Feature INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT


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Harnessing knowledge capital


As Dubai progresses along the path to becoming a fully-fledged knowledge hub, DCTCM’s Issam Kazim lays out the framework for success


The concept of nurturing innovation and shar- ing knowledge isn’t new to Dubai. For hundreds of years, the emirate’s society grew around a majlis culture where thought leaders came together to share knowledge and conduct their business. Fast-forward to today and the majlis legacy


lives on as the emirate’s rulers and business captains strive to foster new industries and carve out alternative routes to growth, with the creation of a knowledge-based economy identified as a key focus. In Dubai, leading the charge to carve out


a smart society that maximises its intellec- tual capital is Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), the body responsible for the branding, promotion and marketing of the emirate. Established at the end of 2013 as an affili-


ate of the Dubai Government’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), DCTCM is dedicated to working with private and public sector tourism and commerce part- ners to promote the city’s position as a leading destination around the world. At its helm is CEO Issam Kazim, who is


pushing ahead with ambitious plans to firmly establish Dubai as a knowledge hub which will one day rival the best in the world. “The UAE Vision 2021 aims to make the UAE


among the best countries in the world by the time of the Golden Jubilee of the Union. In order to translate the vision into reality, its pillars have been mapped into six national priorities which represent the key focus sectors of government action in the coming years. “One priority is to transition to a knowl-


edge-based economy, promoting innovation, research and development. The UAE’s Science, Technology and Innovation Higher Policy was issued in November 2015 and is an instrument to ensure this happens,” says Kazim.


1 “Dubai has a history of knowledge exchange


with its origin in the majlis, a cornerstone of Emirati civilisation. The majlis, which means ‘sitting’ or ‘top level meeting place’, has been the setting for business meetings from the heyday of the silk route. “Dubai’s strategic location, excellent


connectivity and extensive business services, which have helped it become the centre of trade and commerce for the Middle East, have also enabled the city to become a knowledge hub. Ongoing efforts will only enhance this status,” he adds.


BUILDING UNDERSTANDING Some of the first steps towards creating a fully functioning knowledge hub include ensur- ing the right infrastructure and conditions are in place to attract the very best talent. The Dubai government has identified seven key sectors where efforts are focused: healthcare, education, technology, transport, clean energy, water and space. In recent months, a host of major new announcements across the sectors is testament to the rapid developments taking place as the emirate works towards its goals. Earlier this year, Dubai Healthcare City free


zone announced plans for the second phase of its expansion at Al Jadaf. The first hospital in the development, the 110-bed Clemenceau Medical Centre, will pioneer a host of advances, such as robotic surgery, as well as offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. Costing around US$108.9 million (AED400


million), the hospital is expected to welcome its first patients by 2018. With 160 clinical partners, more than 150 specialities and licenced profes- sionals from almost 90 countries, Dubai Health- care City is instrumental in not only elevating the quality of healthcare across the emirate, but in leading medical education, research and attracting international talent.


2 Within the space sector, ambitious plans


have also been announced that, while at first appear lofty, are rooted very much in develop- ing talent a little closer to home. The headline- grabbing Mars 2117 Project aims to establish a human settlement on the planet by the year 2117, but a key part of the plan is the devel- opment of the skills of Emiratis, encouraging more locals to enter scientific research fields in the decades ahead as part of the strategy. Turning to the technology sector, and


Dubai has set its sights on becoming a lead- ing smart city in the coming years. Home to more than 300 global and regional ICT firms, the strategy cuts across three main areas, Smart Life, Smart Economy and Smart Tour- ism. Central to each pillar is the development of data analytics to better understand ways to make city systems run more efficiently. To that effect, the Smart Dubai Roadmap


has identified over 500 smart services and initi- atives already in place – with digital governance accounting for many. The Dubai government recently announced savings of US$1.17 billion (AED4.3 billion) from its smart services over the past 12 years, while sharing and improving knowledge in a range of areas has emerged as crucial to reaching smart city status.


LEAVING A LEGACY Also integral to Dubai’s knowledge-hub plan is Expo 2020 Dubai, which is due to attract 25 million visitors from more than 180 countries between October 2020 and April 2021. While the short-term goal is to deliver an


exceptional six-month event, just as important is the creation of a meaningful legacy for the country as attention turns to the lasting foot- print that the expo will leave behind. The expo theme is ‘Connecting Minds,


Creating the Future’ and as such, its strategy is intrinsically linked to the UAE Vision 2021. Bringing major infrastructural improvements and an impressive site to host the event, Expo 2020 Dubai also promises to attract a wealth of talent to the emirate, during the course of the event and in the years that follow. Kazim says: “Expo 2020 will demonstrate


the UAE and Dubai’s ability to capitalise on the ‘third industrial revolution’ and make the most of global and home-grown talent and human capital. “Leading events such as Arabian Travel


Market continue to play an important role in telling the industry, and in turn potential visi- tors to the country, all about the opportunities and expertise that is available here.”


“One priority is to transition to a knowledge-based economy, promoting innovation, research and development”


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1 & 6 Gitex Technology Week 2 Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing 3 Artist impressions of Sustainability Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai 4 Dubai skyline 5 Dubai Healthcare City


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