AI is crucial for achieving UAE’s Net Zero goals by 2050: Sheikha Shamma

Original published by WAM on March 10, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is crucial for the UAE in its ambitious efforts to tackle climate change, according to a senior Emirati official who graduated an AI programme from the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to play a fundamental role in the UAE's transition to a green economy and in achieving our Net Zero goals by 2050,” said H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President & CEO, UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA). The MBZUAI Executive Programme (MEP) has delivered vital insight into how AI research is delivering real-world solutions to climate challenge, she emphasised.

“After participating in the programme, I am committed to ensuring AI tools are integrated into our strategies at the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, as we work alongside our partners to build a more sustainable future,” H.H. Sheikha Shamma added.

H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan

Three other Emirati officials who also graduated the MBZUAI Executive Programme shared their experience of the programme and views about the application of the AI.

Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), said, “Experiencing first-hand the healthcare-centric research being conducted right here in Abu Dhabi at MBZUAI through the lens of the university’s Executive Programme has significantly broadened our understanding of how AI can help address some of the unique medical challenges facing our regional population.”

He stressed, “As the UAE’s healthcare sector grows, AI will play an increasingly expansive role in everything from disease diagnosis to genetic mapping.”

Mohamed Rashid Bintaliah, Chief of Government Services – UAE Government, Prime Minister’s Office, pointed out that digital transformation is underpinning the growth and efficiency of the UAE’s government services.
“Therefore, we are now able to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to better understand and more quickly deliver what the country’s population needs.”

He further explained, “From data analysis to forecasting trends, we have developed a more nuanced understanding of how AI can shape the future of digital citizen services.”

Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy (DoE), said the energy sector in Abu Dhabi has produced vast amounts of digital data. “AI is a critical element of analysing such information to better allocate resources and enhance operations, and derive better-informed strategies, policies, and regulations for the energy sector.”

Through the evolving use of AI and Machine Learning in various DoE functions – the MBZUAI Executive Programme delivered robust insight on how AI can leverage big data enable greater flexibility and productivity within our industry, he added.