A report by Mohammed bin Rashid College with Google.org’s support to bridge the artificial intelligence gap in the Arab world
Dubai, 8 December / WAM / The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government issued a new research report entitled Bridging the Artificial Intelligence Gap: Governance, Innovation and Competitiveness in the Middle East and North Africa region, with support from Google.org, during the Second Arab Forum for Public Administration, which was hosted by Dubai in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
The report highlights the challenges facing the artificial intelligence system in the region and ways to develop regulatory frameworks and infrastructure that support this vital sector.
The report is based on a field study that included (327) small and medium-sized companies across ten Arab countries, where the results showed a high readiness of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the areas of governance, investment and infrastructure, compared to challenges that are still facing other countries such as inconsistent regulations, weak financing, and lack of competencies. Also, 69 percent of the participating companies expressed optimism about the prospects of the artificial intelligence sector in their countries, driven by supportive government policies and the growing global momentum in this field.
His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, CEO of the college, stressed that the region is witnessing a pivotal moment in the adoption of artificial intelligence, pointing out the necessity of bridging the current gap by enhancing comprehensive governance, providing a strong infrastructure, sustainable financing, and clear regulatory and ethical frameworks in a way that enables innovation and contributes to formulating a future road map for economic growth.
Rasha Al-Hallaq, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google in the UAE, said that the project provides an in-depth insight into the reality of emerging companies in the artificial intelligence sector, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for developing a competitive regional innovation environment.
The report indicates that small and medium-sized companies in the region are the most adoptive of artificial intelligence technologies, despite challenges related to financing, intellectual property rights, and high infrastructure costs. It confirms that enhancing research and development, developing specialized education, and setting clear regulations constitute essential elements to empower this sector and ensure the region’s effective contribution to shaping the future of artificial intelligence globally.
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