Technology is one of humankind’s most extraordinary inventions. It is our ticket to the future... no one can dispute that.

However, if we ask ourselves, what kind of future do we want? Do we blindly adopt technology because it is a global trend? Or do we go deeper to identify ways in which we can tailor its use to fulfil the social economic, cultural, and overall developmental needs of people and nations? Do we ever think about the level of development our nation — any nation — can handle successfully?

To me, such considerations are paramount. In the Arab world, we are not ashamed to admit that we aren’t active contributors to the process of new technology creation.

That doesn’t mean we are mere consumers without vision. In other words, I want to press upon the fact that as long as we do not start inventing technologies to fulfil the specific needs of the region, we can certainly work on utilising it properly and efficiently.

Also, if we can create a debate at a pan-Arab and global level on how to balance technology and sustainability, automation and job creation, innovation in financial and economic sectors then can build a matrix which will combine these formulas to achieve our economic agendas and social goals.

The aforementioned is especially important when reviewing the realities of the global economy, and monitoring declining rates of development and widening social inequalities. Oxfam 2018 reports that 3.7 billion people, or 50 per cent of the world’s population, did not benefit from global growth last year. Additionally, a large percentage of jobs are likely to disappear.

The above was reiterated at the World Economic Forum this September, where Cisco and Oxford Economics presented a study revealing that tens of millions of jobs are under threat in south-east Asia due to the invention of new technologies, with hundreds of millions more expected to vanish in 10 years.

What do we have to do to stop this? I don’t know if there’s a quick solution.

Globally, majority stakeholders see a similar solution: enhancing the technological skills of their workforce. Now, will it be beneficial for us to mould the entire world’s working populations to have the same skill sets? Or should we think of more realistic solutions?

I offer the following:

■ First, there needs to be a shift in our mindsets. We need to start putting development and social and economic stability at the forefront of our national agenda. We should not succumb to the fear of being called “backward” if we debate the proper use of it.

■ Second, take into consideration the economic and social structure of each country while adopting new technology.

■ Third, the worth of a technology should be measured by the degree and outreach of its social impact.

■ Fourth, countries should device plans on how to adopt technologies to fit their needs, instead of simply adopting it.

■ Fifth, the need to respect diversity in human skills and ensure that a nation’s economy is more inclusive.

Last but not least, a point specific to the Arab youth. If every young Arab in the tech field believed that his/her work is a lifelong pursuit to self-fulfillment and will elevate the status of their country, we will see the birth of several innovations and technologies that will mirror our rich culture and national identity.

At this point, we will gradually transform from being consumers of technology to innovators, or at the very least, be informed consumers. That is a step in the right direction.

Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal is executive chairman at Shurooq (Sharjah Investment & Development Authority).