Davos, Switzerland – Officials from the UAE and Gulf countries refuted claims on Thursday that they are “stealing talent,” asserting instead that they provide robust ecosystems to drive innovation and foster regional prosperity.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum during a panel discussion titled Hacking Trade and Investment, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, highlighted the Gulf’s focus on nurturing talent and scaling technology.
“We are not stealing the talent; we are ensuring that we provide the ecosystem to scale them so they can scale their technology,” Al Zeyoudi said. He emphasized that Gulf countries aim to create an environment conducive to technological and economic growth.
Deemah Al Yahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) in Saudi Arabia, echoed these sentiments, pointing to the competitive advantages the Gulf region offers. “The UAE is building computing power, and Saudi Arabia has robust and resilient infrastructure. These efforts enable great talent to innovate and grow, ensuring the region prospers and leads in innovation,” she said.
The remarks came in response to concerns raised by Mounir Nakhla, CEO of MNT-Halan, about the challenges of retaining talent. Nakhla cited higher salaries offered by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations as a hurdle for companies in other regions.
“It is very challenging to find the right talent and train them. It becomes even more challenging when competing with GCC countries that attract our talent by offering higher salaries,” Nakhla said during the discussion.
The Gulf’s appeal to global talent lies in its ecosystem designed to promote professional and economic growth. Millions of expatriates currently reside and work in the UAE and other GCC countries, benefiting from high living standards and career opportunities.
Al Zeyoudi also addressed trade inefficiencies and the importance of integrating technology with infrastructure in developing economies. “Trade processes remain human-centric, leading to massive errors. Developing economies are untapped markets, but they face infrastructure challenges such as roads, bridges, and ports,” he explained.
The UAE minister stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to introducing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence in developing countries. “Without infrastructure, you’ll not go anywhere. Technology transfer must go hand-in-hand with infrastructure development to create a sustainable ecosystem,” he said.
As the Gulf region continues to position itself as a global innovation hub, officials are committed to balancing talent attraction with sustainable development and fostering partnerships with emerging markets.
