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Hamdan bin Mohammed, Maktoum bin Mohammed issue directives to set up task force to track digital economy

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DUBAI (WAM) – Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, reviewed vital technology trends in the Metaverse and issued directives to form a task force to track the latest developments in the digital economy.

The move is part of the directives issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, during the previous meeting of the Dubai Council.

Sheikh Mohammed had directed the formation of a higher committee to supervise technological developments in the emirate and oversee developments in the digital economy, contributing to enhancing Dubai’s status as the best city in the virtual space thanks to innovative services and its advanced regulatory and legislative framework.

Sheikh Hamdan said the formation of the higher committee to oversee technological advances in Dubai reflects the farsighted vision of father, who always looks ahead and takes proactive and prompt decisions to harness potential opportunities. The decision would cement Dubai’s status as a key city in the metaverse, he added.

Sheikh Hamdan noted that the committee had started work on key pillars and the objectives of the Dubai Metaverse Strategy. Based on data and information, the strategy aims to increase the contribution of the metaverse sector to Dubai’s economy to US$4 billion by 2030 and increase its contribution to Dubai’s GDP to 1 percent.

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During the meeting, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications and Chairman of The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, outlined how Dubai stands to benefit from the metaverse in a way that enables it to generate business opportunities beyond its physical borders.

The committee aims to implement metaverse technologies that can help improve the performance of resident surgeons by 230 percent and increase the productivity of engineers by 30 percent, in addition to supporting 42,000 jobs to become virtual.

Dubai plans to become a key player in the virtual world and is developing a regulatory and legislative framework for the sector. It is also launching projects and initiatives that will further raise its stature in the virtual world.

The committee is currently working on identifying opportunities and challenges and continuing the development of the legislative framework that covers future requirements of all sectors. In addition, the committee is working on qualifying human capital to be able to excel in the virtual world.

The metaverse is a virtual-reality space where users interact with computer-generated environments and other users. It combines elements of social media, augmented reality, virtual reality, video games, cryptocurrencies, and other advanced technologies.

Current estimates expect business revenues from the metaverse could grow from US$180 billion to US$400 billion by 2025.

Earlier this month, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) said it had entered the metaverse with the establishment of its Metaverse HQ, making it the first regulator to have a presence in the emerging digital space. Expanding VARA’s resources to a borderless audience is part of Dubai’s strategy to create a prototype decentralised regulator model.

It also aims to make it accessible to government and industry leaders, other authorities and virtual asset service providers to help shape the future digital economy. VARA’s MetaHQ will utilise The Sandbox platform, an Ethereum blockchain-based application that allows users to create, sell and purchase digital assets.

 

 

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    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and brother Sheikh Maktoum took an overview of the vision and strategy ahead for the digital economy. WAM

  • Dubai-digital-economy

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Dubai Police warn motorists face Dh1,000 fine and six black points for stopping suddenly on the road

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Dubai Police have issued a strong warning to motorists against stopping suddenly in the middle of the road, saying the move can land drivers with a Dh1,000 fine and six black points under the Federal Traffic Law.

According to Juma Salem Bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, stopping without a valid reason poses a serious risk to lives, especially on high-speed roads like Sheikh Zayed Road.

What drivers should do

Police urged motorists never to stop in the middle of the road for any reason. If there’s an issue:

  • Move to the nearest exit or safe shoulder immediately
  • If the vehicle cannot be moved, call the Command and Control Centre on 999 for assistance

This helps prevent traffic pile-ups and potentially fatal accidents.

Why sudden stopping is so dangerous

Dubai Police warned that abrupt stops often lead to rear-end collisions, particularly when drivers behind are distracted or unable to react in time.

The responsibility, officials said, usually lies with the driver who stops suddenly and without warning, as this behaviour can trigger chain accidents and major traffic disruptions.

Focus, distance, responsibility

Authorities also highlighted the dangers of distraction and lack of focus while driving, noting that such behaviour can result in serious injuries or fatalities, in addition to legal consequences.

Drivers were urged to:

  • Stay alert at all times
  • Avoid tailgating
  • Maintain safe distances to allow enough reaction time

Police have also urged drivers to stick to the minimum speed as it helps traffic flow smoothly. Driving too slowly in fast lanes can confuse other motorists and increase the risk of collisions.






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Dubai Crown Prince meets Elon Musk to discuss future tech, and drives him around the city

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Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met Elon Musk, CEO of X, SpaceX, Tesla and Starlink, for high-level discussions on technology, innovation and the future of humanity, and then surprised social media by sharing a very personal glimpse of the meeting.

The meeting took place at Sheikh Hamdan’s majlis in Nad Al Sheba, in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.

@faz3’s post steals the spotlight

Sheikh Hamdan set social media buzzing on Sunday after sharing photos of the meeting on his Instagram account @faz3, revealing that he personally drove Elon Musk around Dubai during the visit.

In the caption, the Crown Prince described the interaction as a “multifaceted discussion” covering space exploration, cutting-edge technology and the future of humanity.

“I very much enjoyed a multifaceted discussion with Elon Musk on space, technology and humanity. Excited to see what the future holds,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote.

The candid images offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the meeting, quickly drawing attention from followers across the UAE and beyond.

A conversation about the future

Beyond the viral moment, the meeting focused on the rapid technological transformations reshaping the world and how emerging solutions can be leveraged to support sustainable, inclusive development for humanity.

Discussions also explored how innovation can help address global challenges while shaping a future defined by shared progress and prosperity.

Dubai’s rise as a global tech hub

The talks highlighted Dubai and the UAE’s growing status as global technology and innovation destinations, driven by:

  • Forward-looking legislation and regulations
  • Early adoption of emerging technologies
  • Incentives that attract global talent
  • Strong partnerships with leading international tech companies

Dubai’s advanced digital infrastructure and fast-growing digital economy were also cited as key pillars of its success.

AI, future tech and quality of life

Sheikh Hamdan reaffirmed the UAE’s long-term strategy to advance artificial intelligence and future technologies, noting their role in:

  • Enhancing quality of life
  • Boosting economic competitiveness
  • Setting new global benchmarks

He stressed that sustained investment in human capital, alongside global collaboration, continues to fuel the UAE’s thriving innovation ecosystem.

Musk praises UAE’s vision

Elon Musk praised the UAE’s forward-looking leadership and the strides it has made in technology, artificial intelligence and space exploration, wishing continued progress and prosperity for the nation and its people.

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UAE cuts work permit approvals from 10 days to just one second with AI

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Automation is revolutionising the UAE’s labour market services. At the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), human effort has been reduced by 56 per cent, with 175,000 of 310,000 requests between February and October fully automated. Even more impressively, review and approval times for eligible quota requests have been slashed by up to 99 per cent,  from 10 days to just one second.

This dramatic efficiency gain comes from MoHRE’s AI-powered smart work permit system, which automatically verifies eligibility, allocates quotas, and uses predictive models to anticipate workforce needs, all while minimising delays, errors, and manual intervention.

The Ministry says this milestone reflects its technology-driven approach to service development, combining advanced AI solutions, a robust digital infrastructure, and continuous upskilling of employees to manage smart automation effectively. Seamless electronic integration with government partners further enhances speed and reliability.

A standout feature is the AI-powered quota allocation system, which supports business growth by proactively assigning workforce quotas based on an establishment’s operational status and real-time needs. The system ensures companies can meet staffing requirements quickly while streamlining approvals and reducing delays.

Since the start of the year until October, the platform has granted around 900,000 work permit quotas and processed over 11 million transactions through automation. For additional quotas, predictive models automatically approve requests when possible, while cases that exceed certain thresholds are referred to specialised committees.

With self-learning capabilities, the system continuously refines its decision-making by analysing new data and monitoring operational patterns. Over time, this leads to more accurate predictions, smarter approvals, and higher-quality outcomes.

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