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10 HEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINE

UAE SECURES TOP SPOT IN

GLOBAL AI TALENT RANKINGS

The UAE’s AI ecosystem The UAE’s focus on AI driven by knowledge and nation aims to increase like NEOM — where over 30
has quietly gained strength began with the launch innovation,” said Dr. Eric the AI sector’s contribution per cent of its $500 billion
through long-term of the UAE Artificial Xing, President of MBZUAI. to GDP by up to 14 per budget is earmarked for
strategic investments, Intelligence Strategy 2031, cent by 2030 — translating AI-powered technologies
visionary policymaking, which aimed to integrate The IFF report underscores to over $100 billion in — the UAE’s strength lies
and global partnerships.. AI across key sectors the UAE’s growing economic output. Much of in policy innovation and
Photo: File photo including education, influence in global AI this is being driven by AI ecosystem-building. This
healthcare, transport, competitiveness by applications in logistics, complementary approach
The UAE has been ranked and space. The country evaluating not only talent government services, is helping the broader Gulf
among the world’s top was among the first in the density but also the fintech, and smart city region gain momentum
20 nations for artificial world to appoint a Minister nation’s institutional and solutions, especially in hubs as a global AI innovation
intelligence (AI) talent of State for Artificial innovation performance. like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. corridor.
density, alongside Saudi Intelligence in 2017, and The UAE ranked well
Arabia, in the latest Global today it continues to above many traditional The Dubai Future “The UAE provides a
AI Competitiveness expand AI readiness tech economies in per Foundation, for instance, unique balance of global
Index published by the through initiatives such as capita AI talent and is pioneering large- accessibility, talent
International Finance the Mohammed bin Zayed research productivity, due scale AI use cases in development, and future-
Forum (IFF) and Deep University of Artificial in part to its business- government and urban ready governance,”
Knowledge Group (DKG). Intelligence (MBZUAI) — a friendly environment, mobility through its Dubai noted Professor Patrick
graduate-level, research- tax-free salaries, and AI Roadmap. Similarly, Glauner, IFF AI committee
With 0.7 per cent of the centric university that is quality of life — factors Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 and coordinator. “Its neutral
global AI talent pool, already attracting global that attract leading its partnership with global diplomatic positioning
the UAE has outpaced talent and publishing scientists, engineers, and VCs and accelerators has and strong ties with both
countries such as Italy cutting-edge research. entrepreneurs from around made the UAE one of the Western and Eastern
and Russia — affirming its the world. fastest-growing AI startup tech partners make it a
growing stature as a global MBZUAI is currently ranked ecosystems in the region. magnet for cross-border AI
innovation powerhouse. among the world’s top 50 The report’s co-author collaboration.”
institutions in AI research Dmitry Kaminskiy of As per data from
While much of the spotlight output, and is collaborating Deep Knowledge Group Crunchbase and Startup At the heart of this
has been on Saudi Arabia’s with global tech giants remarked: “Saudi Arabia Genome, AI-focused transformation is the battle
ambitious AI push, the including IBM, NVIDIA, and and the UAE’s strategic startups in the UAE raised for AI talent. The UAE’s
UAE’s AI ecosystem has BCG to foster research focus on AI, coupled with more than $1.3 billion in efforts in creating AI labs,
quietly gained strength in machine learning, visionary investments in venture capital in 2024 reskilling programmes like
through long-term robotics, computer vision, talent and infrastructure, alone, with projections the National Program for
strategic investments, and AI ethics. “The UAE’s is setting the stage for a pointing to a 25 per cent Coders, and special visas
visionary policymaking, and ecosystem is built not tectonic shift in global AI increase in funding in 2025. for AI professionals are
global partnerships that just on infrastructure, but leadership.” enhancing its ability to
position it at the forefront on a vision of ethical AI, While Saudi Arabia attract and retain global
of AI development and global cooperation, and According to the UAE’s is investing heavily in talent.
governance. a diversified economy Ministry of Economy, the infrastructure-led projects