Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, has said the world is "rapidly changing" and it is important for the UAE to have the "flexibility to deal with it".
His comments came at the UAE Government Annual Meetings, taking place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, which featured meetings of the UAE Cabinet, five federal councils, and national and local committees.
Dr Al Jaber said the industrial sector contributed Dh190 billion ($51.74 billion) to GDP in 2024, marking a 62 per cent increase since 2020. He added that industrial exports had reached Dh197 billion in 2024, heading towards a target of Dh300 billion by 2031.
However, he added that change and innovation is vital to success in a transforming world. "We should be ahead of these changes and have the flexibility to deal with it," he said. "We will develop new industries and will work on new industries such as renewable energy, conductors chips and AI, factories to build battery storages, and electric vehicles."
Future of AI
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said the UAE will continue to empower and develop talents in artificial intelligence.
"We have more than 450,000 computer programmers now, a 376.9 per cent increase from 2020. The UAE is one of the top 10 destinations attracting AI talents as per the BCG talent tracker," he said, referring to the Boston Consulting Group, which describes itself as an independent talent tracker that assesses global competition.
"The UAE has invested Dh543 billion into AI since 2024. We want to lead the world in AI," Mr Al Olama added.
He also said future plans include launching a digital academy and a digital economy jobs platform, so people can apply for AI jobs in the UAE.
What is the UAE Government Annual Meetings?
Held under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, this year's summit has focused on artificial intelligence, the economy, tourism, humanitarian aid and developing national industry.
The event began with "day zero" on Monday, which featured meetings of the UAE Cabinet, five federal councils, and national and local committees.
In earlier comments from Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, who said the UAE has achieved 67 per cent of the targets set under the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
In his opening remarks, he said: “The UAE Government Annual Meetings are not merely an annual event, but a national governmental exercise through which we evaluate performance, set priorities and review the course of our overarching vision, 'We the UAE 2031', which was launched three years ago during the Government Annual Meetings.
“The achievements made do not represent the finish line. The real measure lies in what will be added in 2026, how the remaining gaps will be addressed and how the UAE’s leading position will be maintained in a world that waits for no one.”
Mr Al Gergawi noted that on this day last year, global headlines were dominated by crises and conflicts, a slow economy, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence outpacing regulation and major elections in more than 70 countries shaping a new phase in world politics.
Today, he said, the scene is repeating itself, with conflict spreading across continents, escalating economic and geopolitical risks, and an intensifying global race for energy, resources, AI and space.
“The world continues to live in a constant state of uncertainty and tension," he said. "The common factor between past and present headlines remains the same – unending challenges, evolving threats and rapid technological advancement in an ever-changing world.”
However, he noted that 2025 has been an exceptional year for the UAE’s economy, with the latest report from the International Monetary Fund, issued a few weeks ago, projecting the country’s economic growth to exceed the global average, reaching 4.8 per cent.
Mr Al Gergawi added that the UAE’s strong economic performance on the global stage is rooted in the nation’s agility and resilience.
"The value of the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade reached nearly Dh3 trillion in 2024," 'he said. "In just the first half of this year, non-oil foreign trade recorded a growth rate of 24.5 per cent compared to the same period last year."
