UAE all set for fourth industrial revolution

Dubai - The council will address different sectors from health and education to the shape of the future government to transfer ideas to reality.

The UAE will establish the first council in the world to implement technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, a UAE minister announced on Monday.  The council, which will be headed by the UAE Cabinet, will collaborate with the government and private and civil public society to establish a framework that would benefit the entire region.
Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future of the United Arab Emirates made the announcement during the Annual Meeting of Global Future Councils that took place on November 13-14.
The council, part of the six pillars that would help implement technologies, will address different sectors from health and education to the shape of the future government to transfer ideas to reality.
"We address different issues from renewable energy, water and food security, but the council will work with 5,000 experts, academics and researchers on putting initiatives and frameworks that will benefit the whole region," said Al Gergawi.
He added that the council will start operating as soon as possible, like anything else in UAE.
"Within 24 hours, six pillars were formed as part of the annual meeting of global future councils. The council will be operating as fast."
"As a government, it is our job to understand the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution and turn them to opportunities. We shouldn't wait for the future to come to us, we should be the ones seeking it," said Al Gergawi.
As part of the six pillars, the UAE will also become the first open global lab to explore technologies of the fourth industrial revolution to update other governments within the right framework.
Al Gergawi added that details on the council will be announced over the coming weeks.

Change in education system
Challenges and opportunities come with the industrial revolution, which is characterised by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.
Al Gergawi said these challenges create more industries, which requires new education systems to be addressed.
"We need to have a different type of education that would teach the workforce new kinds of capabilities. Teachers will be there, but we will have different ways of teaching. Business will be there, but the way we conduct businesses will be different than what we have today."
The Six Pillars
First Pillar: The UAE Government will establish the Fourth Industrial Revolution Council, the first of its kind in the world.
Second Pillar: Working closely with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and through the Global Future Councils to formulate global governance framework that regulates legislative and executive efforts.
Third Pillar: In collaboration with the WEF, the UAE will work to establish Fourth Industrial Revolution Councils to provide advisory support to decision makers around the world.
Fourth Pillar:  Launching a programme that seeks to include governments from around the region in the network of experts that take part in the Global Future Councils and, consequently, enhancing the event's role in supporting economic development in those economies.
Fifth Pillar: The UAE will be the first country in the world to experiment with and implement the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, creating new markets for them.
Sixth Pillar: The UAE will be the first in the world to design and build a framework within its national agenda to prepare governments for the future, in collaboration with the WEF. The framework focuses on measuring the readiness of governments in the next ten years against six main criteria - technology and innovation, economy, society, natural resources and the environment, security, and governance.
- sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai