Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE is emerging as a global frontrunner in the Fifth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 5.0, ranking among the world's top 10 countries for AI-driven resilience, according to a new report.
In the Industry 5.0 Index, released on Tuesday by consulting firm Oliver Wyman, the UAE ranked 34th overall.
On the resilience pillar, the country placed ninth globally and first in the Middle East, reflecting strong investment in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, the report said.
"The UAE continues to distinguish itself as one of the most ambitious adopters of future technologies," said Borko Handjiski, Partner with Oliver Wyman and author of the report.
"By developing sovereign Al capabilities, building world-class digital infrastructure, and investing heavily in skills and clean energy, the UAE is positioning itself as a regional - and increasingly global - leader in the Industry 5.0 era."
he index, developed in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley, assesses the readiness of 92 countries across 30 indicators to capture the opportunities of the so-called Fifth Industrial Revolution - a model that priotitises human wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience alongside technological progress. The evaluation has been divided into three pillars: talent, which looks at digital and AI skills; sustainability, which covers green innovation and the circular economy; and resilience, which focuses on supply chains, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
If countries make progress across these areas, it could add about $1 trillion to global GDP each year on top of the direct productivity and revenue impact that the new technologies unlock, the report said.
The UAE's performance reflects a vision centred on sovereign artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, workforce development and clean energy investment.
The country's national AI strategy estimates the technology will generate roughly $91 billion in economic growth, with government forecasts projecting it could contribute around 20% of the non-oil GDP by 2031.
Abu Dhabi plans to become the world's first fully AI-native government by 2027, moving to sovereign cloud infrastructure and automating all government processes.
"For residents and businesses, this should mean faster, more personalised public services and less time spent on paperwork, while public-sector workers gain new digital skills and tools," the report said.
It also cites major national infrastructure projects as factors contributing to the UAE's resilience.
This includes plans for a nationwide 6G network by 2030 as well as Stargate UAE - set to be one of the world's largest AI data centres, giving government bodies and businesses access to powerful AI models.
On talent, the index notes large-scale workforce adoption and training, with more than 22,000 people participating in national AI programmes and 83% of residents using AI at work weekly, compared with a 61% global average.
Clean energy investment is prioritised to ensure that AI growth does not come at the cost of rising emissions.
The report noted that the UAE is a major funder of environmental innovation, citing an ongoing project led by Masdar to build the world's first solar-plus-battery facility, designed to provide 1 gigawatt of renewable power around the clock, worth more than $6 billion.
