Microsoft says the UAE is playing an increasingly important role in the company's success and turning the many promises of AI into reality.
“It's a growing hub of innovation,” said Doug Dawson, the company's vice president of global communications, during an exclusive interview with The National near its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
Mr Dawson noted that the country was among the first in the world to start a university dedicated to artificial intelligence, MBZUAI, back in 2019.
“The UAE was very proactive in making AI investments,” he said.
“To have that foresight to make the investments in advanced technology like that, the UAE is a hugely important hub.”
Mr Dawson also reflected on Microsoft's $1.5 billion investment in the UAE's artificial intelligence and cloud company, G42, last year. The UAE's emphasis on AI so many years before it went mainstream gave the company confidence, he said.
The UAE has shown tremendous interest in all aspects of AI, ranging from solutions in science and health care, to the energy needed make the burgeoning technology possible, he added.
“The infrastructure needed for all the advanced compute power is an opportunity where the UAE has been quite forward in thinking about 'how can we tap our natural resources like sunshine to help power AI centres',” he said.
Mr Dawson's comments come several weeks before the company's chief executive Satya Nadella is expected to visit the UAE for a Microsoft AI tour in Dubai, where he will also give a keynote address on the potential of the technology and the progress made.
Inside Microsoft's Redmond headquarters, Mr Dawson's comments about the UAE were echoed by Somanna Palacanda, the head of country-specific social impact strategies at the company.
“It's one of the first countries in the world to set up a minister for AI,” he said, referring to Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.
Mr Palacanda also pointed out that the UAE has trained government employees on various aspects of AI, and that Microsoft had also opened its first Middle East “AI for Good Lab” in Abu Dhabi.
“They're creating a whole ecosystem, and that's what you need,” he said.
“I think in terms of government regulations, the UAE clearly looked at AI as a tool to help them become more competitive in the global space.
“They invested in changing the curriculum of the schools to make sure that future generations are more competitive. They're creating, you know, favourable work environments for innovators to move to the UAE to create companies on AI with the golden visa.”
The UAE's golden visa is designed to make residency more accessible and the process faster.
According to online learning platform Coursera, people in the UAE and the Middle East overall are seeking to stay ahead of the AI learning curve this year, based on course enrolments.
In recent years the UAE, the Arab world’s second biggest economy, has expressed its desire to be a front-runner on AI as it diversifies away from oil.
The country’s efforts have resulted in the establishment of several start-ups, partnerships and investments from industry leaders.
The UAE has also created several large language models, such as Jais, seen as the backbone of the technology.
For Microsoft, AI has helped to boost the company’s bottom line through products such as Copilot assistant and its Azure cloud computing platform.
For many consumers, AI has led to a renaissance for Microsoft, a company previously known for operating systems and office productivity software.
Eric Boyd, Microsoft's corporate vice president for the Azure AI platform, also spoke about the company's affinity for the UAE and the Middle East.
“I think there's a huge opportunity to continue to grow and do more there,” he said.
“The Gulf area economically is a massive growth area because there's a good amount of money but also because amount of interest in how they can do things with AI and build the economy in that area, so it remains a major focus for us.”
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
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Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
