Mohammed Alardhi is the executive chairman of Investcorp, chairman of Muscat Stock Exchange MSX and chairman of Royal Jet
September 07, 2021
Countries of the GCC region have come a long way. In diversifying their economies away from oil, they have invested in a wide range of sectors. Over the past decades, regional governments as well as private sector players have channeled resources into digitalising systems to enhance productivity.
Governments’ efforts to support small and medium enterprises, coupled with local talent, can be credited for a crop of tech startups from the region, while global names have also established a presence.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have added smart city technologies to their infrastructures. Similar advancements are taking place in Oman, that is following suit with the Madinat Al Irfan smart city project in Muscat.
Private sector organisations in the region have also adopted the latest and most efficient technologies over the past decade. This trend has accelerated following the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to lockdowns and restricted outdoor access, banking and finance institutions across the region, for example, saw a major increase in people using apps. Existing apps had to be updated to ensure a seamless customer experience. A study by a US tech firm, Avaya, that specialises in cloud communications, pointed to the adaptability of the GCC region’s banking sector to drastic changes in environment. The study said that GCC banks showed a commitment to digitisation and a speed of modernisation that had not been seen before – to counter the aftermath of a downcast global economy.
Another promising trend in the Arab region’s tech space is a markedly higher number of women pursuing education in computer science compared to other parts of the world, according to research conducted by New York University Abu Dhabi.
In the US, for example, women account for 15-20 per cent of computer science students, in contrast to 40 per cent in the Arab region. In Saudi Arabia, 70-80 per cent of students in IT courses are women. A higher percentage of women in any workplace has been proven to be good for the organisation and the people who work there. Offices with a healthy gender balance lead to to enhanced collaboration between teams, boost job satisfaction for all team members, improve staff retention rates and in the long run, increase profitability.
The notably higher representation of women in computer science and tech-related fields is an enormous strength for the Arab region. We must work to create an environment that will enable them to reach their full potential.
Saudi women in a Hajj hackathon to streamline pilgrimage services, prior to the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in Jeddah, on July 31, 2018. AFP
The region’s youth is extremely tech-savvy, with millennials reporting close to 100 per cent mobile phone usage, according to a study published by Think with Google in 2015.
Furthermore, limitations resulting from the pandemic have made professionals and students adapt to increasingly digitalised systems and brought about more innovative thinking to suit the changing times.
As I have written before in these pages, youth is our region’s greatest asset. It will benefit the public and private sectors to harness their talent, resourcefulness and empower their minds. To an extent, it is even the responsibility of tech companies to channel the skills of the youth.
Tech leaders in the region – global giants as well as startups – stand to gain by engaging with young people in the region. Young people tend to have a plethora of ideas on how to develop new technologies. These can allow society to function at its best. The combination of the ideas of young people and technologies that emerge can help make economies healthier. It can also help the population of a region to transition to more prosperous times.
Public and private sector players can collaborate to run structured programmes that involve youth – professionals from technology-related fields as well as those with an interest in innovation.
The tech sector would greatly benefit from amplifying youth voices and paying special attention to female graduates of computer science programmes. There are opportunities to provide formal and informal mentorship, host entrepreneurship workshops, teach professional skills, create spaces that support innovation and invest in up-and-coming businesses in the tech space. Also, as businesses have moved a large percentage of their operations online, there has been a growing trend in the past two years towards international collaboration. Our region must continue to look beyond borders to build synergies with established and emerging players in the global tech arena.
We cannot deny the setbacks that the economies of the GCC region have faced during the recession following the coronavirus outbreak. However, we must remain committed to the larger goals of diversification away from oil. People of the region and young talent have always been our greatest assets. I am confident that with the right planning and optimal use of resources, we will empower them to reach new heights and lead our region into the next era of the digital age.
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
How to apply for a drone permit
Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
Submit their request
What are the regulations?
Fly it within visual line of sight
Never over populated areas
Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
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.
