Abu Dhabi stands at the forefront of the MENA region’s economic growth, boasting a 9.3% growth rate in 2022. Looking ahead, the emirate’s ambitious roadmap, the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, charts a course for economic transformation. A key goal of the roadmap is to substantially reduce reliance on hydrocarbons, with a target of achieving 64% of GDP from non-hydrocarbons sectors by 2030. Th
Interview: Sarah Al Amiri How can the intersection of advanced technology and public education influence economic growth? SARAH AL AMIRI: The UAE is building a digital, knowledge-based economy in line with its vision for the next 50 years. Advanced technology and education are fundamental pillars of this effort, and they are two of the government’s key priorities because of their power to transform…
The education sector is central to both the UAE’s and Abu Dhabi’s development agendas, with the upskilling of human capital integral to the success of economic diversification efforts. Significant resources are being dedicated to redesigning curricula; bolstering research, development and innovation (RDI) capacities; and integrating new technologies into the sector. Structure & Oversight The…
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…
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…
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…
Education and research hold pivotal roles in Abu Dhabi’s broader development effort. The emirate is committed to enhancing human capital through curriculum redesign, increased research and innovation capacities, and technology integration in the education sector. Recent initiatives and partnerships have channelled expertise and funding into specific educational areas, bolstering Abu Dhabi’s regional…
– GCC countries have taken the global lead in outlining AI public policies – AI technology has the potential to improve education outcomes – MENA universities are rising in world rankings for technology preparedness – New training initiatives seek to build the workforce of the future As public and private entities across the world weigh how to utilise generative artificial…
– GCC universities are adapting their offerings to the post-pandemic economy – Boom areas include cybersecurity, software design, robotics and fintech – There has also been an increase in drug development and supply chain courses – Some institutions are teaming up with private players to help meet industry needs With the current semester winding up, many higher education institutions…
The UAE’s robust current account balance cushioned the economy against the twin global challenges of Covid-19 and the oil price drop in 2020. Lockdowns were implemented to protect public health, and Emiratis migrated online. UAE residents were ranked as the best ICT users globally in an October 2020 study from the Portulans Institute, due in part to a number-one ranking for school internet access,…
