Can UAE become a world leader in AI?

In 2017, Omar Sultan Al Olama, the world's first minister for artificial intelligence (AI), published his strategy to make the UAE a global leader in AI by 2031. The plan was approved by the UAE Cabinet in 2019. Now, two years after ratification, the government has already taken significant steps. Whether or not the UAE becomes a world leader in AI by 2031, it certainly stands a good chance of taking the lead in its region. PwC estimates that while the Middle East will only capture 2% of the global benefits of AI by 2030, the UAE will enjoy the most growth, with AI accounting for 13.6% of GDP by 2030.