The world finds itself at an interesting juncture, as AI develops rapidly and transforms industries at a pace not witnessed before. This has been further catalysed following the introduction of generative AI, which is projected to make an economic impact of $23.5 billion in the Gulf by 2030, according to recently published research by PwC.
All six Gulf countries have been proactive in seeking investments and building strategic partnerships, demonstrating commitment to technological innovation as a whole. In fact, governments across the region have placed AI at the heart of their broader national visions. AI is a crucial component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. The UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and Oman’s National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies are other powerful examples.
Countries in the region been committed to incorporating AI in their smart city plans. The highly anticipated Neom city in Saudi Arabia, for example, is poised to be a futuristic city with AI-powered solutions in optimising transportation, utilities and various public services.
However, even though AI has been adopted in a number of areas and continues to expand in the region, there is room for further investment that will empower countries to be able to capitalise on opportunities set to emerge from the upcoming technological revolution.
Citizens’ trust is a key driver in implementing AI. Gulf countries report high levels of trust between citizens and governments, and paired with widespread digitalisation, this helps to set the stage for the region to adopt AI products in myriad spaces. However, there are risks associated with this new realm, presenting the need for an elaborate ecosystem and processes that ensure safe and optimal use of these technologies across all sectors.
The first step would be to further strengthen the institutions that are in place to regulate the use of AI in various domains. This is particularly challenging given the rapid speed at which AI is evolving. At the Gulf Co-operation Council’s Prosecutors Meeting in October, Bahrain’s attorney general, Ali bin Fadhel Al Buainain, proposed unified AI laws for the region. This could very well be the best way forward.
The EU’s AI Act, the world’s first legal framework that addresses risks that could stem from the AI revolution, follows a risk-based approach. This means that all AI systems that present clear threats to safety, livelihood and rights of humans are banned, whereas high-risk systems are subject to scrutiny before they are put in use. Limited-risk AI applications are allowed as long as there is transparency, while low or minimal-risk systems are free to be used.
This legal framework serves as a useful benchmark. However, it is important to consider the nuances of the socio-cultural and political environments in the region in order to ensure that AI is being used ethically and safely in the region.
The mitigation of risks associated with AI is an area that can be looked at. One way for Gulf countries to establish relevant laws and ethical guidelines would be to appoint regional and local committees of experts that can follow the industry and reduce possibilities of any harm. In this regard, it would help for the region’s governments to nurture relationships with global leaders in the field as well as regulatory boards in other parts of the world.
Gulf countries have come a long way in embracing AI in a short span of time. They now need to use the resources wisely to mitigate risks
Second, it is crucial for the Gulf to continue investing in infrastructure to meet the burgeoning demand for AI. The need for more data centres as well as specialised chips – which are now in short supply – is especially high.
Data centres have been described as “nerve centres of the digital economy”. It is, therefore, imperative for countries to continue investing in them and ensuring that they support national economic growth. Furthermore, it is important to keep an eye on sustainability in this realm of development, given that data centres are energy-intensive structures, such as seeking green solutions.
Khazna Data Centres, a telecommunications contractor in the UAE, is addressing this specific aspect by investing in a plant that will use solar energy for its data centre extension in Masdar City. There is immense scope for other companies to use such strategies; given the many interesting renewable projects under way across the region, and the potential to reap benefits such as optimum levels of solar energy, there is capacity to ensure that the growth of these data centres is environmentally sustainable.
Third, Gulf countries will fully embrace the AI revolution with ever closer engagement with youth and the broader workforce. In order to seamlessly and safely integrate AI in businesses, there will always be a need for specialised and ongoing training.
This involves already existing educational institutions working in conjunction with market leaders to ensure that graduates are prepared to enter the rapidly transforming job market. The establishment of the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi in 2019 is an example of the kind of forward thinking that is required to prepare the next generation of AI talent, be it entrepreneurs or professionals.
Gulf countries have come a long way in embracing a phenomenon as transformative as AI in such a short span of time. The next would be for them to use the available resources wisely and proactively to mitigate any associated risks.
I don’t doubt that the region will fare well in this new era of the digital age, and I look forward to witnessing continued innovation and growth resulting from the combined efforts of our wise leaders, hardworking governments and dedicated citizens.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:
Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.
Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.
Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.
Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.
Saraya Al Khorasani: The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.
(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
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Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Results
Stage 5:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Jumbo-Visma 04:19:08
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 00:00:03
3. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Sergio Higuita (COL) EF Education-Nippo 00:00:05
5. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:06
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 17:09:26
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:45
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:01:12
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:01:54
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo 00:01:56
