Hamdan bin Mohammed launches Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence

Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mo-hammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, on Thursday announced the launch of the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) at Emirates Towers, AREA 2071.

The new Centre aims to assist government entities in deploying future technologies across key sectors.

Hamdan said Dubai continues to rapidly advance its adoption of new artificial intelligence and future technologies in step with the evolution of global technology innovation. This aligns with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the emirate as a global leader in preparing for emerging opportunities and challenges, as well as shaping the future.

He added: “Dubai’s government will be the best in the world in deploying artificial intel-ligence (AI) within its various entities. This new Centre is the first step in achieving this goal and developing future services to keep pace with rapid technological advancements.”

He encouraged employees across all Dubai’s government entities to apply generative AI tools to enhance productivity and optimise government services.

Practical applications

“We aim to see practical applications of generative AI technologies in our government sector. Technological development is moving very rapidly, and in Dubai we are determined to be just as fast in testing and harnessing it for the benefit of society. We want new AI-powered government tools to have a clear impact and tangible results,” Dubai Crown Prince added.

The launch event was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.

The Dubai Centre for AI aims to train 1,000 government employees from over 30 government entities on the uses of generative artificial intelligence. It also aims to launch dozens of pilot projects and improve government services, as well as increase productivity of government employees and support more than 20 local and global advanced technology start-ups.

Dubai vision

“We are confident that developing AI applications will contribute significantly to actualising Dubai’s vision for the future. The technological leaps we see today will only be the beginning of our journey towards an entirely new and different future, with transformative changes in health, education, economy, media and government sectors,” he further said.

The Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Media Council and Dubai Digital Authority will oversee the implementation of the Dubai Centre for AI’s goals and outcomes in cooperation with relevant authorities, with a focus on developing legislation related to AI applications, attracting top global technological solutions and developing national talent.

The establishment of the Centre comes at a time when the generative AI sector is expected to expand from $10 billion in 2022 to $110.8 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 34.3%.

Three pillars

To achieve its three main pillars, the Dubai Centre for AI will develop legislation on modern technology and study the ethical and social impact of generative AI applications and their align-ment with societal and human values in Dubai and the world.

Generative AI in government

The Dubai Centre for AI will enhance the performance of the government sector in various ways. For instance, it will use AI to conduct simulations that study the changes and impacts of new policies and legislation, predict results of different scenarios, evaluate the effectiveness of programmes, and support complex decision-making.

The Centre will bolster the development of government services by predicting user needs and preferences. It will establish communication channels to streamline public services and employ data analysis tools to identify trends and insights that can help government entities in making informed decisions. Generative AI will also be harnessed to ensure the delivery of superior government services tailored to the needs of Dubai residents.

Platform for cooperation and enhancing Dubai’s leadership

The Dubai Centre for AI serves as a collaborative platform for the government, private and academic sectors to develop AI applications and introduce innovative services and products, incorporating the most advanced technologies.

The Centre’s initiatives will reinforce Dubai’s status as a regional leader in AI research, develop-ment and innovation by fostering cooperation with major international technology companies and leading academic institutions.

Other key attendees at the launch event include Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Abdullah Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai; Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority; Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the Dubai Digital Authority; and Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation.