Thanks to its extensive National AI Strategy 2031, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a leader in artificial intelligence (AI).
The UAE's desire to use AI for socioeconomic development is reflected in this strategy plan, which attempts to integrate AI across a variety of industries. The UAE is demonstrating a progressive approach to technology adoption by giving AI top priority in an effort to foster innovation and improve public services.
The UAE made history in 2017 by becoming the first nation to designate a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the importance of AI in governmental policymaking. This position guarantees that resources and focused attention are devoted to creating AI policy and supporting projects that improve efficiency and governance.
Initiatives like Smart Dubai, which were started by the Dubai Future Foundation, are vital to making Dubai the most advanced smart city in the world, where artificial intelligence is crucial to raising living standards.
Increased consumer awareness and involvement are driving a significant increase in public interest in AI, according to research from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Remarkably, a sizable percentage of respondents—75%—reported having familiarity with AI technologies like ChatGPT, underscoring the growing incorporation of AI into day-to-day tasks.
The UAE has a high rate of technological adoption, as seen by the 91% of customers who are aware of generative AI technologies and the 34% who actively use them. In an effort to compete with industry leaders like Meta and OpenAI, the UAE has launched projects like the Falcon 2 AI model to further enhance its AI capabilities. This shows a strong dedication to developing AI technology and incorporating AI into different businesses, establishing the UAE as a global center for AI research and development.
As businesses investigate the many applications made possible by this technology, the growing interest in generative AI is spurring enterprise-level AI strategy. Larger organizations are especially aggressive in implementing AI technologies because of competitive challenges, claims Jyoti Lalchandani, Group Vice President & Regional Managing Director for the Middle East, Turkey & Africa.
Many companies have been prompted to reevaluate their data architecture and start data modernization initiatives as a result of the shift to generative AI, opening the door for specialized services and capabilities designed to meet these changing needs.
