Sharjah 24 – WAM: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated that developing the digital economy is a major priority for the government.

The UAE believes that young minds and national expertise are the main pillars for building a flourishing digital future, based on science, knowledge, innovation and technology. The UAE’s successful experience in the field of digital and technological transformation will be a key enabler in implementing its strategic plans and promoting the development march.

On the occasion of announcing the launch of the UAE "National Programme for Coders", His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid highlighted that the programme aims to design a number of national initiatives for developing talents, expertise and innovative projects in the field of coding, accelerating the adoption of its applications and tools in various economic and future sectors, and developing a close link between coders and the public, private and academic entities.

On Twitter, His Highness announced that: "Today we launched the National Programme for Coders in collaboration with Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, HPE, LinkedIn, Nvidia and Facebook, with the aim of training and attracting 100,000 coders, establishing 1000 digital companies within 5 years and increasing investment in startups from AED 1.5 billion to AED 4 billion."

In another tweet, His Highness added, "The National Programme for Coders is a new step within the UAE national programme to build our digital economy. The world a changing The pace of digital transformation is doubling Jobs are changing and survival will be for the most prepared, agile and well-equipped to keep pace with the global changes."

His Highness added, "Our youth need to know that the future has new tools.. speaks a different language.. and adopts online work methodologies. We want them to be at the heart of this future. The National Programme for Coders aims to engage the local digital communities in the digital transformation of the UAE. It further highlights the UAE’s leading role in designing the future, embracing talents, entrepreneurs, academics, startups, global companies, and future investments globally."

Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that "We target attracting the best international coders and providing them with the needed infrastructure to develop innovative ideas that serve the world ... We aim to establish 1000 startups in the field of digital economy in the UAE within 5 years ... We will support national coders to become among the best globally We will employ promising talents in developing 10 platforms for supporting social and humanitarian projects in the UAE."

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid issued directives to all government entities in the UAE to support national and international coding talents; work with legislative bodies, business incubators, investment companies, universities and research centers to support coding-based initiatives and projects, whose work leads to promoting the skills of national cadres; and update the legislative laws in a way that keeps pace with the rapid global changes and meets the new technological requirements and challenges.

Under the supervision of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office, the "National Programme for Coders" aims to support national initiatives and future strategies in the UAE, designed for developing the capabilities of national talents, attracting global digital skills, and building the necessary infrastructure to establish broader innovation-based companies.

The programme further enables coding entrepreneurs, businessmen and startups to support the digital transformation in various key sectors. It provides opportunities for cooperation with government and private sector entities in the UAE and abroad to implement promising ideas and turn them into comprehensive projects.


To realise the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, achieve the strategic goals of the programme, and implement all the related initiatives and projects, the National Programme for Coders will hold cooperation partnerships with multiple public, private and academic entities and technology companies in the UAE and abroad, including "Google", "Microsoft", "IBM", "LinkedIn", "Facebook", "Huawei", "Amazon Web Services (AWS)", "Nvidia", "Cisco", "Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)", "Majid Al Futtaim", "Dubai World Trade Center", "Emirates NBD", "Group 42 (G42)", "Khalifa University", "Higher Colleges of Technology", "University of Sharjah", "Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)", "American University in Dubai (AUD)", "Le Wagon" and "Yalla".