WEF Selects Omar bin Sultan Al Olama for YGL Membership

Wam.ae: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications, for the membership of the Young Global Leaders community (YGLs) 2022.

The forum brings together 109 members from the international young leaders, aged 40 years or younger, from public figures, businessmen, social entrepreneurs, academic, social, cultural and sports leaders, and heads of civil society institutions and media sectors.

The YGLs community aims to accelerate the positive impact of a diverse community of responsible leaders across borders and sectors to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future and address challenges. In class 2022, YGL hosts members from 42 countries worldwide, who will join hands to develop leadership programme that will help them achieve greater impact. The programme features executive courses and vast opportunities to collaborate and test ideas with a reliable network of peers.

Al Olama was chosen to be a member of the YGLs community in recognition of his role in implementing the directions and vision of the UAE’s wise leadership leveraging AI solutions, promoting the digital economy, attracting coding talents, developing their capabilities and providing them with opportunities to participate in establishing the pillars of a diverse, digital, future economy.

Al Olama stated that his selection for the membership of the YGLs, class 2022, reflects the global leading position of the UAE in future-related disciplines, enabled by the vision and directives of the wise leadership, who rely on youth in shaping the future, and enhance their participation in leading vital sectors.

"The YGLs community is a global platform that enables sharing the UAE’s experience, pinpointing its leading position and introducing its future directions and vision to the whole world. YGL further has a main role in shaping a better future using the ideas and vision of exceptional young leaders from various sectors and countries worldwide," he added.

Following the ministerial reshuffle in October 2017, Omar Al Olama joined the UAE government as Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, before becoming Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications in 2020. Al Olama is spearheading UAE's efforts to be seen as a global leader in digital economy, with a special focus on enhancing the contribution of UAE's digital economy to the GDP. He is also focused on strengthening the UAE’s position as a global reference in remote work applications.

Currently, Al Olama is also the Managing Director of the World Government Summit, member of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, and Deputy Managing Director of the Foundation. In addition, he is Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital economy and a member of the Future of Digital Economy and Society System Initiative of the World Economic Forum.

Omar Sultan Al Olama holds a Diploma in Project Management and Excellence from the American University of Sharjah and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the American University of Dubai.

In 2004, Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, announced the establishment of the Young Global Leaders, launched later in 2005. From that date on, the forum selects new names for the membership of the forum, which currently includes hundreds of members from countries worldwide.

The community aims to form an integrated global platform for exceptional young leaders, who have the potential to promote partnerships among various sectors. It seeks to invest in their talents and skills to shape the future, develop economies and build sustainable societies, by sharing experiences and success stories to empower young leaders and enhance their capabilities towards finding solutions for the most pressing current and future challenges.

Every year, the World Economic Forum honours 200 outstanding young global leaders, in recognition of their professional achievements, commitment to society causes, and contribution to shaping the future. The YGLs community alumni add up to more than 1,400 members from 120 nationalities, including heads of government, leaders of the private sector, CEOs of prominent companies, in addition to Nobel Prize laureates.