H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama

His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama was appointed as the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017, becoming the world’s first minister in this field. In July 2020, his role was expanded to include Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. In 2023, he was also appointed as the Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and as Director General of the Dubai Crown Prince’s Office, and he holds numerous other leadership positions. His Excellency, as the driving force behind the UAE’s AI strategy and digital economy initiatives, has a clear vision for establishing the country as a global leader in AI and technology. His focus areas include fostering a fertile AI ecosystem, enhancing the UAE’s competitive advantage in priority sectors, attracting and nurturing talent for future AI-enabled jobs, and promoting cutting-edge research collaborations with industries. His Excellency’s commitment to strong governance, effective regulation, and the provision of essential data and infrastructure, positions the UAE as a prime test bed for AI innovations. With initiatives like the Personal Data Protection Law, the National Program for Coders, and the UAE Council for AI and Blockchain, he aims to accelerate the growth and transformation of the digital economy, ultimately doubling its contribution to the UAE’s non-oil GDP within the next decade. His Excellency was named one of the hundred most influential people in AI by Time Magazine.