Omar Al Olama

In this Arabic name, the surname is Al Olama.
Omar Sultan Al Olama
Omar Sultan Al Olama in 2023
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications [a]
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 July 2020
PresidentKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime MinisterMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Preceded byPosition established
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence
In office
20 October 2017 – 11 July 2020
PresidentKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime MinisterMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born (1990-02-16) 16 February 1990 (age 34)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Alma materAmerican University in Dubai
American University in Sharjah

Omar Sultan Al Olama (Arabic: عمر سلطان العلماء; born 16 February 1990) is Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications in the United Arab Emirates. He was appointed in October 2017[3] by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE was the first country to appoint a minister for artificial intelligence.[4]

Early life and education

Al Olama was born on 16 February 1990 in Dubai. He has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from the American University in Dubai, and a Diploma in Excellence and Project Management from the American University in Sharjah.[5]

Career

Between February 2012 and May 2014, Al Olama was member of the corporate planning at the UAE's Prime Minister's Office. From November 2015 to November 2016, he was Deputy Head of Minister's Office at the UAE's Prime Minister's Office. Between December 2015 and October 2017, he was Secretary General of the World Organization of Racing Drones. In November 2017, he was appointed member of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation and Deputy Managing Director of the Foundation. In July 2016, Al Olama was appointed the managing director, and later in 2021 appointed Vice-Chair of the World Government Summit.[6] In 2021, Al Olama was appointed as the Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, a sub-section of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[7]

During the cabinet reshuffle in 2023, Al Olama was appointed as the Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, concurrently maintaining his role as the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.[8]

Memberships

In November 2017, Al Olama was appointed as a member of the Future of Digital Economy and Society Council,[9] part of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Later in 2023, the World Economic Forum selected Al Olama to join the steering committee of the AI Governance Alliance, a group comprising 10 global leaders in the digital and technological fields.[10]

In 2019, Al Olama was appointed as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.[11]

In 2022, Al Olama was appointed by the UAE Cabinet as Vice-Chair of the Higher Committee for Government Digital Transformation[12] and also appointed by the Government of Dubai as Vice-Chair of the Higher Committee for Future Technology.[13] In 2022, Al Olama was appointed Chairman of the oversight committee of the Dubai Future District Fund.[14] Since 2023, Al Olama has been on the High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.[15]

In 2023, Al Olama, recognized as the world's first minister for artificial intelligence, was included in Time Magazine's inaugural list of the 100 most influential people in AI.[16]

Notes

  1. ^ When Al Olama was sworn in, his title was listed as the Minister of State for Digital Economy, Artificial Intelligence and Remote Work Applications[1] but it is currently listed as the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications on the United Arab Emirates Cabinet's website [2]

References

  1. ^ "UAE Cabinet ministers take their oath before Mohammed bin Rashid". Government of Dubai Media Office. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Members Of The Cabinet". uaecabinet.ae. Ministry of Cabinet Affairs. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ "UAE: First minister of artificial intelligence don land". BBC. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  4. ^ "The United Arab Emirates is the first country in the world to hire a minister for artificial intelligence". 16 December 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  5. ^ "LinkedIn Profile Page".
  6. ^ "His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama | World Government Summit". World Government Summit - Omar Sultan Al Olama. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  7. ^ Mansoor, Zainab (27 June 2021). "Sheikh Mohammed approves new board of Dubai Chambers". Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  8. ^ National, The (7 February 2023). "Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announces Cabinet reshuffle". The National. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  9. ^ "UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence appointed as a member in the World Economic Forum's Future of Digital Economy and Society Group". 10 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Steering Committee".
  11. ^ "Leadership and governance". MBZUAI. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  12. ^ National, The (1 August 2022). "UAE to establish higher committee to drive digital transformation of government". The National. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  13. ^ People, Dubai (26 July 2022). "Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy formed in Dubai". Dubai People. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Governance". Dubai Future District Fund. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  15. ^ Nations, United. "Members". United Nations. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  16. ^ "UAE's Minister of Artificial Intelligence earns spot on Time Magazine's Top 100 AI voices list". Fast Company Middle East | The future of tech, business and innovation. Retrieved 21 March 2024.