Race for Number One in Technology
The UAE spares no effort to do what it takes to upgrade the country’s technological infrastructure to advance toward the future. Looking around, we find features of technology everywhere: in research centers, scientific institutions, universities, schools, streets, shopping centers, and airports. We see technology in action in all these places and it is benefiting all strata of society: academics, students, ordinary residents, and visitors.
The UAE’s mantra is that technology needs to be accessible to all and not kept only in specialized scientific laboratories or research centers. Everyone must enjoy its fruits in all aspects of their life, and everyone should speak about it. Technology is horizontal and strategic, not vertical, not reserved for urgent or emergency use.
The wise leadership believes that technology needs to be purposely woven into the workings of government. It is important to keep up with the latest developments and not let them overcome you, to never retreat from technological progress, living as we do in an ultra-competitive world that rewards moonshots in science and technology.
WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A NEW PHASE OF
GOVERNMENT WORK BASED ON ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE TO EXPAND THE POTENTIAL OF
INDIVIDUALS AND ENHANCE THEIR ABILITIES
TO DRIVE DEVELOPMENT.H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM, PAYING
TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE COUNTRY’S AI PROGRAM.
The strategy is all-encompassing, the vision comprehensive. Everyone needs to appreciate and feel the importance of technology by integrating it in their daily lives. It is of interest to each and all, starting with government leaders who are working assiduously to put in place infrastructure that absorbs technology, who are making these crucial investments, taking advantage of global expertise while training locals to deploy it. Technology is there to make life easier and more comfortable.
The seamless functioning of the country’s institutions and service departments are testament to how successful the UAE has been in implementing its strategy. Ideas that were once the realm of science fiction have become daily reality. Now, the time has come for a new package of ideas that responds to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and all that this offers in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology, digitization, and artificial intelligence.
Such concepts are no longer alien to UAE, nor are they in our distant future, nor are they reserved for other cultures, they are for Arabs too. Today, this has become a truism. One lesson learned from the UAE’s success is that there is no place for the impossible, that words like backwardness and retreat cannot be part of our vocabulary. Through singularity of vision, the wise leadership has helped us to rise to the occasion. All along, the leadership has kept faith in the human potential of this place. Having confidence in our own abilities and our willingness to take initiative are the two most valuable personality traits that we have.
While the UAE has achieved a lot and scores highly in many human and cultural development indexes, we cannot rest on our laurels. As H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said about the FutureBrand Country Index 2019, which measures the attractiveness of countries: “The UAE is ranked first in the Arab world and 16th in the world. We will stay in the race to improve the attractiveness of our country in all fields.” His Highness takes pride in the achievements of the UAE, our dear homeland. From this perspective, H.H. sees our beloved country as the best and it is. But this pride must not distract us from our endeavors to continue the progress, to shoot for the top.
To get there, we need firstly to believe that we can do it and secondly to be ready for more work. Only then will we win the race of technology and claim the number one spot.
