Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (Dafza) to support 50 graduates of the One Million Arab Coders initiative, said a report.

The initiative was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to prepare a generation of technical experts by training one million Arab youth on programming, building their capacities to serve future needs, and contributing to the development of the digital economy; the economy of the future, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

The MoU was signed by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and deputy managing director of DFF, and Mohammed Al Zarooni, director general of Dafza.

The agreement aims to support software developers from the One Million Arab Coders program, through a range of projects and programmes to encourage them to apply the skills they learnt.

It also aims to provide a joint workspace for the 50 graduates to establish their own companies through the Dafza Innovation Program, and provide facilities for entrepreneurs, such as issuance of licenses and visas, preparing halls for meetings, and organising events, said the report.

Dafza will organise annual events to strengthen relations between companies and graduates and open direct communication channels with them.

The MoU also aims to provide graduates with job opportunities at institutions and companies located in Dafza.

The One Million Arab Coders program witnessed the graduation of approximately 13,000 students in its first session.

The programme is one of DFF’s initiatives, in cooperation with the Hussain Sajwani – Damac Foundation, the strategic partner, and the supporting partners Udasity, Mostaqbal and Bayt.com.

It aims to empower Arab youth by providing them with jobs in modern technologies, and preparing them with essential skills and knowledge.

It also aims to develop their abilities and increase their expertise in advanced science and offer scientific training to help them master programming language. This contributes to the development of the Arab region, encourages innovation and leads to a positive change by instilling hope in the youth, added the report.