Dubai: The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) announced today that Emirates Airline, Amazon, Careem, and GEMS Education have come together under the Gig Economy Sandbox initiative to help formulate regulations that support the growth of the gig economy.
This announcement was made during an event at Emirates Towers, attended by partners of Sandbox Dubai and officials from local regulatory bodies and government agencies.
Sandbox Dubai is an innovative platform designed to improve Dubai’s legislative and regulatory framework to meet future needs. Through this platform, government and private sector entities work together to develop regulations that enable businesses to capitalize on new trends and technologies.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, recently approved the Sandbox Dubai initiative as part of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). The initiative includes two sandboxes: the Gig Economy Sandbox and the PropTech Sandbox.
Khalifa AlQama, Executive Director of Sandbox Dubai, emphasized the essential role of private sector partners in developing regulations, testing ideas and piloting projects to make Dubai the most future-ready city.
AlQama said that, “Sandbox Dubai team will work in collaboration with public and private sector partners to explore future opportunities and establish an ecosystem that gives everyone a chance to contribute to shaping the future of Dubai’s key sectors.”
Oliver Grohmann, Executive Vice President Human Resources for Emirates Group, commented that, “Emirates Group is pleased to support the Gig Economy Sandbox, a key initiative aligned with the objectives of D33 to advance new sectors and develop a future-ready knowledge-based economy. We are enthusiastic around the possibilities this new initiative will bring to promote innovation, boost capacity and broaden the talent pool in Dubai, and we stand ready to support with our expertise as this sector’s landscape evolves in size and significance.”
.@DubaiFuture announced that @Emirates , @amazon , @CareemUAE , and @GEMS_ME have joined forces under the Gig Economy Sandbox initiative to help develop regulations that enable the development of the gig economy.https://t.co/pSdLw7al3G pic.twitter.com/psqM8SQ9Ip
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 31, 2024
Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President of Amazon Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye, emphasized that, “We are excited to partner with the Dubai Future Foundation on Sandbox Dubai Initiative, to shape flexible working models and boost Dubai’s digital economy. By leveraging Amazon’s global expertise and technology, we aim to pilot programs that create new opportunities for talent, enhance economic productivity, and drive innovative solutions that elevate customer experience.”
Andro Valdes, VP Operations at Careem Technologies, said that, “Sandbox Dubai initiative is accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies by connecting public and private sectors to iterate and adapt regulatory practices. The gig economy is an important component of any strong economy, helping to enhance efficiency and create flexible earning opportunities.”
Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer, GEMS Education, highlighted that, “We are delighted and honored to be partnering with Dubai Future Foundation on its sandbox initiative. It is a prime example of Dubai’s forward-thinking and innovative approach to public-private sector collaboration, promoting economic growth through ever greater flexibility and opportunity, and unlocking human capital in the emirate.”
The Gig Economy Sandbox aims to create regulations tailored to sectors that frequently rely on seasonal workers, such as retail, hospitality, tourism, aviation, education, transport, and logistics.
This initiative will support growth in these sectors while enhancing the competitiveness and future readiness of Dubai’s labor market.
The Gig Economy Sandbox will also contribute to sustainable economic growth in Dubai and the UAE by lowering overhead costs for businesses and offering greater flexibility for workers.
Recently, the global economy has experienced a notable rise in demand for seasonal employment, benefiting both companies and freelancers.