Microsoft to help upskill 1 million UAE residents in AI by 2027
Sheikh Hamdan & Microsoft's Brad Smith announce huge skills initiative

#UAE #education - Microsoft has announced a transformative initiative to train one million UAE learners in essential AI skills by 2027. The announcement follows recent partnerships with local governments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah to skill 100,000 government employees in AI, as part of the company’s AI National Skills Initiative. The programme aligns with the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, aiming to establish the nation as a global leader in AI capabilities.
SO WHAT? - The initiative to upskill one million UAE residents is the latest of a series of big announcements from Microsoft this year, reflecting a big investment and long-term commitment to the country. Following the announcement of Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in Abu Dhabi AI powerhouse G42, the software giant has announced an AI for Good Lab, a centre for Responsible AI and plans for a Global Engineering Development Centre, all based in Abu Dhabi. Last month the company announced a new AI National Skills Imitative to upskill 100,000 government employees in AI. These announcements combined underscore a massive commitment from Microsoft to the UAE and a big boost for the country’s status as a global AI hub.
Here are some key details about the announcement:
The one million UAE AI learners initiative was announced on the sidelines of the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2024, during a meeting between H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chairman and President, to discuss AI innovation and partnerships across sectors crucial to the UAE's economy.
Microsoft’s AI upskilling programme will target a broad audience, including government entities, private companies, and UAE citizens, to foster widespread AI proficiency and digital transformation.
The initiative aims to empower UAE residents with practical AI skills for everyday tasks, enhancing productivity and enabling UAE citizens to contribute effectively to the digital economy.
Microsoft recently partnered with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah to launch the AI National Skills Initiative, targeting the upskilling of 100,000 government employees by 2025.
Microsoft’s UAE investment portfolio has grown significantly in 2024, including a $1.5 billion investment in AI firm G42, the launch of a Responsible AI Centre, and a new AI for Good Lab, all based in Abu Dhabi.
Microsoft’s expanded UAE cloud offerings, such as Azure public and sovereign cloud services, are now pivotal to the nation’s AI infrastructure, enabling the secure and scalable adoption of AI technology.
Microsoft’s AI skills training programme will offer a range of courses and resources, covering foundational AI knowledge, practical application, and AI integration in various work environments.
Courses for UAE residents will focus on cultivating digital literacy and practical AI skills, preparing a new generation of AI-enabled citizens.
Read more about Microsoft’s UAE investment:
Microsoft reveals UAE AI National Skills Initiative (Middle East AI News)
Microsoft to open Global Engineering Development Centre (Middle East AI News)
G42 & Microsoft prioritise responsible AI (Middle East AI News)
Microsoft's $1.5b investment a pivotal moment for G42 (Middle East AI News)