The UAE Builds Bridges of Global Innovation

The UAE Builds Bridges of Global Innovation

 GITEX Europe 2025: The UAE Builds Bridges of Global Innovation

Alya bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, discussed ways to enhance partnerships in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship with representatives and leaders of the business and technology communities in Germany and Europe.

This came as part of her visit to Germany, leading an official and commercial delegation to participate in GITEX Europe 2025, which kicked off in the German capital, Berlin, last week. The visit explored opportunities for economic cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the context of modern trends in artificial intelligence policies and advanced applications in the field of entrepreneurship.

Alya Al Mazrouei emphasized that the UAE, thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, has been keen to develop an advanced entrepreneurship ecosystem through pioneering national initiatives. These initiatives include the launch of an integrated system to develop and encourage the entrepreneurial environment in the country, with comprehensive strategies aimed at enhancing the country's competitiveness in this field across various axes, including the development of policies and legislation, infrastructure, enhancing ease of doing business, providing support and incentives, and stimulating supportive partnerships.

She noted that the UAE and German business communities have promising future opportunities for partnership and cooperation, which will contribute to supporting startups in both countries and enabling them to expand into new markets, particularly in new economy sectors that include advanced technology, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and the green economy.

She participated in a ministerial discussion session titled "Building Bridges of Innovation: Ministerial Dialogue on the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Policies, and Global Economic Growth," attended by Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate of Albania; Jan Kavaleric, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic; and Irakli Nadarishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Participants discussed global trends in employing and integrating AI technologies to support inclusive economic growth and promote sustainable digital transformation.

She reviewed the UAE's experience in investing in artificial intelligence technologies within the framework of national policies aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic growth, emphasizing that the UAE has adopted an integrated approach to employing artificial intelligence to develop the entrepreneurial environment.

 This approach includes enhancing digital infrastructure and modernizing the national economic system to include artificial intelligence applications. It also provides specialized training programs and builds the capabilities of national talent, ensuring comprehensive development and the effective participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in shaping the future economy.

She also emphasized that the UAE strikes a balance between accelerating digital transformation and enhancing economic inclusiveness by providing AI tools to startups, adopting stimulating regulatory policies, and providing flexible financing initiatives that provide SMEs with greater opportunities for growth and innovation.

Alia Al Mazrouei participated in a roundtable meeting that brought together 12 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the UAE and Germany. Participants discussed prospects for cooperation in technical and technological fields of mutual interest. Her Excellency highlighted the importance of expanding strategic partnerships between startups in both countries to support innovation in future sectors and expand the markets of Emirati projects in Europe.

She emphasized that the strength of the UAE's entrepreneurship ecosystem lies in its effective empowerment of companies, noting that investing in relationships with European partners represents a fundamental pillar of the country's policy for strategic expansion into the knowledge economy. The ecosystem aims to increase entrepreneurs' chances of success from 30% to 50% by the next decade.

She briefed the German business community on the most prominent strategic enablers and qualitative opportunities offered by the UAE in the field of entrepreneurship and new economy sectors.

The UAE boasts an integrated ecosystem to support startups, including specialized free zones, world-class business incubators and accelerators, and national programs such as the "Riyada" ecosystem and "100 Companies of the Future." These programs directly contribute to empowering entrepreneurs, transforming their ideas into sustainable projects, and enhancing their contribution to comprehensive economic development, in line with the goals of "We the UAE 2031."

Al Mazrouei visited the Merantix Artificial Intelligence Campus in Berlin, where she emphasized the UAE's keenness to build strategic partnerships with world-leading institutions in the field of artificial intelligence.

Merantix AI Campus is the world's first venture capital studio that combines scientific research and early-stage funding, building innovation communities specializing in healthcare, smart mobility, and financial services.