Emirates Development Bank (EDB), the key financial engine of economic development and industrial advancement in the UAE, has unveiled its internal AI Wave program.
This strategic initiative, aligning with the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, aims to reinforce the UAE’s position as a global leader in AI innovation while leveraging AI technologies to enhance banking services and government efficiency.
As a federal government entity, EDB is dedicated to accelerating AI adoption through an extensive educational and awareness program. This organization-wide initiative seeks to empower the employees from all departments of the bank to integrate these tools into their roles.
By fostering AI literacy and strategic insight throughout the organization, EDB aims to support the UAE’s digital transformation goals, ensuring its workforce are equipped with the skills to pioneer innovation, enhance decision-making, and optimize operations in line with the nation’s strategic vision.
H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi CEO – EDB
“As the UAE’s development bank, we are at the forefront of enabling the nation’s economic transformation. Our role in supporting the UAE’s ambition to become a global AI leader is not just about adopting technology; it’s about strategically embedding AI into our operations to drive innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. The AI Wave program demonstrates our commitment to this vision, empowering us to set new benchmarks for government excellence and efficiency. We envision a future where AI-driven insights and solutions underpin our strategic decision-making, optimize our service delivery, and ultimately contribute to a more prosperous, resilient, and technologically advanced national economy.”
Dr. Abeer Al Sumaiti, Chief Human Resources Officer at EDB, stated that, “The AI Wave program is an essential step in embedding AI across the organization, fostering a workforce that is well-versed in AI technologies and prepared to drive innovation at every level. This initiative ensures that AI integration is achieved from the top down, creating a robust, agile, and forward-thinking culture within EDB.”
Aligning with the UAE Government’s commitment to leveraging AI’s potential to transform service delivery, the AI Wave program focuses on strategic partnerships to fuel impactful initiatives. These efforts aim to accelerate the pace towards AI transformation across EDB’s departments, boosting efficiency and innovation.
Irina Petrakova-Otto, Chief Technology Officer of Private Capital and AI at Microsoft, kicked off the program’s knowledge session with an insightful talk on the transformative potential of AI in the banking sector, exploring its various applications across different departments.
Martin Hayward, a partner from the leading global law firm Pinsent Masons, led the second session, exploring the practical aspects of AI implementation, covering topics including data management, model development, and ethical considerations, equipping EDB staff with the knowledge and tools to effectively integrate AI in their respective roles.
The AI Wave program will continue to feature a series of interactive workshops, seminars, and hands-on training sessions, ensuring that EDB’s workforce stays up-to-date with the emerging AI advancements and is empowered to drive innovation and transformation within the bank and the wider UAE.
