His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to technological transformation as a crucial element of its strategic vision to become a hub for shaping the future. The UAE is dedicated to advancing its technological capabilities through exemplary partnerships with leading global technology developers, actively promoting collaborations to drive emerging trends, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.
The statement was made during Sheikh Hamdan’s visit to the offices of Google at the Dubai Innovation Hub. Upon his arrival at the company’s headquarters, His Highness was welcomed 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 several other executives, who expressed their appreciation for the UAE as an inspiring model in harnessing advanced technologies and AI solutions.
Read more: Sheikh Hamdan meets Google’s president, emphasizes AI for $27.2 billion annual growth
Strong synergy
The visit underscores the strong synergy between the UAE and the global tech company, particularly in the realms of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. This partnership traces back to 2008, when Google established its offices in Dubai – the largest in the Middle East and North Africa – underscoring a collaboration that bolsters the leadership’s vision for the UAE’s digital transformation journey.
His Highness was briefed on Google’s initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence, including the company’s contributions through tools like the Gemini personal assistant and the NotebookLM application for research and writing – both powered by AI. His Highness’s visit also included a preview of the Google Economic Impact Report for 2024, which highlighted the economic spinoffs from Google products such as Search, YouTube, Maps, Cloud, and Ads.
The report delves into the overall impact of Google’s products and services and the value the company brings to users, businesses, and communities across the UAE. This marks the first time Google has released such a report for the country.
His Highness was also informed about the Google Accessibility Discovery Center in Dubai, which opened in September 2024. This facility is one of only seven worldwide and is the first and only of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Google executives reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the UAE’s digital transformation goals, as evidenced by training and capacity-building initiatives. Notably, Google has trained approximately 420,000 individuals in AI and how to leverage its technologies for business growth through its ‘Grow with Google’ program.
Strategic vision
At the end of the visit, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan expressed his gratitude for Google’s significant role in the UAE and the broader region, reaffirming Dubai’s dedication to leveraging technological advancements to accelerate sustainable development and shape the future. He reiterated Dubai’s ambition to become a leading global hub for technological innovation through strategic partnerships with influential companies like Google.
His Highness was accompanied during the visit by His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; and His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
Dubai considers the development and co-creation of future technologies – especially AI – a strategic priority, Dubai Media Office reported. This focus is a core pillar of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aiming to generate an average of AED100 billion annually in economic value from digital transformation and position Dubai as a global capital of the digital economy and a key player in the international digital landscape.
