In a technology-driven world, anticipating future challenges, goal-driven performance and continuous upgradation are absolute necessities for nations to shine and prosper.

The UAE, fortunately, is blessed with a leadership that looks forward and anticipates the future so that the country leads globally.

While many countries struggle to cope with challenges posed by emerging technologies, the UAE has been scoring high on all fronts.

For example, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, launched the “Salem Smart Centre,” last week, which will ease the residency visa process in Dubai.

The medial fitness centre will reduce a customer’s waiting time from 28 hours to 30 minutes, to get his residency visa issued, in cooperation with Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

Customers usually spend no less than 28 hours for registration and get their medical fitness tests conducted before getting their residency visas.

The new facility, equipped with the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s technologies, artificial intelligence, robots and Internet of things, is an affiliate of the Dubai Health Authority.

On another front, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, IACAD, in Dubai recently launched a smart donation service at the Dubai mosques, which allows users to donate money by scanning QR codes through their phones, thus replacing traditional methods and procedures of donation.

This is in line with the IACAD’s commitment to Article 9 of the 50-Year-Charter, and its contribution to bolstering this initiative while keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the country.

Different QR codes represent different donation amounts. Donations of Dhs10 will be allocated for public charity, Dhs20 will go towards food, Dhs50 will be for educational support, Dhs100 for Tafreej Korba (distress relief), and Dhs200 for mosque care.

Dubai Police officials have also been actively seeking to provide patrols with the latest smart technologies to secure the emirate.

As pointed out by Brigadier Khaled Nasser Al-Razooqi, Director of the General Department of Artificial Intelligence at Dubai Police, “Implementing 5G-enabled services is one of many steps taken by Dubai Police to achieve this goal. Our strategic cooperation with government departments and private institutions to serve the public is our top priority.”

Dubai Police, in cooperation with Etisalat, officially unveiled the first 5G-enabled smart patrol in the Middle East and North Africa region last week.

The smart police patrol is equipped with Artificial Intelligence technologies and high-tech cameras connected directly to the Control and Command room via 5G network.

The transformation of Dubai into a digital city in all its services is happening at amazing speed.

The digitisation of Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, services has clocked 87 per cent of Smart Dubai targets aimed at achieving 100 per cent Digitisation of Dubai Government entities by 2021.

The achievement of this high rating is credited to the sustained efforts of internal teams to deliver on the targets of a plan charted by RTA in coordination with Smart Dubai. Results achieved are assessed on a quarterly basis.

Remedial plans are hatched to ensure the drive is on course to realise the objectives set. The teams are attentive to public feedback, analysing inputs and taking measures to tackle gaps detected during the delivery of digital services.

With artificial Intelligence and smart technology reshaping the future of the world, lethargy cannot be an option in digital transformation.

It is heartening that the UAE has been pressing the right keys on this front.