FNC Emphasises Parliaments' Role In Ensuring Ethical Use Of AI At Marrakesh Economic Parliamentary Forum

The UAE recently took part in the Third Marrakesh Economic Parliamentary Forum. This event was organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and hosted by Morocco's House of Councillors. The forum focused on "Unprecedented Economic, Trade and Energy Challenges – The Response of Regional Parliaments and the Private Sector." It gathered key parliamentary representatives, government officials, and private sector stakeholders from the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions.

Amna Ali AlAdidi, a member of the Federal National Council (FNC) Parliamentary Division, participated in a session titled "Artificial Intelligence and its Governance: Strengthening Parliamentary Awareness in AI Development, Applications and Regulation." This session addressed challenges posed by emerging technologies. Delegates discussed creating an international AI treaty, assessing AI’s impact on labour markets and ethics, and forming a regional advisory body to enhance coordination among institutions.

AlAdidi highlighted the need for dialogue sessions and parliamentary seminars to educate national parliament members about AI concepts. She emphasised legal frameworks are essential for ensuring safe AI use. AlAdidi also stressed partnerships with educational and media institutions to launch awareness initiatives that increase public understanding of AI’s impacts. She reaffirmed parliaments' legislative role in ensuring fair technology use.

The UAE has been proactive in developing AI technologies, viewing them as crucial for building an advanced knowledge-based economy driven by innovation. AlAdidi noted that the UAE is the first Middle Eastern country to mandate integrating artificial intelligence into its national curriculum starting from the 2025–2026 academic year. This initiative is part of a broader vision to prepare a generation equipped with future-ready tools.

This educational reform aims to lay foundations for sustainable development while enhancing the country's competitiveness over coming decades. By embedding AI into education, the UAE seeks to empower students with skills necessary for future challenges, contributing significantly to national growth.

In conclusion, the UAE's participation in this forum underscores its commitment to addressing economic challenges through collaboration. By focusing on AI governance and education integration, it aims to foster responsible innovation while preparing its citizens for a tech-driven future.

With inputs from WAM