The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) announced that four industry giants have joined forces under the Gig Economy Sandbox initiative to help develop regulations that enable the development of the gig economy. Emirates airline, Amazon, Careem, and GEMS Education will join the initiative to advance new sectors and develop a future-ready knowledge-based economy in the UAE.
DFF made the announcement during an event in Emirates Towers, which saw the attendance of Sandbox Dubai partners and officials from local regulatory bodies and government entities. Sandbox Dubai is an innovative platform that seeks to enhance Dubai’s legislative and regulatory environment in line with future needs. Under the platform, government and private sector entities collaborate to create regulations and legislation that help businesses leverage new trends and technologies.
Sandbox Dubai launched to achieve D33
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, recently approved the Sandbox Dubai initiative as part of Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). There are two sandboxes under the initiative: The Gig Economy Sandbox and the PropTech Sandbox.
Khalifa AlQama, executive director of Sandbox Dubai, emphasized the essential role of private sector partners in developing regulations. Partners also play a key role in testing ideas and piloting projects to make Dubai the most future-ready city. “Sandbox Dubai team will work in collaboration with public and private sector partners to explore future opportunities and establish an ecosystem that gives everyone a chance to contribute to shaping the future of Dubai’s key sectors,” he added.
Gig Economy Sandbox
The Gig Economy Sandbox aims to develop regulations that meet the needs of sectors that often require seasonal workers. This includes workers in retail, hospitality, tourism, aviation, education, transport and logistics. This work will help these sectors to grow while boosting their competitiveness. Moreover, it ensures the future readiness of Dubai’s labor market.
“We are enthusiastic around the possibilities this new initiative will bring to promote innovation, boost capacity and broaden the talent pool in Dubai, and we stand ready to support with our expertise as this sector’s landscape evolves in size and significance,” stated Oliver Grohmann, executive vice president of human resources at Emirates Group.
The Gig Economy Sandbox will also contribute to sustainable economic growth in Dubai and the UAE, helping to reduce overheads for businesses while promoting greater flexibility for workers. The global economy has recently seen a significant increase in demand for seasonal employment, with companies and freelancers alike benefitting.
For his part, Ronaldo Mouchawar, vice president of Amazon Middle East, Africa, and Tukey said: “By leveraging Amazon’s global expertise and technology, we aim to pilot programs that create new opportunities for talent, enhance economic productivity, and drive innovative solutions that elevate customer experience.”
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Gig economy, a key component of growth
Meanwhile, Andro Valdes, VP of operations at Careem Technologies, explained that the Sandbox Dubai initiative is accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies by connecting public and private sectors to iterate and adapt regulatory practices. Valdes also noted that the gig economy is an important component of any strong economy. Hence, it helps enhance efficiency and create flexible earning opportunities.
For his part, Dino Varkey, group CEO of GEMS Education, added that the Gig Economy Sandbox “is a prime example of Dubai’s forward-thinking and innovative approach to public-private sector collaboration”. The initiative also reflects Dubai’s efforts in promoting economic growth through ever greater flexibility and opportunity and unlocking human capital in the emirate.
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