For Microsoft in recent years, the road to AI prosperity and breakthroughs goes straight through the UAE. That’s the big message from the technology giant’s AI tour in Dubai, where the company’s vision for artificial intelligence was on full display.
“We’re thoughtful about why the UAE is a special place for this,” said Naim Yazbeck, Microsoft's UAE general manager, to a packed exhibition hall at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, on Thursday.
“This will be a partnership for decades to come, and we’re proud of it,” Mr Yazbeck added. He explained that Microsoft's interest in the UAE revolves around the country's early government interest and leadership in AI, the diversity of technology investments − as well as the UAE's focus on training residents to make the most of the technology.
Several weeks before Microsoft's AI Tour in Dubai, Doug Dawson, the company's vice president of global communications, spoke to The National about Microsoft's affinity for the UAE.
“It's a growing hub of innovation,” said Mr Dawson. “The UAE was very proactive in making AI investments.”
Also in terms of investments, Microsoft made a significant splash in both the Middle East and in technology circles in 2024, when it announced a $1.5 billion investment in UAE artificial intelligence and cloud company G42.
Also in 2024, the technology giant, based in Redmond, Washington state, also opened its first Middle East AI for Good Lab in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.
At the Dubai event, Charles LaManna, Microsoft's corporate vice president of business and industry for the company's Copilot division checked out exactly how Microsoft technology is being used throughout the UAE by government entities and companies such as Alef, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Al Futtaim.
Wael AbuRizq, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics adviser with the Department of Government Enablement told Mr Lamanna that 300,000 people have used Abu Dhabi's TAMM government services AI assistant in the first two months since its launch.
“We are moving away from large language models to large action models,” said Mr AbuRizq, explaining the technological underpinnings of the app, which uses Microsoft technology.
In an exclusive interview with The National, Mr Lamanna said the TAMM demo was among some of the most impressive he had seen in his travels throughout the world.
“Not only was it doing question-and-answer and knowledge-based answers, but it has five agents that can do action completion and task completion, and that is cutting-edge frontier work,” he said.
“Many of the AI conversational agents built by consumer companies in the US or anywhere else, they're not doing that level of investment or innovation.”
Mr Lamanna addressed the thousands in attendance at the event showcasing various AI products made by Microsoft and other companies. He showed the newest features of the company's Copilot AI platform, and emphasised Microsoft's push for AI agents that will work alongside humans to complete various tasks.
“You can use natural language to create agents that are incredibly powerful,” he told the crowd, pointing out that Microsoft had two datacentres in the UAE to help power the company's AI cloud computing platform, Azure.
He concluded his keynote by circling back to Microsoft's continued affinity for the UAE. “We succeed when the world around us succeeds, and this community in the UAE is critical to our success,” Mr Lamanna said. “The work you do in this region is so important to our mission.”
The overall AI research, investments and partnerships for Microsoft appear to be paying off.
Most recently, the company reported a 33 per cent surge in its fiscal 2024 second-quarter net profit on robust Azure cloud business and double-digit growth in quarterly revenue which surpassed analyst expectations.
Yet as Microsoft approaches the ripe age of 50, continued success is far from guaranteed.
As any technology analyst or executive will privately tell you, the dustbin of history is filled to the brim with lofty product launches that have seemingly melted on contact, leaving behind nothing but faint memories of hype and hoopla.
“We're not going to miss this moment,” Mr Lamanna said, pointing out that Microsoft shows no sign of slowing down AI investment.
“We are dedicated to making sure that we are prepared for this AI transformation.”
If artificial intelligence becomes the new oil in terms of driving economic prosperity, as many have suggested, that obviously bodes well for Microsoft.
For the UAE, which seeks to make an impact beyond oil, it also seems AI holds the keys to securing that future for economic success.
The goals between Microsoft and the UAE, continue to work in tandem. “Microsoft is committed to partnering with UAE organisations, across the public and private sectors to advance the country's innovative leadership on its AI transformation and help organisations across the country unlock new growth,” read a statement from Microsoft promoting the event in Dubai.
In recent years, the UAE − the Arab world’s second biggest economy − hasn't been shy about its desire to be an AI front-runner, as it seeks to diversity its economy.
The country’s efforts have resulted in the establishment of 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.
Jais Chat, a mobile app iteration of Jais also made an impact in the country with its ability to be proficient in both Arabic and English.
Back in 2019, well before AI was on the tip of almost every technology analyst's tongue, the UAE was among the first in the world to start a university dedicated to artificial intelligence, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
A total of 101 graduates representing 22 nationalities received diplomas during MBZUAI's 2024 class, with Emirati's making up 24 per cent of those.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
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The five pillars of Islam
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
