UAE spending $5b on technology this year

By the end of the year, the UAE will have spent around $5 billion (Dh18.36 billion) on technology investments, making the country one of the world's fastest-growing areas for information technology expenditure, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said here on Sunday. 

Speaking at the Fifth United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development Forum, Shaikha Lubna said: "Our government's focus on ICT [information and communication technologies] as a tool for growth and competitiveness has transformed us into one of our region's most technology-enabled states and has helped boost our global ranking in technology adoption. 

"ICT is included among the key factors for socio-economic growth under the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 development framework. 

"ICT has been given a vital role in transforming Abu Dhabi into one of the world's top five governments, and with key fac-ilities such as the Middle East's first design-certified Tier IV data centre in place, this emirate will continue to be a leading advocate of ICT growth throughout the region," she added. 

Shaikha Lubna said the UAE fully understands the catalysing effect of technology on the economy and society in general. 

The UAE currently ranks first in the Middle East in the 2009-2010 Index of Network Readiness issued by the World Economic Forum and 23rd among 133 evaluated countries, affirming the success of government-led efforts to form a flexible knowledge-based economy, she said. 

Emerging country 

Speaking at the forum, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mub-arak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said that as an emerging country, the UAE seeks to be and is committed to being at the forefront in usage of modern technologies. 

"Abu Dhabi has become an important regional centre for technology and innovation, particularly in the fields of sustainable technology, preserving the environment, diversifying sources of national income and in the dissemination of culture, science and quality of life improvements for the whole of the society," said Shaikh Nahyan. 

The forum is organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC). 

The two-day forum will address the issues, challenges and opportunities for promoting the use of ICT to achieve internationally agreed development goals, including the UN's Millennium Development Goals.