Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Director of AI Cross-Center Unit at AI and Digital Science Research Center at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute.
Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Director of AI Cross-Center Unit at AI and Digital Science Research Center at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute.
Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Director of AI Cross-Center Unit at AI and Digital Science Research Center at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute.
Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Director of AI Cross-Center Unit at AI and Digital Science Research Center at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute.

UAE's future economy is well positioned to benefit from AI


Alvin R Cabral
  • English
  • Arabic

The development of artificial intelligence systems will be a boon for the future economy.

But it needs to keep to legal and ethical standards to prevent its misuse to protect users and organisations, a senior official at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) said.

The momentum of AI development further complicates matters because current privacy and security regulations and standards often do not account for AI capabilities, Ebtesam Almazrouei, director of the TII AI and Digital Science Research Centre's AI cross-centre unit, told The National in an interview.

Protecting data privacy and securing digital data will continue to be a fundamental concern as AI becomes more mainstream, raising legal and ethical questions, she said.

“Building trustworthy AI is a complex, yet worthwhile task … AI solutions will need to be fair and impartial, transparent and explainable, responsible and accountable, safe and secure, privacy-focused, as well as robust and reliable,” said Ms Almazrouei, who is the first Emirati woman to obtain a PhD in AI.

“Thus, it will be incumbent on government, developers, policymakers, data scientists and other experts to identify vulnerabilities and consider innovative and proactive strategies to address them.”

The UAE is pursuing several strategies putting technology to work to support the country as it embraces digitalisation and positions itself as a global hub for innovation.

The government's National Strategy for AI aims to make the Emirates one of the leading nations of the technology by 2031, creating new economic, educational and social opportunities, and generating up to Dh335 billion ($91.2 billion) in additional growth.

The UAE ranks first in the Middle East in the 2021 edition of the Global Innovation Index and is among the top 25 countries in the 2022 Global Talent Competitiveness Index.

As part of the Projects of the 50, the country has earmarked $6.5 billion to boost the skills of young Emiratis and to prepare them for roles in the future economy.

AI is also considered one of the UAE's most important industries over the next 10 years, a May study from the UK-based Institution of Engineering and Technology found.

“The UAE government is committed to encouraging its citizens to get involved in the technology and innovation sectors … multiple policies and initiatives help drive citizen participation in these sectors,” Ms Almazrouei said.

The global AI market is projected to surpass $1.7 trillion in 2030, up from $93.5 billion in 2021, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of more than 38 per cent, data from Grand View Research shows.

This will be driven by continuous research and development, and its application into several economic industries, including manufacturing, finance, health care, retail, the auto sector and government.

AI solutions will need to be fair and impartial, transparent and explainable, responsible and accountable, safe and secure, privacy-focused, as well as robust and reliable
Ebtesam Almazrouei,
director at the Technology Innovation Institute

AI and other emerging technologies will “help us revolutionise [economic and societal] sectors, and in creating innovative privacy solutions, that will go a long way in contributing to the UAE’s national security and economic prosperity”, Ms Almazrouei said.

Globally, however, there is a shortage of talent in the AI industry, she said.

The UAE government is placing an emphasis on teaching advanced sciences and technology and AI has become an integral part of the UAE economy, Ms Almazrouei said.

“Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE are well on track to optimise its digital smart city infrastructure,” she said.

The TII is the applied research arm of the Abu Dhabi government's Advanced Technology Research Council, which oversees technology research in the capital. It has 10 research centres and more than 60 international collaborations in various fields.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

RESULTS

5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The specs

Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric

Transmission: n/a

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 659Nm

Price estimate: Dh200,000

On sale: Q3 2022 

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Honeymoonish
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PRISCILLA
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

If you go

The flights

Fly direct to London from the UAE with Etihad, Emirates, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic from about Dh2,500 return including taxes. 

The hotel

Rooms at the convenient and art-conscious Andaz London Liverpool Street cost from £167 (Dh800) per night including taxes.

The tour

The Shoreditch Street Art Tour costs from £15 (Dh73) per person for approximately three hours. 

Updated: November 21, 2022, 7:10 AM`