Dubai: At the Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity 2025, organised by the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum (WEF) on 14-16 October in Dubai, Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, asserted that "We look at regulation not as a barrier, but as a bridge to progress, prosperity, and justice."
According to Emirates News Agency, this statement was made during a session titled "Regulation: Friend or Foe?", attended by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA). The discussion, moderated by Dan Murphy, Anchor and Correspondent for CNBC, focused on strategies to make regulatory systems more agile and adaptive in the face of rapid technological advancements.
The panel included H.E. Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Rachel Adams, Founder and CEO of the Global Centre on AI Governance, Prof. Hiroki Habuka from Kyoto University, and Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ. They discussed emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and synthetic biology, and the need for regulations that are clear, transparent, and flexible. Al Hammadi emphasized the UAE's proactive approach, stating, "In the UAE, we build flexibility in our legislation system so it can adapt in real time."
Prof. Hiroki Habuka highlighted the challenges of regulating fast-moving technologies, advocating for outcome-based and principle-driven regulations. He pointed out the lengthy process of lawmaking in Japan and the need for agility through guidelines and standards. "It is not the right approach to try to make uniform regulation all over the world," he noted, emphasizing Japan's focus on interoperability.
Jack Hidary stressed the importance of adopting new technologies efficiently and recommended incorporating the power of convening into regulations. He praised the UAE model where government workers act as entrepreneurs, encouraging the productive adoption of technology rather than seeing regulation as a form of control.
Rachel Adams raised concerns about the unequal distribution of AI benefits and the dominance of certain players. She advocated for balanced regulation that does not overburden small innovators while ensuring fair markets. Adams underscored the necessity of global cooperation, given the cross-border operations of big tech companies.