Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, underscored the UAE’s commitment to technological transformation as a strategic enabler for future development during his visit to Google’s Dubai offices.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE is actively enhancing its technological capabilities through significant partnerships with leading global technology companies. These collaborations are pivotal in spearheading new trends, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence, which was a focal point during Sheikh Hamdan’s visit to the Dubai Innovation Hub.
Upon his arrival, Sheikh Hamdan was greeted by Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google; Anthony Nakache, Managing Director of Google in the Middle East and North Africa; and other executives. The Google team expressed admiration for the UAE’s progressive model in leveraging advanced technologies and AI solutions.
The visit highlighted the robust partnership between the UAE and Google, especially in artificial intelligence. Since Google’s establishment of its largest Middle Eastern office in Dubai in 2008, the collaboration has been integral to the UAE’s digital transformation initiatives.
Sheikh Hamdan was informed about Google’s contributions to artificial intelligence, including tools like the Gemini personal assistant and the NotebookLM application, which aid research and writing. The visit also featured a preview of the Google Economic Impact Report for 2024, which outlines the economic benefits derived from Google products such as Search, YouTube, Maps, Cloud, and Ads in the UAE.
The report marks Google’s inaugural release of an economic impact assessment for the UAE. It analyzes the value that Google’s products and services bring to users, businesses, and communities within the country.
Additionally, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the Google Accessibility Discovery Center in Dubai, inaugurated in September 2024. This center is unique in the Middle East and North Africa region and is one of only seven worldwide.
Google executives reiterated the company’s dedication to supporting the UAE’s digital transformation ambitions through training and capacity-building initiatives. To date, Google has trained approximately 420,000 individuals in AI under its ‘Grow with Google’ program.
At the conclusion of the visit, Sheikh Hamdan expressed gratitude for Google’s pivotal role in the UAE and the region at large. He reaffirmed Dubai’s commitment to leveraging technological advancements to hasten sustainable development and emphasized the city’s aspiration to become a global leader in technological innovation through strategic partnerships with influential firms like Google.
Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
Dubai’s strategic emphasis on developing and co-creating future technologies, particularly AI, is central to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. This agenda aims to generate an average of AED100 billion annually from digital transformation, positioning Dubai as a global capital of the digital economy and a prominent player in the international digital arena.