His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the "Arab Talents" initiative, the largest Arab movement led by the Museum of the Future, the new global landmark in the UAE, to oversee exceptional talents from Arab scientists, thinkers, inventors, and innovators across various fields. The aim is to nurture, empower, and develop their ideas in collaboration with the best global partners to maximize their positive impact in the region. This initiative follows Sheikh Mohammed's tradition of launching significant projects on January 4 each year.
The "Arab Talents" initiative aims to identify the top 1000 Arab talents over five years in key areas including physics, mathematics, programming, data science, economics, universities, and scientific research, supporting them scientifically and research-wise. His Highness announced the allocation of 100 million dirhams and the formation of a committee comprising four ministers to establish an integrated system for supervising Arab talents. The Museum of the Future will serve as the main center for this new Arab movement.
In a series of tweets on his official Twitter account, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stated: "Brothers and sisters... Following our annual tradition on January 4 to announce projects that change our reality for the better... we are announcing the launch of an Arab civilizational project to search for the top 1000 Arab talents in the fields of physics, mathematics, programming, research, and economics, among others... Our goal is to empower them to play their civilizational and positive roles in the region."
He added: "We have constructed a global scientific landmark – the Museum of the Future – which we will soon inaugurate, God willing... It will be the intellectual and administrative center for this new Arab scientific movement. Personally, I bet on science and scientists, as well as idea-makers, to change our Arab reality for the better."
Sheikh Mohammed continued: "These talents will be supported scientifically and research-wise, connecting them with the greatest thinkers, scientists, and companies in the world, and developing their ideas to enhance their positive impact on the region... We aim to identify 1000 Arab talents over the next five years."
He further mentioned: "We formed a committee of our brightest youth to lead this new scientific movement, overseen by Mohammed Al Gergawi, President of the Museum of the Future, along with Sara Al Amiri, Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of Artificial Intelligence, and Shemah Al Mazrouei, Minister of Youth... We have allocated 100 million dirhams for the Arab Talents project."
He emphasized that "resuming civilization begins with searching for its true creators. The nation that appreciates its scholars, talents, and thinkers and empowers the creators of civilization is on the right path to sovereignty, leadership, and superiority in the future, God willing... May God grant us all success in serving our nations and our community."
### Supporting the Best Minds
The "Arab Talents" initiative aims to launch the largest movement of its kind in the Arab world, led by the UAE, to build an elite Arab knowledge-based, scientific, intellectual, and creative community that serves as a cornerstone for a knowledge-based and distinctive society in the Arab world, adding qualitative value to the scientific and creative community globally. The project seeks to support distinguished Arab talents and high achievers, highlight their achievements, and invest in exceptional abilities, experiences, and talents, maintaining a long-term vision to retain creative Arab minds and optimize their potential, making the Arab world an attractive force for Arab minds rather than a repellent one.
The initiative targets enabling and supporting the top 1000 Arab talents over five years in fields such as physics, mathematics, programming, data science, economics, and scientific research, empowering and supporting them to develop their ideas and play their civilizational roles in maximizing their positive impact in the region.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has formed a committee to lead the "Arab Talents" initiative and supervise its implementation under the direction of His Excellency Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and President of the Museum of the Future, including members: His Excellency Sara bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Chairperson of the UAE Space Agency, His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Her Excellency Shemah bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
### Integrated System
An allocation of 100 million dirhams has been made for the committee to develop an integrated system to support Arab talents and nurture them, establishing partnerships with various local, regional, and international companies to maximize their positive global impact and research contributions. The Museum of the Future will be home to Arab talents and the center for various initiatives related to the initiative.
The pathways for the "Arab Talents" initiative have been selected based on the qualitative value added by talents in these fields. Physicists and mathematicians are foundational to future industries, particularly those connected with advanced technology and space sciences. Additionally, the software and data science sector represents the fuel of the future and the main driver of future development across various fields.
The economic path plays a vital role in building the economy of the future in the Arab world. The university and scientific research pathway reflects the UAE's belief that the talents of Arab youth armed with knowledge are capable of making changes and leading the knowledge, developmental, and renaissance movements that will restore the Arab world's prominent position on the innovation and creativity map, enriching the human experience in various fields.
Details of this massive project will be announced in the coming weeks at a regional conference, along with information about each pathway within "Arab Talents" and the registration mechanisms for the initiative.
