Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales, has affirmed that the United Arab Emirates has created a solid foundation of high-tech industries and research institutions — spanning space exploration and clean energy to genomics and advanced materials — underpinned by the far-sighted vision set out in the UAE Vision 2031.
He noted that more than 10 years ago, Marc Andreessen wrote: "Software is eating the world." That phrase was significant because it captured the importance of the change that defined an era: an era in which digital technology, from computers and smartphones to the internet and artificial intelligence, revolutionised our daily lives and the way our economies function.
This cycle of transformation was marked by remarkable achievements, driven largely by start-ups capable of reshaping entire sectors within a matter of months, thanks to the impact of digital tools. It became possible to execute at speed owing to the proliferation of data sources and the availability of powerful computing infrastructure, which enabled companies to move from idea to product at scale in record time, alongside abundant financing and relatively low barriers to market entry.
Nevertheless, this is a simple model in that it depends on a set of conditions that will not be repeated in the future. We are entering a new era of innovation, one defined more by breakthroughs in fundamental scientific progress than by shifts in usage. Innovation will become deeper and more demanding.
The most promising emerging technologies — quantum, nuclear fusion, biotechnology, new materials, brain-machine interfaces — are intimately linked to high-level scientific work. Their development requires long cycles, complex infrastructure, rare skills, and financing capable of sustaining years of uncertainty before any expected economic returns. It is no longer merely a question of agility, software dexterity, or user design: it is a challenge for applied science.
This does not mean the end of digital technology. On the contrary, it will remain an essential foundation for designing, simulating, manufacturing, and distributing these innovations. But the source of breakthroughs will shift towards scientific knowledge. It will not be a replacement; rather, there will be convergence: a convergence between software and the physical sciences. Advanced digital tools, such as artificial intelligence, will, for example, help produce new materials more rapidly and efficiently. Conversely, advances in the physical sciences will expand the potential of digital tools, particularly artificial intelligence. Nonetheless, we will witness a genuine paradigm shift that redefines the skills map, economic models, and innovation ecosystems.
The Middle East — and the UAE and Saudi Arabia in particular — is well positioned to succeed in this new era. Both countries are building advanced industrial and scientific capabilities alongside their digital strengths. The UAE has created a solid foundation of high-tech industries and research institutions, from space exploration and clean energy to genomics and advanced materials, underpinned by the far-sighted vision enshrined in the UAE Vision 2031.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia is rapidly expanding its capabilities in manufacturing, biotechnology, and deep technology within the framework of Vision 2030. Both countries are nurturing a new generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators, backed by world-class universities, global collaboration, and ambitious government-backed funding programmes.
There remains a need to create the conditions conducive to this success. This means having a stable and enabling regulatory, financial, and policy environment capable of supporting long-term investments. It also involves strengthening the links between public scientific research and private companies, and increasing the cohesion of regional ambitions in the face of the power strategies pursued by certain states.
The world will not be less digital tomorrow. But the major innovations will come increasingly from companies capable of working closely with fundamental research and combining digital and physical sciences. This shift is already taking shape in the Middle East. In the UAE, it is evident in its advanced artificial intelligence strategy, its global research and development partnerships, and its future-focused investments. Saudi Arabia, through the bold push of Vision 2030 towards advanced industries, biotechnology, and innovation systems, is paving the way for the region to become a leader in the deep-technology revolution.