatives, as well as the main achievements of the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and its phases of implementation, in addition to the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.
The UAE, due to the vision of its leadership, has succeeded in attaining pioneering global experiences in foreseeing the future and employing modern innovations and future technologies, in partnership with prominent global research centres, universities, global technology firms and small and medium-sized enterprises from both inside and outside the country, he said in conclusion.
Sheikh Mohammed also said digital economy is a key catalyst for the growth and development of new economic sectors, and increase our international competitiveness and in the economy of the future.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he reviewed future work plans of Ministry of State for Digital Economy, AI and Remote Working Applications, in term of AI, digital economy, and remote work applications, as the country gear up to develop government work post COVID-19, given the importance of digital economy and smart application in managing businesses and supply chains locally and internationally.
Sheikh Mohammed said that digital economy’s contribution to local GDP in 2019 reached 4.3%, where a dedicated minister was appointed to handle this subject and double the number. “Digital economy proved its importance and efficiency during the pandemic,” His Highness said. “Digital economy doesn’t require huge infrastructure or huge financial resources, as it requires brighter minds.”
Sheikh Mohammed also said that the future holds many changes in the domain of healthcare, education and commerce, where have to be ready for it starting from today.
The meeting of AI and digital economy and remote work applications was attended by Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Al Gergawi; Minister of State for Government Development and The Future, Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi; and Under-Secretary for Government Coordination Department, Rashid Saeed Al Amri.
During the meeting, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work applications, briefed His Highness about plans if the ministry, which seeks to develop tools and infrastructure to further promote the UAE leadership in this domain.
Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, presented a comprehensive plan that focusses on employing future opportunities and offers the tools and infrastructure to support the UAE’s leadership in foreseeing and preparing for global changes.
"The UAE government is leading globally in the field of digital economy. The main importance of this sector is its capacity to create new job opportunities and increase economic and investment opportunities, as well as its significant contribution to ensuring economic diversification and achieving sustainable development, which will help reinforce the UAE’s leading position in all international competitiveness indexes," Al Olama said.
He added that the digital economy includes all economic activities and government services that depend on the use of digital technology, especially e-commerce, cryptocurrencies, financial platforms, asset digitisation, communication services networks, crypto products, programmes and cloud computing technologies, noting that it accounted for 4.3 percent of the UAE’s GDP last year and will contribute a larger percentage next year.
Al Olama stressed that plans for the digital economy sector will focus on creating a financial cooperation economy, freelance economy, digital markets, sharing economy, digital content economy, and information and data economy.
He also discussed the topic of teleworking applications, which was added to the new structure of the government for the post-COVID-19 period as part of the AI portfolio, stating, "It is highly important to employ teleworking applications to achieve the vision of the leadership to improve governance flexibility and create an infrastructure that will ensure productivity, efficiency and employee performance in the public and private sectors."
He then presented the key tasks and future goals of teleworking applications, which include reducing the organisational costs of public and private entities, creating remote job opportunities and improving the level of government and private services and making them available around the clock.
Al Olama stressed that the UAE gained successful experiences in the fast and flexible shift to teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic and the employment of advanced technologies, in addition to utilising its advanced infrastructure to facilitate remote learning while highlighting its telemedicine experience, which provides access to various health services for members of the community.
During the meeting, Al Olama explained the details of key national AI projects and initiatives, as well as the main achievements of the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and its phases of implementation, in addition to the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.
The UAE, due to the vision of its leadership, has succeeded in attaining pioneering global experiences in foreseeing the future and employing modern innovations and future technologies, in partnership with prominent global research centres, universities, global technology firms and small and medium-sized enterprises from both inside and outside the country, he said in conclusion.
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