The situation in the world is now unstable, and everything is continuously changing, so each state needs to maintain reliability. To face new challenges and be prepared for change, the UAE is actively engaged in forecasting the future. The activities of the country are aimed at favorable changes in all areas of human activity. As part of future foresight, the UAE raises issues such as international relations, education, health, environment, economics, and others. Thanks to this approach, the government of the country can positively influence the current functioning of its state. Besides, this will have a positive effect on the future of the UAE. The purpose of this paper is to study the UAE government’s efforts towards the implementation of future foresight.
Strategy
UAE Future Foresight’s strategy is primarily aimed at creating government structures with which forecasting will become part of government planning. This means that decisions taken by the country’s top leadership will be based not only on the existing knowledge and needs of the state. This process will also include the expected changes in the country and the world, which must be taken into account in order to maintain a favorable situation in the state. Such forecasting requires a large number of people who are able to forecast or even predict future changes. This is possible due to the existence of educational programs devoted to futurology, and the mindset of people in general. These professionals realize that the world is changing very quickly, and in order to succeed, they need to adapt to the changes.
As part of UAE Future Foresight, an interactive electronic platform has been created that collects all the information about future foresight. Thanks to this platform, the foreseeing culture is much more accessible to people, which should positively affect society. Thus, they can get more information about where the state is moving and where they need to move as well. They can adjust their life trajectory based on forecasting and help the state develop more productively.
In addition, there is a Future Foresight Network on LinkedIn: a social network for business communication. Within this network, experts have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss state activities aimed at forecasting the future and related policies. One such direction of work is the application of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology on a state scale.
Initiative
The UAE government is developing a strategy for changes in many areas of the state’s functioning: infrastructure, technology, resources, health, education, etc. Such an integrated approach enables the state to develop harmoniously and achieve a positive effect on all spheres of human life. One of the most important areas of work is developed in the direction of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. The UAE government has launched an initiative that aims at extensive utilization of digital technologies to “create a standard definition of the technologies at the federal level” (“UAE Presents Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Initiatives at Its Annual Government Meeting,” par. 4). Blockchain technology allows for structured and easily accessible complex managing of a large amount of data.
This approach provides numerous opportunities for continuous improvement in two vital areas. Firstly, the application of artificial intelligence and blockchain initiative will help to attract foreign investors to the state, which will enhance the economic sustainability of the UAE (“UAE Presents Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Initiatives at Its Annual Government Meeting”). The extensive utilization of blockchain technology across the country is a big project that might interest diverse stakeholders and provide the UAE with numerous developmental opportunities within the realm of international cooperation.
Secondly, this initiative fosters the creation of effective technological infrastructure that will allow for transforming “50 percent of government transactions into the blockchain platform by 2021” (“Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021,” par. 1). The government relies on the blockchain initiative and forecasts that in case of successful implementation, it will help save expenses on paperwork. Indeed, since all national documents will be placed and processed in the secure digital database, it will save 398 million printed documents per year, and 77 million hours of work (“Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021”). Overall, the initiative draws perspective developmental ways for the country in the future by investing in technological advancement.
Program
There are several activities carried out within the framework of the government’s initiative, all of which address the extensive utilization of technologies across different areas of work. One such activity is of educational nature and is entitled The National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Capacity Building (“UAE Presents Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Initiatives at Its Annual Government Meeting”).
This program is being implemented across the UAE universities where scholarships and special courses in artificial intelligence and blockchain are developed. Since such courses are created for various professions, all the spheres, including economics, healthcare, finances, industries, and others will benefit from technological advancement in the future. In such a manner, the UAE government integrates its strategic decision-making into the creation of initiatives, which are implemented through particular programs aimed at leading technological change across the country’s vital spheres of activity.
Works Cited
“Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021.” UAE. 2020.Web.
“UAE Presents Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Initiatives at Its Annual Government Meeting.” Asia Blockchain Review. 2019. Web.