The UAE cabinet has approved the UAE strategy of advanced industries in line with the 4th industrial revolution (4IR) and its applications, with the aim of promoting industrialisation and 4IR applications across sectors.

The cabinet session was chaired by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

The strategy seeks to encourage business sector to adopt a strategy to develop futuristic industries and advanced technologies, and promote the competiveness of local industry on the global level, and to move into clean and sustainable industry, as well as attract talents and create jobs for UAE citizens.

The strategy is based on six pillars including a balanced development across the various region of the country, flexibility in planning and policies, integration between the various emirates of the country in term of abilities and industrial and logistic services, commitment to improve quality of life, supporting innovation to increase efficiency and reduce cost, developing advanced skills industries.

The industrial sector contributed 8.9 per cent to local GDP in 2018, with industrial sector’s exports reaching 20 percent. The industrial sector employs 9 percent of total workforce as of 2017, the third largest employers with 460,000 job opportunity.