Abu Dhabi’s commitment to diversification and improving its business environment led the emirate to record the MENA region’s fastest economic growth rate in 2022, at 9.3%. The focus on strengthening and diversifying manufacturing lines, alongside enhancing export capabilities, is propelling continued growth. Regulatory updates and progressive development strategies seek to revitalise foreign direct…
Abu Dhabi is creating an environment that supports the growth of the e-commerce segment, backed by evolving regulations, strategic infrastructure initiatives, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Regulatory Development In September 2023 the UAE Cabinet announced a new e-commerce law that aims to boost the country’s digital economy and enhance its economic competitiveness. The…
As part of the UAE’s efforts to enhance long-term economic resilience, the country has unveiled numerous strategic initiatives to support the growth and diversification of export products and markets. Notably, the federal government has stepped up efforts to develop comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPAs) with high-potential overseas markets, while supporting manufacturers to enhance…
As emerging markets develop new attractions and tap into new visitor source markets, they are leveraging technology and sustainable development in line with emissions targets. Following sharp declines in 2020, international tourism figures rebounded in 2021 to reach approximately 63% of pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels in 2022. Notably, in September of that year arrivals in the Middle East and the Caribbean…
In 2022 the Middle East witnessed the sharpest relative increase in international arrivals of any region in the world, solidifying its rebound from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic and further raising its profile as an increasingly attractive destination for inbound tourism. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2022 international arrivals in the Middle East recovered to…
After a surge in uptake during the Covid-19 pandemic, the telehealth industry is courting new investment to further innovation and increase access to care in emerging markets. Digital health companies raised a record $57.2bn in global venture capital funding in 2021, a 79% jump from the $32bn raised in 2020, with 30% of the total directed towards telehealth. An estimated $140bn in private sector finance…
The national Emirati Genome Project was announced in December 2019. Through the project, the federal government aims to obtain comprehensive data regard-ing the genetic make-up of the country’s population in order to raise the efficacy of medical interventions, diagnoses and treatments, boosting the quality of patient outcomes. Genomic mapping relies on DNA-se-quencing technologies and artificial…
In a bid to expand access, education is increasingly exploring the possibilities of the metaverse and extended-reality (XR) approaches. The former comprises a range of technologies that immerse users in a virtual environment. It denotes a 3D medium that combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into a new digital realm, sometimes known as XR. These environments are accessed through VR…
In terms of the filing of international patents, 2022 was a record-breaking year, with higher education playinga significant role in driving innovation and expanding international practices regarding intellectual property (IP). The UNWorld Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) reported in February 2023 that 278,100 international patents had been filed under its Patent Cooperation Treaty…
Developing strong research, development and innovation (RDI) capacities is key to Abu Dhabi’s and the UAE’s economic development and diversification efforts. In November 2019 the emirate launched the Abu Dhabi Research and Development Authority (ADRDA) under the remit of the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). The goal of the ADRDA is to boost research capacities throughout the emirate’s…
