May Allah Grant the UAE Success in Embracing New Industries
Assalamu Alaikum. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, reminded everyone that the world is changing quickly and the UAE must stay adaptable. He spoke at the UAE Government Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, where ministers and national committees gathered to review progress.
He noted the industrial sector added Dh190 billion to GDP in 2024, a 62% rise since 2020, and industrial exports reached Dh197 billion in 2024, moving toward a Dh300 billion goal by 2031. He emphasized that keeping up with change and encouraging innovation are essential. “We should be ahead of these changes and have the flexibility to deal with it,” he said, mentioning plans to develop new industries like renewable energy, chip manufacturing, AI, battery factories, and electric vehicles.
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said the UAE will keep investing in and nurturing AI talent. He shared that there are now over 450,000 computer programmers in the country, a large increase since 2020, and that the UAE is among the top destinations for AI professionals. He added that the UAE has invested heavily in AI since 2024 and plans to launch a digital academy and jobs platform to help people find AI roles here.
Under the guidance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, this year’s meetings focused on AI, the economy, tourism, humanitarian work and strengthening national industry. Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the UAE has achieved 67% of the goals in the “We the UAE 2031” vision and reminded attendees that these meetings are a national exercise to evaluate performance and set priorities. He stressed that the real work is what comes next - closing gaps by 2026 and maintaining the UAE’s leadership in a fast-moving world.
Mr Al Gergawi reflected on ongoing global challenges - conflicts, economic uncertainty, the rapid pace of technological change and competition for resources - and said the UAE’s agility and resilience are the basis for its strong economic performance. He cited IMF projections showing the country’s growth is expected to exceed the global average in 2025, and noted non-oil foreign trade nearly reached Dh3 trillion in 2024, with strong growth continuing into this year.
May Allah bless the UAE with wisdom and success as it pursues sustainable growth, technological progress and opportunities for its people. Wa Alaikum Assalam.
https://www.thenationalnews.co