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His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), approved the launch of ‘Dubai Program for Gaming 2033’, which seeks to position Dubai among the top 10 cities in the global gaming industry and generate 30,000 new jobs in the gaming sector. The programme also aims to significantly boost the sector’s contribution to the growth of Dubai’s digital economy and increase the GDP by approximately $1 billion by 2033. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy chaired by His Highness. The meeting, attended by the Committee’s members, also saw the launch of three new initiatives under the ‘Dubai Metaverse Strategy’. Sheikh Hamdan said: “Dubai will persist in aligning with global trends as it shapes and builds its digital economy, harnessing advanced technology and evaluating both current and forthcoming disruptions. This is in accordance with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to ensure that Dubai stands among the most future-ready cities globally. “The launch of these new initiatives demonstrates Dubai’s dedication to establishing a nurturing ecosystem for cutting-edge technological tools, solutions, and digital transformation. This commitment is geared towards making a positive impact, empowering individuals, and embracing technological and digital communities within a secure and supportive framework.” Dubai Program for Gaming 2033His Highness further stated: “Through the launch of ‘Dubai Program for Gaming 2033,’ our objective is to establish an incubating environment for developers and to draw leading technology companies from across the globe, particularly those specializing in digital content and experiences. The programme will offer support to developers, designers, programmers, as well as entrepreneurs and startups in the creative industries.” “Dubai is well-positioned to tap into the vast opportunities within the gaming sector, which is estimated at approximately $200 billion globally. We are strategically positioned to contribute to the advancement of emerging trends like VR and AI, elevating them to provide even more immersive and realistic experiences,” His Highness added. Overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, the ‘Dubai Program for Gaming 2033’, will focus on three main areas including talent, content, and tech. This is in line with various national strategies that aim to strengthen the UAE and Dubai’s digital economy. The initiative aims to create a global platform in Dubai that brings together digital content creators and provides training and job opportunities in partnership with international companies, universities and academic institutions. It will also support entrepreneurs and innovators, as well as launch specialised educational and training programmes. ‘Dubai Program for Gaming 2033’ will include various initiatives, including local and international events and exhibitions. It will also provide opportunities for partnership and cooperation with individuals, companies and regulatory bodies locally, regionally and globally. Three Metaverse InitiativesDuring the meeting, His Highness also approved the launch of the ‘Metaverse Alliance’, ‘Metaverse Guidelines’ and ‘Metaverse Pioneers’ as part of the ‘Dubai Metaverse Strategy’, which aims to consolidate Dubai’s position as a world leader in metaverse development and a global hub for the metaverse community. ‘Metaverse Alliance’‘Metaverse Alliance’ is a global network that will include various government entities, international technology companies, entrepreneurs and startups specialised in the metaverse world. This alliance is designed to promote collaborations and partnerships for both global and national projects that are centered around, or incorporate, virtual worlds or interactions. It will identify suitable partners among global technology companies, startups, and talented individuals. Furthermore, the alliance will be instrumental in delivering global technological solutions for local projects with the goal of enhancing existing government services, introducing innovative government services, and establishing an enabling environment for new and innovative technologies. ‘Metaverse Guidelines’‘Metaverse Guidelines’ aims to identify the most impactful metaverse applications and provide a comprehensive framework for Dubai government entities to regulate and define the optimal uses of the metaverse in government work. ‘Metaverse Pioneers’‘Metaverse Pioneers’ is a comprehensive programme aimed at equipping Dubai government employees with the essential skills and tools to harness the potential of metaverse technology in their professional capacities. The programme encompasses in-depth content covering the Metaverse concept, its uses, and applications. It also includes a range of events, training sessions, and workshops organised by Digital Dubai to identify future opportunities that align with this emerging technology. 500 participants in ‘Create Apps in Dubai’Sheikh Hamdan was also briefed on the latest updates of the projects and initiatives launched within the framework of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy. These include the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative, which has attracted and trained 500 Emirati talent in the field of mobile application development. Launched in March 2023 and overseen by the Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy, this initiative aims to establish a platform for enhancing the technological skills of 1,000 talented Emiratis and facilitate the launch of their mobile applications. As a result, this will contribute to strengthening Dubai’s mobile application market, particularly with the support of numerous government entities and in collaboration with major global technology companies. 64,000 SMEs on Amazon’s UAE storeThe meeting also highlighted the accomplishments of Amazon’s initiative, which aims to feature products from 100,000 small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) on its UAE store by 2026. Since the initiative’s launch in March 2023, a total of 14,000 new companies have registered on the platform. This represents a remarkable increase of 28% in less than six months, bringing the total number of participating companies to 64,000. ‘Metaverse Accelerator Program’Participants in the meeting of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy also reviewed the future plans of the ‘Metaverse Accelerator Program’, launched by Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) in January 2023 in line with the ‘Dubai Metaverse Strategy’. A total of 10 regional and international startups have graduated as part of the first batch of the Program. The Program has attracted more than 250 applications from the UAE and

Dubai’s digital transformation journey has ignited a profound shift across all vital service sectors, propelling them to adopt the latest cutting-edge digital technologies. This visionary embrace of technology is not merely about innovation; it’s a concerted effort to elevate the quality of life for Dubai’s residents. By leveraging the latest advancements, the city is crafting digital solutions that enhance safety, healthcare, education, and overall well-being. The Dubai Health Authority stands as a key government entity at the forefront of driving digital transformation in the healthcare sector, aligning with the city’s vision to become a leading global smart city and innovation hub. In 2014, the Authority embarked on an ambitious digital transformation journey, with the aim of revolutionizing healthcare experiences for patients and residents through a fusion of innovation and smart technologies. Today, DHA steadfastly continues its commitment to smart transformation, channeling these efforts into the evolution of the healthcare system within the emirate. This evolution is achieved through the provision of smart services, digital platforms, and applications that align with the ever-changing landscape, streamlining processes, conserving time and effort, and ultimately, delivering top-tier services while fostering community awareness and engagement. To date, the Authority managed to achieve remarkable progress in its journey towards smart transformation and ensuring the sustainability of the health sector. Notable milestones include a 98.55% digital completion rate, a 98.91% automation of internal processes, a 93.42% digital adoption rate, and a 100% smart remote inspection rate, all made possible through the implementation of the ‘RASED’ system Digital Transformation ProjectsIn an effort to create a robust health sector in the emirate, DHA’s established the NABIDH platform for the secure exchange of reliable healthcare information among licensed health facilities in Dubai. The innovative platform enables healthcare providers to securely access and share comprehensive medical records of patients from both public and private health facilities in Dubai.To date, the number of unified medical files available on the platform has reached 7.8 million. Furthermore, since its launch in October 2020, the platform has facilitated the exchange of over 352 million messages containing new health data from facilities associated with the platform. Another innovative initiative that the Authority continues to develop is ‘Sheryan’, a system aimed at improving healthcare facility services and professional licensing services while aligning it with the regulations outlined by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. DHA has undertaken several enhancements to streamline the platform’s user interface and link it with various government entities, including the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, thereby reducing transaction processing times. Since the system’s automation in 2019 up to the first half of this year, the ‘Sheryan’ platform has facilitated more than 4 million transactions. The number of registered health professionals in Dubai now stands at 85,000, with 76,000 professionals having applied for electronic exams. During this same period, the platform has audited the certificates of 116,000 professionals, marking significant progress and efficiency in the licensing and registration processes. HASANA SystemTo align with its accelerated smart transformation, the DHA has upgraded its Public Health Solution for Disease Surveillance Management. The improved version of the innovative solution called HASANA, which means immunity, aims to seamlessly integrate all government and private health facilities in Dubai, ensuring the creation of a unified immunization record for each client across all health facilities in the city. Furthermore, it establishes a robust system to effectively manage and control the transmission of communicable diseases. The upgraded immunity system offers several key advantages, with early warning being paramount for the timely detection of disease outbreaks. It achieves this by collecting and analyzing data related to disease occurrences, alongside laboratory reports, hospitalization records, and other relevant indicators. Furthermore, the HASANA system offers electronic vaccination certificate issuance services, equipping decision-makers with essential data to identify and proactively prevent infectious disease outbreaks. It aids in controlling their spread efficiently by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, analytical tools, dashboards, and reports. The HASANA system has 5,473 users from affiliated service providers, serving a vast customer base that has exceeded 15.8 million individuals. Additionally, the system encompasses access to a total of 991 health facilities. Smart TransactionsThe number of smart transactions registered on DHA’s digital platforms witnessed a substantial increase during the first half of the year, with 2.3 million transactions recorded, marking a 13% increase from the same period in 2022. Furthermore, health licensing services provided through DHA’s smart applications saw a 25% increase in transactions compared to the first half of 2022, with 667,000 transactions in the current year, up from 533,000 in 2022. Artificial Intelligence DeploymentAs part of the Authority’s commitment to harness advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, AI tools are employed to assess the eligibility of health professionals in the sector seeking medical practice licenses. In the first half of 2023, approximately 70,000 applicants underwent evaluation through the ‘Sheryan’ platform. Additionally, AI is utilized to expedite the issuance of certificates of good conduct for health sector workers, resulting in 3,457 certificates being issued during the same period. Community AwarenessDHA has also been utilizing its digital platforms to conduct virtual health awareness workshops targeting both healthcare professionals and community members.  The Authority carried out 57 awareness campaigns aimed at various communities and schools in the first half of 2023. These campaigns reached around 64,000 individuals, including over 11,000 students.