When a new technology paradigm shift happens, it is urgent to familiarize ourselves with the skills necessary to be knowledgeable and proficient. AI is a new and more formidable challenge for workers. 

To bridge the AI skills gap, Coursera, the leading online learning platform, announced the launch of its Generative AI (GenAI) Academy in the UAE. The academy aims to equip executives and employees with the tools they need to thrive in the AI-driven workplace.

The academy offers a combination of foundational literacy and executive education programs developed by top universities and industry leaders like Microsoft, Stanford Online, and Google Cloud.

The academy addresses a pressing need with skills-first hiring on the rise and the UAE poised to benefit from $5.3 billion in GenAI investments by 2030. It empowers individuals and organizations to adapt to in-demand technologies, aligning with the UAE’s focus on talent agility through upskilling and reskilling.

General courses offered include Generative AI for Everyone from DeepLearning.AI, Artificial Intelligence on Microsoft Azure from Microsoft, and Introduction to Generative AI from Google Cloud. 

Executive-focused courses include AI Awakening from Stanford Online, Generative AI for Leaders from Vanderbilt University, and New Ways of Working in the AI World from the London School of Business.

GenAI is projected to generate $4.4 trillion annually, with AI adoption in the UAE expected to contribute to nearly 14% of its GDP by 2030. The academy positions the UAE as a global leader in AI education, preparing it to tap into this immense potential and achieve its 2031 goal of becoming a global AI hub.

“There is an urgent need to empower individuals and organizations to adapt to in-demand technologies powering the jobs of tomorrow,” said Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. “The UAE’s ongoing efforts in ensuring the agility of talents through reskilling and upskilling will achieve a significant boost with the introduction of GenAI Academy’s curated curriculum.”