In a significant step toward leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for inclusive development, the United Arab Emirates and the Royal Government of Bhutan, together with Eurasia Group and G42, held a high-level two-day “AI for Development” workshop in Thimphu, Bhutan. The event opened with Bhutan’s traditional Marchang Ceremony, highlighting the nation’s cultural heritage.
The workshop convened policymakers, technical experts, and development practitioners to co-create AI-driven solutions tailored for Bhutan’s local context. This initiative aligns with the UAE’s foreign policy focus on technological diplomacy and high-impact partnerships, especially within the Global South.
Omran Sharaf, UAE’s Assistant Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, emphasized the natural synergy between Bhutan’s forward-looking digital transformation and the UAE’s expertise and vision. He noted the partnership’s aim to deliver solutions aligned with national priorities and sustainable development.
Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, UAE’s Non-resident Ambassador to Bhutan, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to fostering scalable tech solutions advancing entrepreneurship, agriculture, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South.
Bhutan, as the first pilot country, was chosen for its innovative spirit and readiness to explore cost-effective, context-sensitive AI solutions to drive economic growth.
Workshop discussions focused on three priority sectors: entrepreneurship, regenerative tourism, and agricultural productivity, reflecting Bhutan’s national goals and UN SDGs.
Jigme Tenzing, Secretary of Bhutan’s GovTech Agency, remarked that AI’s true potential lies in transformative, inclusive impact. He expressed hope that the workshop would spark enduring collaborations, shaping a responsible AI future aligned with Bhutan’s values.
On the sidelines, the UAE delegation met with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who praised the UAE’s advances in technology and space and the promising collaboration between the two nations.
The event underscored the UAE’s growing role as a strategic partner to the Global South, promoting cooperative approaches to frontier technologies and capacity building.
The UAE delegation included Omran Sharaf, Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, Muath Alwari, and officials from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and G42.
