1 million UAE residents to receive AI skills training

UAE to Train One Million Citizens in AI by 2027 to Drive Innovation and Economic Growth

In an innovative move to increase productivity and empower citizens to use AI in their daily lives, the United Arab Emirates plans to train one million inhabitants in the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) by 2027. At the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, met with Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith to discuss the ambitious AI training program.

The partnership between the UAE and Microsoft focuses on harnessing advanced technologies like AI to drive innovation and support sustainable development. During the meeting, the two leaders explored new opportunities to collaborate on technology initiatives that will benefit various sectors crucial to the UAE’s economy.
Sheikh Hamdan acknowledged Microsoft’s significant contributions to the development of AI, praising its leadership in shaping future technologies that are transforming industries globally.

The meeting was attended by key figures, including Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, who also emphasized the importance of AI in the UAE’s vision for the future.

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted his enthusiasm for the project on his X account, writing: “I joined Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith at the 2024 UAE Government Annual Meetings to announce a partnership to equip 1 million people in the UAE with AI skills by 2027.
Mastering AI is crucial for fostering innovation and driving economic sustainability. We are not waiting for the future—we are building it today.”

By encouraging enterprises and government organizations to incorporate AI into their operations, the program seeks to guarantee broad engagement from both the public and commercial sectors. Microsoft has urged these organizations to look into ways to develop AI skills within their teams and equip employees with talents that can increase output and efficiency. The initiative also aims to empower UAE nationals to use AI for useful, daily chores, opening up new productivity opportunities and fostering the expansion of the nation’s digital economy.
Additionally, the program seeks to enable UAE citizens to leverage AI for practical, everyday tasks, unlocking new levels of productivity and contributing to the country’s digital economy growth.

By providing AI training to a sizable section of the populace, the UAE hopes to promote technological innovation and guarantee that its workforce has the know-how to successfully navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape and support the country’s ongoing prosperity in the international economy. This innovative project is expected to establish the UAE as a pioneer in AI application and education, demonstrating its dedication to remaining at the forefront of technological development.

The development follows recent announcements by Microsoft to equip 100,000 government employees with the latest AI capabilities along with local governments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

The initiative is part of Microsoft’s long-term commitment to bridging the global AI knowledge gap and fostering a culture of AI innovation across the UAE. The initiative will provide targeted training to leaders, developers and general users, aiming to establish a productive, AI-enabled workforce.

Smith said: “To benefit from AI, people need to learn to use AI. That’s why we help train 1 million people across the UAE economy using our technology.

Al Olama said: “Microsoft’s commitment to AI capabilities aligns with the UAE’s vision to become a global AI hub. Its latest AI initiative in the UAE will help improve technological capabilities and ensure that AI is accessible and relevant to every citizen, government agency and business resident in the UAE. We are keen to collaborate with leading technology players around the world to innovate and create new opportunities for our country.

Microsoft’s AI skills training is designed to reach all sectors in the UAE, from public organizations to private companies and individual citizens. Microsoft will collaborate with various organizations to develop a range of skills courses and resources to build basic AI skills, build practical applications and enable users to adopt AI in their daily lives and work environments.