Background
In this paper, the focus is on the digital transformation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is seen as a pathway to the achievement of sustainability development goals (SDGs). The discussion presented adopts a sustainability perspective. The definition for the term sustainability is the efforts to reduce the environmental and other risks that seriously jeopardize the human species and to ensure the survival of future generations (Geissdoerfer, et al., 2017). In the UAE, technological advances are spearheaded by the government. Investments through UAE’s digital hubs such as Dubai as seen the region achieve remarkable success in the digitization efforts.
The figure above summarizes the current trends and interests in digital transformation in the UAE (Business Transformation, 2019). The graph indicates the major areas of concern among the UAE citizens. It presents evidence that the UAE population is willing to embrace the changes. Their interest in technological changes highlights the areas with which they are most concerned. These areas are digital security and digital marketing showing a mix of both precaution and innovation. The pioneers of digital transformation in the UAE need, therefore, to assure the residents that they can benefit from the change and those precautions are taken to protect their interests. Issues like privacy and security are the major determinants of successful implementation of the digital transformation.
Impacts of COVID-19
To start the discussion about digital transformation in the UAE, it is important to acknowledge that COVID-19 has shown why digitization is vital. The pandemic has forced world economies to a standstill due to the disruptions of economic activities. Other effects felt in the UAE and across the world include lockdowns and social distancing. All aspects of human life, including education and healthcare, have had to adapt, showing how the post-COVID-19 world will look like.
The UAE has had to fast-track the pursuit of 2030 digital goals to try and achieve them in 2020 (Nair, 2020). Businesses and other public services such as health and education are adversely affected. This means there is a need to create a future that prevents such levels of vulnerability is to be avoided. New policies are needed to facilitate recovery from the pandemic.
Education is one of the major considerations in both the SDGs and UAE’s digital transformation. COVID-19 has led to the closure of schools meaning the country has to halt the implementation of education policies. New methodologies and approaches are emerging in education, including online classes and virtual reality. Emerging literature on the innovative technologies for deployment in schools includes 4IR, a synonym for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 4IR is defined as the cyber-physical systems that involve wholly new capabilities for people and machines (Mhlanga and Moloi, 2020).
Current Policies and Digital Optimization
The current policies in UAE have been founded on a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These SDGs include quality education, affordable and clean energy, clean water and sanitation, industry, innovation, and infrastructure. Vision 2021 discussed is based on the SDG of clean energy. This is achieved by diversifies its income resources by switching from oil to cleaner energy. Vision 2030 achieves the SDG of industry, innovation, and infrastructure where the digital future is the key objective. Vision 2030 is the overarching policy guiding the country’s journey towards a digital future. The UAE needs to prepare for a future with no dependence on natural resources. This future is outlined in Vision 2030, whose pillars include sustainable knowledge economy, large and empowered private sector, and premium health care and education among others. ICTs are also integrated into these policies with digital goals, including financial technology and e-commerce (Smith, 2020).
Online classes are the major forms of digitization in education. The current and future generations are keen on adapting to the new norm. Online classes and courses can be taken remotely and thus allow education to continue despite the pandemic. The future, however, should involve complete digitization so the country will not endure such challenges as presented by the pandemic.
Remote Working
Remote working is another aspect of the digital transformation, whose importance is illustrated by the pandemic. ICTs have allowed many businesses today to consider the possibilities and benefits of remote working (Deloitte, 2020). In the UAE, the interests in remote working as the future of work emerged even before the pandemic. The commitment and investments in innovation, local talent, and entrepreneurship initiatives have been embedded in the 4IR as a response to these changes. Disruptive technologies like blockchain and big data are the major drivers of workplace changes.
The above graph indicates that remote working was already practiced before COVID-19. However, the pandemic has forced many to start working from home, with the percentage rising dramatically from 12% to 51%. It is assumed that after the crisis ends, more people will be left working remotely than before the crisis. Remote working can be a solution where everyone benefits for both the employees and employers. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen countries try to facilitate remote working as a measure to prevent businesses from shutting down completely.
References
Business Transformation, (2019). UAE and Saudi Arabia businesses most interested in digital transformation. Web.
Deloitte. (2020). COVID-19: workfirce strategies for a post-COVID-19 recovery. Deloitte: London.
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. and Hultink, E., 2017. The circular economy – a new sustainability paradigm?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, p. 757-768.
Mhlanga, D., and Moloi, T. (2020). ‘COVID-19 and the digital transformation of education: what are we learning on 4IR in South Africa?’, Education Sciences, 10(7), pp. 1-11.
Nair, M. (2020). UAE to build post COVID-19 economy on digital, announces two-phase recovery plan. Web.
Smith, S. (2020). Digital transformation in the GCC. Web.