August 2024
Sustainable Insights
Climate Change, AI, and the UAE Pioneering a Sustainable Future
Climate change is a critical global issue, with the world nearing the 2030 climate deadline and likely to exceed the 1.5°C temperature limit. As the world grapples with this challenge, oil-dependent economies face mounting pressure to lead the sustainability movement. The UAE stands out by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its national strategy to diversify its economy and promote sustainability. The UAE has positioned itself as a global leader in technological innovation, particularly in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into eco-friendly technologies. As the world confronts climate change, the UAE leverages AI to drive sustainable practices and environmental conservation. The UAE’s commitment to sustainability is underscored by its AI initiatives, which are expected to boost the country’s GDP by 35% by 2031, reduce government expenditures by 50% annually, and eliminate paper transactions. The UAE’s commitment to AI is demonstrated by its efforts to embed AI-driven solutions across various sectors. By adopting a circular economic model, the country is fostering an innovative ecosystem that leverages AI to transform key sectors such as healthcare, education, and water management. This integration not only enhances user experiences but also introduces sustainable practices, making AI a vital tool in achieving the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Falcon: A Milestone in AI Development
One of the most significant examples of the UAE’s AI leadership is the Falcon project. In an AI research lab near Abu Dhabi, 25 computer scientists developed a deep learning algorithm funded by the Abu Dhabi government’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). The model, named Falcon, was trained on 4,000 powerful computer chips, costing millions of dollars. Despite the significant investment, ATRC’s Secretary General, Faisal Al Bannai, decided to release Falcon to the public for free, believing that the boost to the UAE’s reputation would be well worth the cost. Falcon’s release in September quickly exceeded expectations, outperforming major open-source large language models (LLMs) from tech giants like Meta and Google. This marked the UAE’s rapid rise in the AI world, with Al Bannai noting, “We were not on the map, but with 25 people, we did that. And it really created a surprise.” Falcon’s success underscored the UAE’s ambition to compete with global powers like the U.S. and China in the AI arena.
The UAE’s Commitment to Open-Source Technology
The UAE’s dedication to AI is further reflected in its commitment to open-source technology. Falcon was released under an open-source license, and in February, the ATRC committed $300 million to the Falcon Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to continuing the open-source development of the LLM series. This approach not only elevates the UAE’s standing on the global stage but also democratizes AI development, enabling countries in the Global South to access and build upon this powerful technology.
AI in varied sectors
AI’s integration into various sectors is driving significant progress in sustainable development. In education, AI-powered personalized learning programs help break barriers for students and identify gaps for targeted interventions, creating an immersive learning experience. In healthcare, AI enables detailed data analysis and cuttingedge diagnostics, allowing doctors to personalize treatments and improve efficacy while ensuring healthcare access for all. Water resource management is another area where AI is making a transformative impact. The UAE is employing smart irrigation systems, such as the one deployed in Masdar City, to optimize water distribution based on real-time data analysis. This system ensures precise watering times, checks soil conditions, and reduces wastage. Additionally, AI is being
utilized in desalination processes to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Advanced algorithms monitor and control operations in desalination plants, predicting potential issues and enabling proactive maintenance. This approach reduces operational costs and ensures a reliable supply of potable water, critical for the UAE’s growing population and industrial demands. AI’s potential extends to urban planning and green energy. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is leading efforts to become the world’s first digital utility with autonomous renewable energy storage systems. DEWA’s Smart Dubai initiative includes the establishment of a 250 MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, and partnerships with institutions like Heriot-Watt University Dubai to advance green energy innovation. The UAE’s AI-driven sustainability efforts also encompass waste management. Smart waste bins equipped with sensors and AI algorithms are optimizing waste collection processes, and the Waste-to-Energy project launched in July 2023 stands as the world’s largest and most efficient facility of its kind. In agriculture, the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency employs remote sensing technologies for soil monitoring, while the Bustanica farm in Dubai features the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm.
Ethical Considerations and the Future of AI
While AI is driving significant advancements in sustainability, ethical considerations are paramount. Transparency and accountability are critical to avoiding bias in AI applications. By using diverse datasets and considering ethical implications during the design process, AI can mitigate potential risks and contribute to a multi-stakeholder approach for developing sustainable solutions. Governments, businesses, and academia must collaborate and invest in AI research and infrastructure to fully realize AI’s potential in sustainable development.
Collaborative Ecosystems and Global Leadership
The UAE’s commitment to fostering a collaborative ecosystem is evident in its hosting of events like the Dubai AI and Web3 Festival on 11-12 September 2024. This event will bring together AI and Web3 innovators, thought leaders, and government officials to explore the impact of these technologies on the UAE’s vision for a sustainable future.
Trade-Sustain-AI: Revolutionizing Global Trade
In line with its AI ambitions, the UAE launched the “Trade-Sustain-AI” initiative during the TradeTech Forum 2024, held at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi. This initiative seeks to revolutionize global trade by harnessing AI to address climate change through optimized supply chains, enhanced logistics operations, and climate-resilient trade infrastructure.
The UAE’s Vision for an Environmentally Friendly Future
The UAE’s strategic focus on AI and sustainability exemplifies its dedication to creating an environmentally friendly future. By positioning itself as a global leader in AI-driven sustainable development, the UAE is setting a benchmark for other nations facing similar challenges, ensuring a greener, more sustainable future for all. As the UAE continues to push the boundaries of AI innovation, its dedication to ethical AI practices sets a powerful example for other nations. By prioritizing transparency, inclusivity, and societal well-being, the UAE is not only advancing its own technological capabilities but also contributing to the global effort to harness AI for the greater good. The country’s vision of becoming an ethical AI superpower is rooted in the belief that technological progress must go hand in hand with responsible governance, ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared equitably across the globe.
and reforestation to deliver results that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It specializes in giving clients advice on energy efficiency, clean energy options, tr
carbon market participants into a global ecosystem for financial and environmental gains, with a focus on energy, water, and food. It serves as a distributed hub and connective tissue to link multiple international carbon exchanges and other buyside carbon emitters and custodians with supply-side carbon offset projects and ESG project owners globally to drive distribution. For the purpose of keeping carbon credit ledger data up to date, their software also communicates with reputable third-party registries.
The firm’s platform matches investors with advanced learners by exploiting the fully scalable and high-return potential of non-loan Income Share Agreements (ISA’s). Investors in ISA’s may finely tune their investment criteria to match their corporate objectives, which may include CSR targets. Currently, the firm is proposing two types of investment opportunity: in the infinite possibilities of direct investments in ISA’s and, more conventionally, investments in shares (and, as the firm is designated by the French state as an innovative firm, offers the possibility of French residency/citizenship).
After a year of service, the e-ferry’s operators concluded that the system has a highly sustainable energy efficiency of 85%, almost twice that of diesel boats. With this background, the US$20 billion market expectation for electric watercraft seems more than reasonable. To support this industry, we are following a firm that has designed, and begun delivering, an electric-powered watercraft. Destined for the lucrative leisure market, this is a mere stepping stone to the huge water taxi market for which a design is already complete.
technology that detects one of the deadliest types of cancer and treats it without damaging healthy cells and tissues. Its electromagnetic stimulation, combined with a nanotechnology system, has demonstrated the preclinical treatment to be safe and effective. The medical device has been classified as class III to chronically treat and reduce cancer’s mass significantly from further development. The firm has started Phase I and seeking investments to support this phase. Based on Phase I results, which will be within 12-15 months, they plan an IPO for Phase II, the last one before the commercial launch in North America by 2024.
