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Emirates

FUTURE100 signs new partnerships to support growth of future economy sectors

ABU DHABI, 2nd March, 2023 (WAM) — The FUTURE100, the joint initiative between the Ministry of Economy and the Government Development and the Future Office, has attracted new strategic partnerships to support the top 100 emerging companies that contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the future of the economic sectors, which include CSR UAE, Microsoft, Careem and FTI Consulting.

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, and Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and The Future, witnessed the signing of the strategic partnership agreements during the Investopia 2023 Summit taking place in Abu Dhabi.

Competitive incentives

The new partnerships will achieve the initiative’s objectives aimed at enhancing the readiness for the future, strengthening the UAE's position as a destination for new economy companies, encouraging investment in future economy, accelerating business growth in promising new sectors, as well as providing a conducive business environment for the future of the economic sectors.

The first set of partnerships provides competitive advantages, incentives, and facilities to enable entrepreneurs and emerging companies to establish future economy companies, expand their business reaching global markets, and develop their network of relationships for greater opportunities.

Al Marri stated that the Investopia summit supports innovative startups based on modern technology across various sectors, with the aim to solidify the UAE’s global position as an attractive destination for future projects and a permanent hub for creativity and innovation, reflecting the directives of the UAE leadership to establish an economic model based on knowledge and innovation, in line with the principles of the 50 and the UAE Centennial 2071 goals.

He added, “The ‘Future 100’ initiative, recently launched in collaboration with the Government Development and the Future Office, seeks to support 100 companies that have the potential to shape the UAE’s future economy in the coming years. It will achieve this goal by highlighting top 100 emerging companies, annually. Investopia will play a key role in supporting the UAE government’s efforts in order to enhance the competitiveness of national future economy sectors. The summit will also contribute to the mobilisation of local and foreign investments, especially in space industries, AI, renewable energy, and others, thus driving the national economy’s sustainable development and promoting its global competitiveness.”

Readiness for the future

Al Roumi remarked that FUTURE100 initiative is a proactive step that enhances the readiness of companies for the future in new sectors, aiming to keep pace with future trends and rapid global transformations.

She affirmed that the UAE has achieved economic excellence for more than half a century due to its wise leadership, and today the country is working on designing the future of the new economy to take advantage of promising opportunities and respond to challenges efficiently and quickly leveraging flexible business models, to support creative entrepreneurs, and to accelerate the growth of new sectors.

The Minister further explained that the first list of 100 companies from the future will be announced on the World Futures Day, marked on the second of December 2023, coinciding the UAE’s National Day, added that “FUTURE100 initiative strengthens the UAE’s position as a global hub in future economy, to attract leading entrepreneurial projects and global competencies, in line with the directives of the UAE leadership and ‘We the UAE 2031' vision to create success stories in the future economy and export the new economy companies to global markets.”

Al Roumi highlighted the Government Development and the Future Office role, in working with its strategic partners to achieve the initiative's vision to create an incubating environment for the future economy and provide promising future opportunities for companies in new sectors.

Nuha Safar, Director of CSR UAE, said, “The CSR vision is to make the UAE a global driver of Sustainable Impact. The heart of a sustainable country and economy predominantly comes from the sustainability of its businesses. Building on the announcement of the Year of Sustainability, we are committed to advancing the agenda of supporting SME's towards a sustainable future, designing frameworks to recognise and accelerate these businesses through Future 100."

Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, stated, “we are honoured to become part of this initiative. Start-ups are vital for the professional development of the UAE: they foster innovation, create jobs, and contribute to the diversification of the economy. At Microsoft, we have been supporting budding enterprises through a variety of tools as well as tailored skilling and learning programs for decades and initiatives such as the FUTURE100 Partnership help bring a real sense of scale to these efforts. We look forward to the great innovation that will come out of this programme.”

Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and Co-Founder at Careem, commented, "The Future 100 initiative is creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to solve big problems and drive impact in important economic sectors such as emerging technology. These efforts will make the UAE an even more competitive destination for entrepreneurship and help unlock potential and nurture innovation in support of building a secure future for the region. Careem is proud to support the initiative by providing mentorship and access to the Careem platform."

Vikas Papriwal Senior Managing Director, Leader of FTI Consulting Middle East and Africa, said, “As an inaugural partner of the “Future 100” initiative we are proud to continue our commitment to the UAE. The UAE is leading the way in shaping the future economy and we are happy to play our part in this journey. At FTI Consulting, we pride ourselves on being experts with impact. As a partner of “Future 100” we look forward to using our expertise as a catalyst for the growth of ‘Future economy’ SMEs in the UAE.”

FUTURE100 initiative aims to support the new economic sectors that will shape the national future economy, including the start-ups sector due to its contribution to the national economy and being one of the main goals on the UAE government’s main agenda. The initiative also celebrates the successes of the private sector in the UAE being a pivotal partner in the development process.

The 'FUTURE100' initiative is open to companies and entrepreneurs who wish to benefit from it. Applications can be submitted by visiting the website http://future100.ae/ before June 30, 2023. The evaluation process will begin at a later stage.

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Emirates

World Free Zones Organization Launches its New Corporate Identity

The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) has launched its new corporate identity, which coincided
with its 10th anniversary. The launch came during the 10 th World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) World Congress in Dubai held under the theme ‘Zones and the Shifting Global Economic Structures – Unlocking New Investment Avenues’, In conjunction with the launch of its new corporate identity, the World FZO announced its new vision, mission, and purpose. Its new vision focuses on driving global economic progress, sustainability, and inclusive growth through empowered free zones, setting the benchmark for economic advancement. As part of its new mission, the World FZO aims to engage with free zones from around the world by supporting them through knowledge
sharing, networking, advocacy, and consulting, enhancing their positive impact and contributions to economic and social development in their respective countries.
The World FZO reaffirmed its commitment to its core values while enhancing its approach by adopting the
latest practices and keeping pace with rapid global changes. This forward-thinking approach enables the
organisation to reshape prevailing perceptions and highlight its distinctive and innovative methods.
With its new identity, the World FZO also emphasise its dedication to launching purposeful and transparent initiatives that solidify its role as a catalyst for positive change on the global stage.
The organisation’s new corporate identity represents its three strategic pillars: Impact, Influence, and Trust. Its focus on Impact will drive sustainable growth and effectiveness, ensuring that free zones remain at the forefront of socio-economic development and innovation. Under its second pillar, Influence, it seeks to shape the future of global trade and investment by advocating for policies that foster growth and opportunity for businesses and communities. Furthermore, by building Trust, the organizations will reinforce its role as a steadfast ally, providing the advocacy needed to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving global landscape. The organisation’s key objectives for its new phase include opening new investment horizons and reinforcing social contributions by supporting net-zero initiatives.
The World FZO remains focused on fostering trade relations and partnerships between economic zones in its member countries, while broadening its activities to encompass emerging economic sectors. These sectors align with the demands of the era, including artificial intelligence, digital trade, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and advanced technologies.

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Emirates

Dubai Customs Launches Innovative Training Program to Enhance Emiratisation Efforts

– Specialized Vocational Program Under "Masar 33" Aims to Train and Employ 80
Citizens
– Sultan Bin Sulayem: Our Plans Align with National Vision and Goals
– Abdulla Mohammed Busenad: A Strong Commitment to Supporting
Nationalization Efforts in the UA

Dubai Customs is launching a significant initiative to train and employ 80 new high school graduates as “Customs Inspectors.”in line with the vision of the Dubai government and contributing to the goals of the Dubai Economic and Social Agenda, along with the leadership’s commitment to invest in citizens and increase Emiratisation rates.
This initiative is part of the department’s commitment to enhance the participation of citizens
in the economic development process and to support the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan goals
by investing in the youth and equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to
keep pace with global changes. The department has allocated a vocational program in
customs inspection for candidates selected from Ru’ya Careers UAE 2024, providing them
with professional training for seven months both domestically and internationally before they
take up available positions. This initiative is part of the pioneering “Masar 33” program
designed to meet Dubai’s agenda goals by mobilizing all resources and development plans
to ensure the highest quality of life for citizens in the emirate. “Masar 33″aims to enhance
the competitiveness of Emirati talent through various initiatives, professional programs, and
scholarships, establishing Dubai Customs as a cornerstone for advancing the national
human development system, boosting its efficiency and productivity, and increasing its
participation in economic sectors to meet Dubai’s leading aspirations for the future.

Program Objectives:
The vocational program aims to nurture and train new high school graduates by enhancing
their professional skills in line with the Dubai government’s vision. It seeks to integrate
citizens into the labor market from early stages, ensuring their future success and
competitiveness. Additionally, it focuses on building the capabilities of customs inspectors on
scientific and advanced training foundations to address security risks and protect the
community and economy from customs evasion and smuggling, achieving a 100%
nationalization rate in customs inspection at Dubai Customs.

Active Participation:

H.E. Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports,
Customs and Free Zone Corporation, stated that the organization is committed through its
various initiatives and programs aimed at training and qualifying citizens to actively
contribute to the success of the UAE’s national vision, which is fundamentally based on the
Emirati workforce. He praised Dubai Customs for diversifying its projects in line with the
Dubai government’s plan and its social and economic agenda, enhancing the
competitiveness of citizens in the labor market for both the public and private sectors under
an ambitious strategy to encourage and promote nationalization policies.

Attracting Citizens:
H.E. Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, emphasized that
the department provides a range of specialized programs at the highest levels to attract
young citizens and involve them in the development process. Through “Masar 33” which
aligns with the objectives of the Dubai agenda and the leadership’s vision for enhancing
nationalization in both the public and private sectors, the programs enable citizens to gain
knowledge, field experience, and technical skills necessary for joining the labor market
through the approved career path. He noted that the initiative to train recent high school
graduates in customs professions builds upon Dubai Customs’ previous achievements in
qualifying citizens and the positive results attained through a series of diverse programs
covering the most in-demand job sectors. The department remains committed to enhancing
the efficiency of citizens and providing them with the professional opportunities they seek,
reinforcing its commitment to supporting nationalization efforts in the UAE.

Four Pillars:
Mohammed Al Ghaffari, Executive Director, Human Resources Division at Dubai Customs,
announced the opening of applications for the customs inspector training program during the
Ru’ya Careers UAE 2024 and provided the link to the official Dubai Government Jobs
website. The program is designed around four main pillars: digital skills programs, behavioral
programs, customs science programs, and security programs, alongside practical training in
the department’s customs centers and external training in collaboration with strategic
partners, which includes a comprehensive professional guidance program. He stated, “The
programs provided by Dubai Customs are increasingly popular among young citizens,
confirming the success of the department’ efforts in attracting national talent to shape future
leaders in customs work through various academic and specialized professional paths. This
offers new graduates the opportunity to qualify for roles in Dubai Customs, with 80 vacancies
allocated for graduates of the customs inspector training program.”

 

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Emirates

DCO Secretary-General commends Global Digital Compact at Summit of the Future

Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the
Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), said that “the digital divide the world faces today is
multifaceted, encompassing gaps in digital intelligence, computing capabilities, gender, and
skills,” in a speech at the Summit of the Future held during UNGA79 in New York.
In her speech, delivered after the UN General Assembly adopted the & Pact for the Future’ and the
‘Global Digital Compact’, AlYahya warned that “The AI and computing divide represents a
significant barrier, as some nations advance rapidly in AI innovation and deployment, while
others struggle to keep pace.
At the same time, the gender digital divide continues to limit women’s access to technology and
opportunities, and the skills divide leaves many without the digital competencies essential for
success in a fast-evolving economy. If we do not address these interconnected challenges, we
risk leaving entire communities behind.”
AlYahya praised the Global Digital Compact for “lays out an ambitious roadmap for an
inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all,” emphasizing that “It is a
bold vision, but the real challenge is translating these goals, principles, objectives, and
commitments into action, especially as we strive to achieve the SDGs.”
AlYahya highlighted that “at the Summit of the Future, the DCO proudly launched the Digital
Economy Navigator (DEN), an innovative tool that provides detailed insights on digital economy
performance across 50 countries. This initiative is just one of the many ways we are turning the
principles of the Global Digital Compact into action.”
She explained that “while DEN is a vital resource, it is only the beginning. In the spirit of
networked multilateralism, we must foster collective efforts to the GDC’s ambitious goals,
objectives, and commitments. I call upon every country, organization, and individual to join
forces in this critical endeavor.”
The Digital Economy Navigator (DEN) evaluates digital economy performance through three
intersecting dimensions: Digital Enablers, Digital Business, and Digital Society. Within these
dimensions, 10 pillars synthesize and summarize key aspects of countries’ digital economy, and
use of digital technology application from 102 indicators gathered from respected secondary data
sources, in addition to proprietary survey data of more than 27,000 participants across the 50
countries.
In addition to the launch of the DEN, on the sidelines of UNGA, DCO signed an agreement with
the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to enhance digital cooperation and accelerate
digital transformation across the world, to support efforts aimed at achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
It also signed a memorandum of understanding with the League of Arab States (LAS) to
accelerate the inclusive and sustainable digital economy, enhance relations and exchange experiences and knowledge, and accelerate the process of digital transformation and economic development.

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