Dubai: New AI, coding licence launched; employees to get 10-year Golden Visa

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on Tuesday launched an artificial intelligence (AI) and coding licence to attract AI companies and coders from around the world as part of the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.

Launched in cooperation with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office, it’s the first of its kind initiative in the world.

Companies holding the license will be able to work in the DIFC Innovation Hub, which is the largest cluster of FinTech and innovation companies in the region. The Hub hosts more than 500 firms, ranging from start-ups to global unicorns, representing over 60 per cent of all GCC FinTechs. In addition, the license provides an opportunity to obtain UAE 10-year Golden Visas for employees working in those companies.

In July 2021, the UAE teamed up with the world’s largest technology giants such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, LinkedIn to launch a national plan for coders to set up 1,000 major digital companies within five years. The initiative also aims to attract 100,000 coders to UAE by 2026.

“Such initiatives reflect positively on the country's readiness to become a global destination for pioneering the industries of the future by adopting advanced technology and stimulating innovation in various fields… DIFC has opened new horizons for leading global companies that aspire to enhance their efforts in the field of AI and expand their businesses further,” said Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.

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“Dubai and DIFC are global ambassadors for AI. Financial services companies in DIFC and a broad spectrum of other industries across the emirate are setting the standard which is also contributing to the UAE’s ambitious goal to have an internationally competitive, knowledge-based economy,” said Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com

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