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have been accepted for presentation, with the participation of 31 government entities, 55 local and
international universities, 32 institutional partners, and over 200 speakers from various sectors,
including representatives from global tech giants such as Microsoft and Google.

More than 500 participants from various government, academic, and private sector entities took
part in the conference, which also witnessed high-level official attendance from several
government bodies, led by H.E. Lt. General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the
General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai. Among the prominent attendees
were H.E. Dr. Abdullah Busnad, Director General of Dubai Customs; H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Sharaf,
Assistant Secretary-General of the Judicial Council; H.E. Dr. Mansoor Mohammed Al Awar,
Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University; H.E. Mishaal Julfar, CEO of Dubai
Corporation for Ambulance Services; and H.E. Aisha Abdullah Miran Director General of the
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – Dubai; and Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Nour,
President of both the Arab Media Union and the Arab Creators Union, UN-affiliated organizations.
The event was also attended by several executive directors and representatives from leading
academic and research institutions, as well as Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy
Director General, and the Assistant Directors of the General Directorate.

As part of the first day of the conference, H.E. Lt. General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director
General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, highlighted in his
opening remarks one of the Directorate’s latest passport control initiatives: the "Unlimited Smart
Travel" service, launched in the First and Business Class lounges at Dubai International Airport –
Terminal 3. This service has been developed in line with the Directorate’s vision to improve the
quality of life for travelers and enhance the efficiency and smoothness of travel procedures.

This service represents a qualitative leap in smart mobility, as it integrates the latest artificial
intelligence technologies for facial recognition and identity verification. It strengthens travelers’
trust and reliance on smart systems, increases the throughput capacity from one traveler to ten
individuals simultaneously, and contributes to raising the satisfaction of both customers and staff,
while reducing service steps and accelerating passage through travel gates.

In his remarks, H.E. Lt. General Al Marri affirmed that hosting this conference is not merely an
academic gathering, but a reflection of an institutional commitment to driving transformative
thinking. He stated:
“We are not merely hosting a conference; we are embracing a renewed global vision that aligns with
our ambitions to build institutions that are both smart and human-centric. Artificial intelligence is
no longer a theoretical luxury—it is a practical necessity. And today, we place it in the service of
education, in the service of humanity, and in the service of a nation that deserves the best.”

Dr. Caroline A. Jones, Professor Emerita at the University of Warwick – UK, and representative of the
ICEQ Supreme Committee, added:
“What Dubai is witnessing today goes beyond an academic event. It is a practical model for
integrating emerging technologies into the future of education and public services. The conference
is a platform for aligning innovation with policy, and knowledge with application.”

https://www.mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/april/22-04/iceq-international-conference-kicks-off-
today