In an effort to accelerate the process of digital transformation, UAE has launched a National Programme for Coders.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that the growth of the digital economy is a major priority for the government as part of which the UAE is looking forward to accelerating the development of the country’s talent and expertise in the sector.
Nurturing and empowering advanced skills represents a major pillar of the nation’s strategy for building a thriving digital future driven by advances in science, knowledge, innovation and technology. The UAE’s success in digital and technological transformation is a key enabler of its strategic plans, His Highness added.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launched a new initiative to foster the growth of the digital economy titled the ‘National Program for Coders’. The landmark Program will introduce a series of national initiatives to develop talent, expertise and innovation in the field of coding.
The initiative seeks to accelerate the adoption of digital applications and tools in various economic and future-oriented sectors by promoting close links and interaction between coders and public and private organisations and academic entities.
Announcing the new initiative on Twitter, His Highness said: “Today we launched the National Program for Coders in collaboration with Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), LinkedIn, Nvidia and Facebook, with the aim of training and attracting 100,000 coders, establishing 1000 digital companies within five years and increasing investment in startups from AED1.5 billion to AED4 billion”.
His Highness further said that the Program represents a major new step in developing the UAE’s digital economy. “The world is rapidly changing, and the fast-growing digital economy will create new types of jobs. To thrive in the ever-evolving world, we must be ready to quickly cope with the emerging trends.”
“Our youth need to know that the future has new tools, speaks a different language and adopts online work methodologies. We want them to be at the heart of this future. The National Program for Coders aims to engage local digital communities in the digital transformation of the UAE.
It further highlights the UAE’s leading role in designing the future, embracing talent, entrepreneurs, academics, startups, global companies, and future investments globally,” added His Highness.
“We seek to attract the best international coders and provide them with the infrastructure needed to develop innovative ideas that serve the world. We aim to establish 1,000 startups in the field of digital economy in the UAE within five years.
We will support national coders in developing themselves into the best in the world. We will employ promising talent in the development of 10 platforms for supporting social and humanitarian projects in the UAE,” said His Highness.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid issued directives to all government entities in the UAE in order to support the development of national and international coding talent; work with legislative bodies, business incubators, investment companies, universities and research centres to support coding-based initiatives and projects that foster national talent in the field; and further, develop the legislative framework to enable the UAE to keep pace with rapid global changes and the latest technological advances.
Under the supervision of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office, the ‘National Program for Coders’ aims to support national initiatives and future strategies in the UAE designed to develop the capabilities of national talent, attract global digital skills, and build the infrastructure necessary to establish broader innovation-based companies, , the authorities said.
The Programme further enables coding entrepreneurs, businesses and startups to support digital transformation in various key sectors. It also seeks to provide opportunities for fostering cooperation between government and private sector entities in the UAE and abroad to implement promising ideas and turn them into comprehensive projects.
