{"id":26048,"date":"2025-08-13T13:19:03","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T10:19:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/uae-cements-its-position-in-digital-finance-and-proptech\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T13:19:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T10:19:03","slug":"uae-cements-its-position-in-digital-finance-and-proptech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/uae-cements-its-position-in-digital-finance-and-proptech\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE cements its position in digital finance and PropTech"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The UAE central bank reported progress on the digital dirham.<\/li>\n<li>PropTech is expanding: by 2030 the market is set to grow from $0.61bn to $1.55bn.<\/li>\n<li>The UAE and Saudi Arabia are scaling talent and investment, building a Web3\/smart\u2011city ecosystem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The United Arab Emirates is pressing ahead with the digital overhaul of its economy, advancing two pillars in tandem: fintech and <span data-descr=\"technologies in real estate\" class=\"old_tooltip\">PropTech<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Together they sketch out an integrated digital architecture meant to cement the UAE\u2019s standing as a global leader in Web3, smart cities and technology infrastructure.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finance: the digital dirham<\/h2>\n<p>The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) <a href=\"https:\/\/centralbank.ae\/media\/ot5dmbfl\/cbuae-publishes-comprehensive-report-on-progress-made-towards-issuing-the-digital-dirham-en.pdf\">published<\/a> a report on progress toward issuing a CBDC\u2014the digital dirham. It will be usable for online and offline payments, P2P transfers and commercial settlements. The project aims to boost financial inclusion for the unbanked and non\u2011residents, and to speed up transactions.<\/p>\n<p>Features include support for smart contracts and cross\u2011border operations. The regulator is aligning development with standards from the International Monetary Fund and the Bank for International Settlements.<\/p>\n<p>According to CBUAE governor Khaled Mohamed Balama, the digital dirham will help create secure financial infrastructure, raise payment\u2011system efficiency, support monetary stability and broaden financial access. It should also strengthen the dirham\u2019s international standing.<\/p>\n<p>The CBDC launch is part of the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) programme unveiled in 2023. The CBUAE has already tested the digital dirham in cross\u2011border settlements and conducted a retail pilot with real transactions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Property and smart cities<\/h2>\n<p>Property technology is advancing in parallel. The market is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.financemiddleeast.com\/real-estate\/uae-proptech-market-set-to-reach-dh5-7-billion-by-2030-driven-by-smart-city-and-construction-growth\/\">projected<\/a> to grow from $0.61bn in 2024 to $1.55bn by 2030, a 17.49% compound annual rate.<\/p>\n<p>Government programmes include Dubai\u2019s 2040 plan and smart\u2011city projects in Abu Dhabi. Authorities are pushing adoption of AI, blockchain, <span data-descr=\"Internet of Things\" class=\"old_tooltip\">IoT<\/span>, and <span data-descr=\"virtual reality\/augmented reality\" class=\"old_tooltip\">VR and AR<\/span> solutions. These tools raise efficiency and transparency in property transactions, building management and urban planning.<\/p>\n<p>Dubai already hosts a PropTech Hub under the Land Department. Its goal is to reach a market value of $1.22bn by 2030. The hub plans to back more than 200 startups, attract over $270m in investment and launch upwards of 20 venture funds.<\/p>\n<p>High\u2011end development projects employ VR and AR property tours, building automation and blockchain\u2011based transactions. Residential platforms Bayut, Property Finder and Dubizzle offer AI\u2011driven recommendations, virtual tours and automated listings.<\/p>\n<p>PropTech adoption is also reshaping the UAE\u2019s construction sector, which is expected to exceed $52bn by 2030.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Talent and technology<\/h2>\n<p>A focus on artificial intelligence underpins these shifts. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ifforum-r2.static.ifforum.org\/dist\/2025\/07\/AIEP3\/IFF%20Global%20Artificial%20Intelligence%20Competitiveness%20Index%20Report%20-%20Part%203.pdf\">Global AI Competitiveness Index<\/a>, the UAE ranks in the world\u2019s top 20 for AI\u2011talent concentration, ahead of Italy and Russia. The UAE and Saudi Arabia account for 0.7% and 0.4% of the global AI\u2011talent pool, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>A key driver has been King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). It ranks among the global top 150 universities for AI talent and is the highest\u2011rated institution in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>This was enabled by a national strategy with $20bn in investments and partnerships with leading global institutions, including Stanford University. The funding helped KAUST build one of the region\u2019s most advanced research labs.<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia is rolling out the \u201c10,000 Programmers\u201d initiative to train young people in coding and machine learning.<\/p>\n<p>The kingdom and the UAE are deploying national AI strategies to drive future economic growth. Under Vision 2030, the kingdom has named artificial intelligence one of seven priority levers for economic transformation, aiming to rank among the world\u2019s top ten in AI by decade\u2019s end.<\/p>\n<p>To deliver this, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) coordinates national efforts and speeds AI\u2011project approvals, often within 30 days.<\/p>\n<p>Sovereign funds are pivotal, too. The <span data-descr=\"Saudi Arabia\u2019s Public Investment Fund\" class=\"old_tooltip\">PIF<\/span> has launched a $1.5bn AI\u2011focused vehicle. More than 30% of NEOM\u2019s $500bn budget is earmarked for AI infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>The UAE is also positioning itself as a leader in AI governance and policy. In 2017 it named the world\u2019s first minister of state for artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cAI talent, in terms of human capital, is the most valuable asset for all future economies. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are taking bold steps to become leaders in this field thanks to strong education systems, regulatory support and investments in infrastructure,\u201d said Dmitry Kaminsky, general partner of Deep Knowledge Group.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Saudi Arabia offers some of the world\u2019s highest pay for AI specialists. Leading researchers can earn up to $420,000 a year tax\u2011free, while senior executives at NEOM receive signing bonuses of up to $5m. Benefits include subsidised schooling for children and fast\u2011tracked residency.<\/p>\n<p>NEOM envisions building The Line, the first city designed for AI\u2011based governance. Core services, including transport and energy, will be managed by autonomous systems.<\/p>\n<p>Saudi Arabia is burnishing its image as a bridge between East and West, enhancing its appeal. Active partnerships with China and the United States present the kingdom as a politically neutral platform for technological development and international AI collaboration.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">AI family<\/h2>\n<p>Digital Dubai <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wam.ae\/en\/article\/bkyl4mp-digital-dubai-launches-first-ai-powered-%E2%80%98emirati\">unveiled<\/a> the first AI\u2011generated \u201cEmirati family\u201d. The initiative is designed to convey government messages in an accessible format to different segments of society.<\/p>\n<p>The virtual family is created using AI and data\u2011processing technologies. It is conceived as an interactive digital interface that reflects the UAE\u2019s values and aspirations.<\/p>\n<p>The first member is a Girl, introduced in a short video on social media. The character wears traditional Emirati clothing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Digital Dubai has launched the first-ever virtual \u2018Emirati Family\u2019 created using artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative serves as an innovative platform for delivering government messages in a relatable, engaging, and accessible manner to all segments of society.\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FEqcotuvvZ\">pic.twitter.com\/FEqcotuvvZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DXBMediaOffice\/status\/1950934945884508321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 31, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Digital Dubai asked users to choose her name from three options: Dubai, Mira or Latifa. The remaining family members\u2014the mother, father and brother\u2014will follow.<\/p>\n<p>Taken together, the UAE is building a comprehensive ecosystem in which infrastructure projects are underpinned by human capital and public support.<\/p>\n<p>In May, the Dubai Department of Finance <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/dubai-to-integrate-cryptocurrencies-for-government-service-payments\">announced<\/a> a partnership with the crypto exchange Crypto.com to accept digital assets as payment for government services.<\/p>\n<p>In July, the UAE authorities <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/uae-denies-issuing-golden-visas-for-toncoin-investments\">denied<\/a> reports of \u201cgolden visas\u201d for staking Toncoin. The TON Foundation <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/ton-foundation-clarifies-uae-golden-visa-initiative\">clarified<\/a> that the project is a private initiative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UAE central bank reported progress on the digital dirham. PropTech is expanding: by 2030 the market is set to grow from $0.61bn to $1.55bn. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are scaling talent and investment, building a Web3\/smart\u2011city ecosystem. The United Arab Emirates is pressing ahead with the digital overhaul of its economy, advancing two [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"","news_style_id":"","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[438,1095,1455,42],"class_list":["post-26048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-cbdc","tag-technology","tag-uae"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"77","promo_type":"","layout_type":"","short_excerpt":"","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26048\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}