Here's how the UAE is creating the next wave of innovators

In October 2014, the UAE launched a plan to become one of the world's most innovative nations within seven years, and it seems like it is well on course to achieve its ambitious strategy. 

The Gulf nation has asserted itself as a regional hub for innovation and cutting-edge technology, which comes in line with its goals to diversify its economy in the post-oil era. 

As part of its Vision 2021, the country has been working on several fronts to achieve a more sustainable, knowledge-based economy, with a significant portion of its efforts being dedicated to creating a national environment of innovation. 

The nation has consistently been creating the next wave of innovators, here's how:

Launched in 2014, the >National Innovation Strategy lays down a program to place the nation among the most innovative countries in the world within seven years.

The strategy focuses on seven sectors: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water, and space.

"The UAE is already the most innovative Arab nation. Our target is to be among the most innovative nations in the world," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, said at the time.

"The competitiveness race demands a constant flow of new ideas, as well as innovative leadership using different methods and tools to direct the change," he added. 

The National Innovation Strategy aims at creating an environment that nurtures innovation through supportive institutions and effective legislation.

The plan also requires government entities to reduce their spending and allocate the resulting savings to research and original initiatives. 

Additionally, the strategy includes plans to boost innovation in the private sector and encourage talented individuals to cultivate their novel skills.

The nation has been hosting many world-class events and conferences centered around innovation.

Following the success of the UAE Innovation Week in 2015 and 2016, the event was expanded to a month-long festival titled UAE Innovation Month, which is considered to be one of the largest innovation festivals in the world.

In February, Innovation Month featured several events, workshops, and competitions across the seven emirates. For example, one event saw over 100 innovators display their projects along Abu Dhabi's corniche. 

With funding difficulties often impeding innovators, the UAE government has taken it upon itself to help finance groundbreaking initiatives. The annual investment in innovation >amounted to 14 billion dirhams ($3.8 billion) in 2014 and has been on the rise ever since. 

In 2015, Sheikh Mohammed launched a 2 billion dirhams ($544.5 million) >innovation fund dedicated to supporting UAE-based individuals and companies of all sizes.

In 2016, the UAE dedicated 300 billion dirhams ($81.7 billion) to the Science, Technology and Innovation policy, which highlights the importance of investing in science, technology, and innovation in order to boost the economy.

Adopted by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the policy was introduced as "a turning point in the country’s march towards progress, economic diversification, and prosperity, and aims mainly to prepare the UAE for a post-oil world."

The government has founded and financed several innovation centers in the past couple of years. One of the major government-backed innovation hubs is the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, which was launched in Dubai's Emirates Towers in 2014.

The center promotes a culture of innovation in the government sector by, among many other activities, hosting interactive sessions and workshops that inspire innovative solutions to the challenges that face government entities.

The center also offers an Innovation Diploma through a program conducted by the United Kingdom's University of Cambridge, in hopes of preparing a generation of pioneering CEOs in government entities.

In addition, as of February 2018, Abu Dhabi hosts the Innovation Hub, the first of its kind in the region. 

Powered by Google and inaugurated by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, the UAE University facility offers students a range of high-tech courses, such as machine learning, app development, 3D printing, and laser-cutting.

Initiated in 2016 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the program connects innovative entrepreneurs with the government to create and test advanced solutions for global challenges.

"It's a unique program for cutting-edge entrepreneurs, in partnership with the government of Dubai, to use the city as a living testbed for creating solutions to the global challenges of tomorrow," the website reads. "Our mission is to imagine, design and create the future."

The initiative brings together top international companies and entrepreneurs to address topics such as artificial intelligence and robotics, biotechnology, and 3D printing.

Government figures have sponsored several awards that acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of innovators in the country. 

For example, the UAE Innovation Award, which was launched under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, is dedicated to innovation in the private sector.

Similarly, the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Award for Innovation in Project Management promotes innovation in the managing and executing projects.

In light of these efforts to promote innovation, the UAE earned a place among the world's top 10 highest-ranking countries with regards to community innovation in 2017.

According to the Global Community Innovation Survey, five percent of the country's population are considered innovators.

More interestingly, the survey found that Emirati women outshine their male counterparts and make up the majority of the UAE's innovators, Khaleej Times reported at the time.

Innovation has become an integral part of the nation's various sectors, and transportation is no exception, especially in Dubai. While other countries often rely on the private sector, the UAE government itself has >been in charge of leading the change in the transportation sector.

"Transport revolution will come earlier in countries such as the UAE," according to lawyer and scholar, Marvin Ammori. 

In 2016, Dubai >announced an ambitious plan to implement driverless vehicles in the emirate, in hopes of combating traffic congestion and decreasing pollution. Having put the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy in action, Dubai aims to make 25 percent of all trips in the emirate driverless by 2030.

The emirate already boasts the world's longest automated driverless metro line, the Dubai Metro. That's not all. The emirate has also been >testing flying cars, officially known as Automated Aerial Vehicles, which are driverless as well. 

Commuting from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 12 minutes will soon become reality, as the> Hyperloop transportation system - the brainchild of billionaire business magnate and investor Elon Musk of Tesla and Space X - is coming to Dubai. 

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Abdulredha Abu Alhassan, executive director of the Rail Planning and Projects Development at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA,) said the project is still under testing and thus its launch date has not been specified yet .

This February, a full-scale prototype model of the Hyperloop One was >unveiled in Dubai's City Walk Mall. 

The model's cream and beige seats were actually designed by German automobile company BMW. "The seats have been designed in a very futuristic manner," Alhassan said at the time, and spectators definitely agreed.

One Dubai resident who checked out the prototype said, "It is beautiful on the inside. The seats are comfortable and the headrest is amazing." 

It's not just the vehicles that are high-tech in the UAE, but the showrooms as well. In February, the Arabian Gulf Mechanical Centre (AGMC) announced plans to construct a new and ultra-modern BMW and MINI facility in Dubai Motor City.

According to Zawya, the 9,300-square-meter showroom and after-sales facility will feature an "iconic and contemporary design" that will focus on costumer engagement. 

Among other perks, the showroom will include Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) services that allow customers to "immediately bring up lifelike, three dimensional images of any BMW or MINI model on a smartphone or tablet."

Catering to the young, daring, and extroverted, BMW's first-ever X2 vehicle is the perfect fit to keep up with the ever-evolving emirates.

With its outstanding handling and agility, the compact sports activity coupe is made for urban adventures.

From its tempting exterior to its eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive, the X2 is definitely the one to be on the lookout for this spring.