Abu Dhabi's artificial intelligence university will train the UAE's government and business leaders under a new programme, equipping the country's decision makers with practical skills and a professional network to tap into the cutting-edge technology.
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence will begin the 12-week MBZUAI Executive Programme on October 23.
The course will offer online practical courses and seminars on the business, ethical and policymaking dimensions of the AI industry, taught by some of the top leaders in the field.
AI is central to the UAE's economic growth agenda, according to Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and chairman of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees, adding that it has the potential to unlock new growth from established industries and pave the way for new business models and technologies.
The overall aim is to "[empower] decision makers in all industries to harness the benefits of AI in forging the future success of their respective organisations", Dr Al Jaber said.
"This depends not only on world-class scientific research but also on close collaboration between all stakeholders, be they government, business, investors, the scientific community or the public."
The plan to train the nation's elite in AI comes amid a broader push by the UAE government to set the national agenda for economic growth over the next 50 years.
On Sunday, the UAE unveiled its Principles of the 50, which lays out the economic, political and developmental road map for the next half century, with massive investment planned to support it. Emirates Development Bank has allocated $1.36 billion (Dh5bn) to fund projects by Emiratis in new and crucial sectors. Another $1.36bn from the bank aims to transform industry towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution over a period of five years. The aim is to add Dh25bn to the country's GDP.
A digital skills push is also under way, following a recent announcement to attract or train 100,000 people in computer coding through a visa programme and Emirati upskilling initiative.
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said this was just the first step.
"We don't want to be a local player in the digital economic landscape – we want to be the world in one country, shaping the future," he said on Sunday.
The new MBZUAI programme is part of that push.
The first cohort will be made up of about 40 senior executives, with six courses covering an introduction to AI, machine learning and the economy, visual and lingual cognition, the future of robotics, and AI ethics and policymaking.
"AI’s ability to analyse vast amounts of data and do it at remarkable speed is unparalleled," MBZUAI president Eric Xing told The National.
"When decision makers are knowledgeable, they can implement AI specific to their sector, with MBZUAI university faculty as expert consultants. We are in an ideal position to help translate complex business challenges into topics for research and development."
Participants will undergo a practical and immersive curriculum that goes beyond conventional classroom instruction by combining traditional coursework with interactive modules, engaging forums, high-level networking opportunities, and seminars on AI’s business, ethical and policymaking dimensions.
More broadly, by extending AI access to leaders across the economy, the MBZUAI Executive Programme supports the UAE’s goal of becoming a global AI leader.
“Integrating AI-based processes and expertise will allow homegrown tech companies to leap ahead in their development," Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises, said. "The MBZUAI Executive Program is an ideal initiative to help UAE-based SMEs maintain their competitive edge and optimise their operations across the region and beyond.”
The programme is designed to cater to all industries and economic sectors, he added.
Professor Xing will be teaching, alongside Sir Michael Brady, professor emeritus at University of Oxford; professor Daniela Rus, director of MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory; Professor Michael Jordan, the Pehong Chen Distinguished Professor at University of California, Berkeley; and Dr Kai-fu Lee, chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, among others.
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
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A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
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4,872 matches
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116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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Director: M Night Shyamalan
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