– Dubai has launched a series of initiatives under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aiming to double its GDP by 2033 and strengthen its global position in tech innovation, AI, and entrepreneurship.
– The Government Venture Building Program, National Tech Skills Enhancement Program, and IGNYTE platform are key projects, designed to boost innovation, train 5,000 Emirati students, and support 100,000 startups by 2029.
– Dubai’s CleanScape project and regulatory sandboxes in the gig economy and PropTech sectors aim to enhance urban planning, sustainability, and future regulatory frameworks for emerging industries.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has endorsed a set of initiatives aimed at advancing national tech capabilities and fostering continuous innovation.
These initiatives are part of the ambitious Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which targets doubling the city’s GDP by 2033 and positioning Dubai among the top three urban economies worldwide.
Sheikh Hamdan reviewed a detailed report on the progress of previous projects and explored new initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), and urban sustainability.
Among the key projects is the Government Venture Building Program, which seeks to turn government assets into innovative commercial ventures. By collaborating with organizations like the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and the Dubai AI Campus, the program aims to drive growth in space exploration and public safety sectors.
For instance, the Space Labs for Earth project will enhance Dubai’s commercial space market, while AI solutions developed with Dubai Civil Defence are set to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
The National Tech Skills Enhancement Program is another major initiative, which aims to train 5,000 Emirati university students in technical fields over the next five years. This program will equip young talent with essential on-the-job skills, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. Through mentorship and placements with leading tech companies, it seeks to boost Emirati contributions to the digital economy.
Additionally, the IGNYTE Platform aims to support over 100,000 startups by 2029, establishing Dubai as a global hub for entrepreneurship. Expected to launch in late 2024, the platform will connect startups with investors, mentors, and corporate partners worldwide. IGNYTE’s goals include attracting 5,000 venture capital firms and 5,000 expert mentors, offering perks valued at over $100 million to help startups grow.
Another initiative, CleanScape, developed with the MIT Senseable City Lab, focuses on enhancing Dubai’s urban landscape through data-driven approaches. By combining demographic and traffic data with technologies like computer vision, CleanScape aims to improve city planning, reduce operational costs, and promote sustainable urban management.
The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has also launched two new sandboxes as part of its Dubai Sandbox initiative. These sandboxes are designed to stimulate innovation and support regulatory developments in key sectors like the gig economy and PropTech.
The Gig Economy Sandbox will explore flexible work models and inform the regulatory frameworks needed to support future industries.
The PropTech Sandbox will focus on accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility of Dubai’s real estate sector.
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