Page 115 - HBMSU PR REPORT - APRIL 2025

4/23/25, 4:51 PM ICEQ International Conference takes off with 31 govt entities
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 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; Dr. Abdulrahman Sharaf, Assistant Secretary-General of
the Judicial Council; Dr. Mansoor Mohammed Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart
University; Mishaal Julfar, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services; and 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, 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, 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.”

The conference concludes with a special session featuring Lt. General Al Marri, the launch of the AI
Innovation Lab, and the signing of three strategic cooperation agreements, creating an integrated

https://www.gulftoday.ae/business/2025/04/22/iceq-international-conference-takes-off-with-31-govt-entities 2/3