UAE's Revolutionary AI Training for Awqaf

More than 5,000 Awqaf Employees Set for AI Training in UAE

The United Arab Emirates is making another significant stride towards technological advancement and innovation. More than 5,000 employees from the Awqaf, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, will receive training on artificial intelligence (AI) related knowledge. The goal is not only to enhance the professional competencies of employees but also to create a social environment where artificial intelligence and religious traditions complement each other rather than oppose.

AI as an Opportunity—and a Blessing

The program was launched as part of the UAE Codes event and is realized as part of the country's digital vision. The authority's president expressed that artificial intelligence is "a blessing that should be wisely utilized." He emphasized that from Sharia and Islamic legal practice perspectives, AI is a tool that facilitates access to knowledge, reduces resource demands, and allows for rapid processing of information.

This approach reflects a significant paradigm shift: while scientific-technological progress was often met with skepticism in the past, a recent survey indicates that 91 percent of Awqaf's 3,500 employees hold a positive attitude towards AI. This openness paves the way for broad acceptance of modernization and digital transformation.

Training, Collaborations, and Future Building

The training program affecting thousands of employees is carried out in collaboration with leading technology companies. The aim of the training is to build national capacities, increase the digital maturity of the public sector, and create a skilled workforce capable of leading innovation and effectively utilizing the opportunities offered by AI.

The program also focuses on strengthening community resilience, i.e., "intellectual and informational resilience." This includes knowledge dissemination through mosques, public forums, and informational campaigns, engaging the entire society in the digital transformation process.

AI Coin—The Meeting of Technology and Identity

Another noteworthy announcement from the event was the launch of the first coin designed by AI. This new initiative allows every resident the opportunity to create a coin design using generative artificial intelligence, reflecting the country's technological mission. The coin aims to connect the past, present, and future of the United Arab Emirates in a visual symbol.

The winning design will also appear on the official commemorative coin of the Central Bank, symbolizing the country's technological vision and its aim to become the engine of digital transformation in the region. Participants must adhere to ethical and legal guidelines of artificial intelligence to create their designs, which must be suitable for minting. The announcement of the results will take place at the 2025 UAE Codes event.

Strategic Partnerships: Google, Microsoft, Local Authorities

The initiative is not only within the official sphere but also involves the private sector and global technology giants. Under the UAE Codes, new programs were announced, including community skill development projects in collaboration with Google, and the development of an Arabic "AI Leadership Guide" in collaboration with the global company Photokite.

In partnership with Microsoft, a comprehensive educational path is being launched to train a new generation of AI-prepared teachers in the UAE by 2027. This plays a significant role in advancing digital education, particularly at the public education and adult learning levels.

The common goal is clear: to create a national talent base capable of actively shaping the direction of artificial intelligence development and putting available technologies into the service of society and the economy.

The Culture of Innovation and Community Participation

The philosophy behind the entire initiative is clear: innovation cannot be directed only from above; community active participation is necessary too. The coin design, for example, provides an opportunity for technology to be accessible not only to a narrow circle of professionals and decision-makers but everyone.

The intertwining of digital creativity and national identity is especially important in a country that is simultaneously building a global technological presence and nurturing its cultural roots. The UAE is exemplary in this regard, able to develop AI-based systems while keeping human values, social utility, and religious cultural traditions in view.

Summary

In the United Arab Emirates, artificial intelligence is not just a technological tool but a strategic tool for societal development. The training of thousands of Awqaf employees, the generative AI coin design contest, and collaborations with global tech companies all work towards building a stable and resilient digital future for the UAE.

The example of Dubai and the UAE vividly showcases how modern technology can be harmoniously blended with religious, cultural, and social values—while ensuring the community is also part of the transformation. The future is already here, and AI is now in service not just of machines, but of people.

(The article is based on a press release from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.)