Dubai: Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), self-driving electric vehicles may soon turn up at Dubai International airport to help airside crew run its operations. The "robocars" would help the mega-facility run more smoothly, and cement the airport's status the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic in 2016, and en route to hitting 89 million passengers this year. Not only that, AI may soon also help airline passengers pick their on-board meals, too, or schedule a pickup by an airport taxi chauffeur -- or guide passengers through last-minute duty-free shopping. These are some of the AI-driven future projects now being developed by Emirates, it was announced on Saturday. The AI projects were highlighted during the visit of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to the Emirates Airline's lab at the Dubai Future Accelerators facility in Emirates Towers.

"The new government will catapult the UAE into its prosperous centenary which aims for fostering knowledge, science and research as well as engaging the youth in the leadership of the nation," Shaikh Mohammad said. Shaikh Mohammad tweeted that a new shake-up came after the government's recent annual meetings and the launch of the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. The reshuffle was approved by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and came after consultation with "my brother [His Highness Shaikh] Mohammad Bin Zayed [Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces]," Shaikh Mohammad said. The new government -- the 13th in the UAE's history -- sees the appointment of Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, 27, as the State Minister for Artificial Intelligence. "We want the UAE to become the world's most prepared country for artificial intelligence," Shaikh Mohammad said.

Dubai: The UAE Artificial Intelligence strategy was launched to boost government performance, the rate of accomplishing achievements. The strategy will create a highly productive innovative environment by investing in advanced technologies and AI tools that will be implemented in all fields of work. The strategy was launched on Monday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The UAE AI strategy will seek to invest all capabilities in an ideal way, in addition to utilising resources, human and financial capabilities in a constructive manner that will quicken the execution of future programmes and development projects. Launching the strategy, Shaikh Mohammad said: "The UAE Centennial begins now, with the launch of massive projects such as the AI strategy to set up the basis for the coming phase.