DIEZ, established in 2021, aims to play a vital role in promoting economic growth in the emirate over the next three years. The Authority seeks to follow an economic roadmap aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, supporting the D33’s ambitious vision for achieving sustainability, creating a vibrant market characterised by an array of investment opportunities, and promoting a future-ready business-friendly environment capable of adapting to changes and trends in diverse sectors.

DIEZ's ‘purpose’ highlights its commitment to “enable businesses, enhance lives, and foster a vibrant economy”. At the same time, its ‘aspiration’ aims to “open a new world of infinite economic opportunities” based on a set of core institutional values including ‘togetherness’, a ‘passion’ to make a difference, ‘affinity’ through cultivating relationships, ‘customer success’ and a futuristic vision by encouraging forward-thinking and retaining an innovative mindset.

Ahmed bin Saeed said, “The DIEZ 2024-2026 strategy is a testament to our commitment to realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It also aligns with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. Our aim is to enhance economic performance and sustainable growth, driven by knowledge and innovation, ultimately contributing to making Dubai the best city in the world.

“The new DIEZ strategy is built on an integrated framework based on careful planning that aims to improve the quality of services provided to businesses, investors, and companies from all sectors and of all sizes. Our objective is to enhance the vital role of free zones as a major contributor to the local and national economy. This reinforces our commitment to strengthening Dubai’s position and that of the UAE as a global partner and an attractive, influential economic hub. These efforts are carried out in accordance with national directives and plans, in cooperation with our partners from the public and private sectors,” he added.

Additionally, the winning teams will secure a spot in "SANDBOX," DIEZ’s accelerator programme dedicated to fostering tech startups, which is part of Oraseya Capital, the venture capital investment arm of the Authority. The first-place team will also have the opportunity to receive investment for their project.

This initiative underscores DAFZ's commitment to nurturing innovative businesses and projects in the UAE, reinforcing its role as a key player in creating a supportive environment for successful ventures.

The national winners from the UAE will be invited to an immersive World Final in Tokyo, Japan. The application window is open until October 25, 2024.
Commenting on the partnership, Arif Al Khouri, Senior Vice President of Customer Care at DAFZ, said: “This initiative aligns with DAFZ's mission to support and nurture young talents and innovators, encouraging them to adopt the latest technological and smart solutions. Through this partnership, we are taking a significant step to reinforce our goals of empowering entrepreneurs, enhancing the investment ecosystem, and supporting companies and projects of all types and sizes, while strengthening Dubai’s status as a hub for creative talent and a global capital for innovation and investment.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Red Bull Basement for this transformative initiative. We believe the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and this event provides a unique platform for young innovators to bring their ideas to life. We look forward to witnessing the revolutionary ideas that will emerge and remain committed to supporting future leaders in turning their ideas into successful ventures," Al Khouri added.

Through this year’s instalment of Red Bull Basement, a new wave of innovators will leverage AI to create a business plan, find opportunities, identify and prioritise potential growth areas, and enable their state-of-the-art ideas.

From September 1 through October 25, one- or two-member teams of students and innovators from the UAE can visit the Red Bull Basement website [https://www.redbull.com/mea-en/events/red-bull-basement-uae], where the easy-to-use AI tool will help them to create and submit a one-page business plan as their application. A panel of local judges will select the top teams for the national final, with the winner representing the UAE at December’s Global Final.

From November 12 through December 1, the national-winning teams will unlock resources, including the chance to collaborate with mentors and experts, as well as AI technology, to further develop their business plan and evolve their ideas toward readiness as a business start-up.

From December 2 through December 5, the World Final will bring together finalists from 40 countries for an immersive event in Tokyo. Featuring workshops, a dedicated AI session, and networking with international entrepreneurs, visionaries and business leaders, the World Final will culminate with in the announcement of the global winner of Red Bull Basement 2024.

Red Bull Basement 2024 is collaborating with Microsoft, AMD, Dubai Airport Freezone and DIFC Innovation Hub for its sixth edition, focusing strongly on AI technologies to deliver the best possible experience. The Red Bull Basement Chatbot, powered by Microsoft, will use Azure OpenAI Service and AMD Instinct accelerators to assist teams to develop ideas and create business plans.

With the capability to make multiple deliveries per trip, it enhances operational efficiency and is projected to reduce carbon emissions by over 500 kilograms during its three-month tenure. Moreover, the robot is expected to autonomously deliver over 1,000 packages to customers within the Cedre Villas community. Anticipating future expansions, DIEZ plans to expand this initiative to encompass its other economic zones, including the Dubai Airport Freezone and Dubai CommerCity.

Muammar Khaled Al Katheeri, Chief Officer of Engineering and Sustainability at DIEZ, said, “Our collaboration with Aramex underscores our dedication to advancing innovative solutions that enhance sustainable urban development in Dubai, aligning with the objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. By introducing carbon-neutral delivery robots at DSO, as part of our Smart City Strategy’s focus on smart mobility, we are showcasing our dedication to incorporating advanced technology for a greener future. This initiative not only demonstrates our leadership in nurturing an innovative, safe, and sustainable ecosystem but also signals the start of a new era in logistics solutions. It’s a stride towards enriching the urban living standards of Dubai’s residents and businesses, promising a brighter, more sustainable future.”

Tarek Abuyaghi, General Manager of Aramex, added, “We are thrilled to partner with DIEZ for this groundbreaking initiative, which enhances our last-mile delivery services. Our commitment to operating smart, efficient, and customer-friendly services is unwavering, with innovation at its core—driving us to continuously improve efficiency and prioritise environmental sustainability. This initiative reflects our proactive, integrated, and stakeholder-centric approach, guiding everything we do. We are excited to make a positive impact on the environment while enhancing the urban living experience. We thank DIEZ for their partnership and look forward to offer residents the opportunity to experience future-centric delivery services.”

Residents expecting Aramex packages will be provided with a secure pin code to access their deliveries, ensuring safety and security. Additionally, the operation will be bolstered by a mobile outlet stationed at Cedre Shopping Centre to facilitate continuous loading and unloading, as well as the monitoring of all bot operations.

The delivery bot is outfitted with advanced technologies such as a depth camera, multiple human-bot interface elements, and extensive 360-degree video coverage, ensuring optimal performance in both indoor and outdoor environments. Its design, which includes a swappable battery pack and eight compartments for different parcel sizes, demonstrates a dedication to solving the logistical demands of today’s urban living.

The strategic plan is built on five main pillars: investing in staff, developing an optimal work environment, increasing levels of Emiratisation, adopting the most effective and advanced systems, and leveraging human resources as business developers. This step aims to accelerate operations, support clients, enhance economic savings, and adopt modern technologies, fostering a positive, constructive, and flexible work environment that meets the demands of future jobs.

Yousuf Behzad, Chief People and Organisational Development Officer at DIEZ, said, “DIEZ is committed to adopting various plans and strategies to enhance and sustain a flexible work environment within the Authority and its affiliated economic zones. This involves identifying human resources requirements, especially in light of the increasing reliance on AI technologies, ensuring we anticipate and meet the demands of future jobs. Implementing advanced technologies such as AI is a top priority for our human resources department, as it aims to improve the quality, speed, and efficiency of government services. Additionally, this enables UAE talents to achieve their full potential in various fields through ongoing support, training programmes, and qualifications.”

“With the launch of this strategic plan, which aligns with the objectives of Dubai’s Quality of Life Strategy for 2033, approved by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, we aim to achieve new levels of employee satisfaction at DIEZ. This will be accomplished by adopting innovative concepts in government innovation to develop human capital and encourage both national talents and global innovators. This approach reinforces workplace and community well-being, ensures professional and personal development, and enhances the authority's and its economic zones' position among the best workplaces in the UAE, particularly in Dubai. Ultimately, we support the vision of making Dubai a global city of innovation and creativity,” Behzad added.

DIEZ is committed to increasing Emiratisation rates within the authority and its economic zones as part of its strategic priority to develop a robust human resources ecosystem. The authority aims to achieve several key objectives in this area, particularly by preparing UAE nationals for leadership and senior roles, which currently boast an Emiratisation rate of 88 percent.

This HR strategic plan aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to advance government operations and systems and improve the quality of life, positioning Dubai among the top three cities globally in terms of living standards.

The strategic plan is built on five main pillars: investing in staff, developing an optimal work environment, increasing levels of Emiratization, adopting the most effective and advanced systems, and leveraging human resources as business developers. This step aims to accelerate operations, support clients, enhance economic savings, and adopt modern technologies, fostering a positive, constructive, and flexible work environment that meets the demands of future jobs.

Yousuf Behzad, Chief People & Organizational Development Officer at DIEZ, said: “DIEZ is committed to adopting various plans and strategies to enhance and sustain a flexible work environment within the Authority and its affiliated economic zones. This involves identifying human resources requirements, especially in light of the increasing reliance on AI technologies, ensuring we anticipate and meet the demands of future jobs. Implementing advanced technologies such as AI is a top priority for our human resources department, as it aims to improve the quality, speed, and efficiency of government services. Additionally, this enables UAE talents to achieve their full potential in various fields through ongoing support, training programs, and qualifications.”

 

The economic free zones have significantly contributed to growth and entrepreneurship by creating a favourable business environment. To strengthen Dubai’s position as a global economic hub and attract more investments, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, created the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) in 2021, consolidating and integrating the products and services of Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), and Dubai CommerCity, a joint venture between DIEZ and Al Wasl Properties.

His excellency Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ, emphasises that the three economic free zones play a crucial role in diversifying the economy, fostering innovation, and boosting growth, which aligns with the D33 initiative.

“The DIEZ plays a strategic role in the realisation of the D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade. DIEZ’s three integrated economic zones – Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai CommerCity – are key contributors toward this agenda and play a unique role in consolidating Dubai’s position among the top three economic cities in the world,” says Al Zarooni.

While DAFZ offers seamless global connectivity, thanks to its strategic location adjacent to Dubai International Airport (DXB), DSO has been instrumental in driving innovation in the emirate as the Dubai CommerCity is positioning the city as a global hub for digital commerce and supporting the region’s growing e-commerce market.

“Since its establishment in 2021, DIEZ has significantly evolved to align with the Dubai Economic Agenda. We have launched several initiatives, including Oraseya Capital, which is our venture capital arm, to support startups and SMEs,” explains Al Zarooni.

“Our focus has expanded to include the integration of AI and smart city solutions, further enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability. These efforts have solidified DIEZ’s role as a key player in Dubai’s economic landscape, driving innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.”

Historically, oil exploration and production have been the cornerstones of GCC economies. However, the region is now actively diversifying its economy and exploring new growth avenues beyond its traditional reliance on fossil fuels.

Among the GCC region’s oil-producing states, Dubai stands out as the most successful in diversifying its economy. Since the 1970s, the emirate has made significant strides in transforming itself into a thriving global hub with a promising economic future. “By fostering a business-friendly ecosystem and continuously improving our services, we ensure that Dubai remains an attractive destination for global investors, thereby boosting the emirate’s investment attractiveness,” says Al Zarooni.