The Emirates Group has taken a significant leap forward in promoting research and development, as well as fostering the exchange of innovative ideas, with the introduction of its latest initiative, the Innovation Majlis.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, alongside other prominent leaders, inaugurated this high-tech centre in Dubai. The Innovation Majlis is poised to showcase a range of advanced technologies, including robotics, hyper-reality, holograms, 3D printers, and more.
Serving as a collaborative space, the Majlis aims to facilitate the co-creation of proof-of-concepts that will bring tangible benefits to customers, communities, and the aviation industry at large. In addition to this, the Majlis will actively seek partnerships with industry leaders and universities, champion sustainable initiatives, and explore alternative energy sources. These key drivers, as highlighted in a statement from Emirates, are expected to invigorate the landscape of innovation within the group.
Sheikh Ahmed emphasised the Emirates Group’s commitment to championing innovation in the aviation sector, highlighting the fundamental role that it plays in their core values, culture, and mindset.
“The Innovation Majlis, with its latest tools and tech, is designed to empower our employees to explore new horizons, discover innovative solutions, and drive the future of the aviation industry. It will bring our partners, top tech companies and entities together in one space to address key challenges affecting our industry today,” he said.
During its initial phase, the Innovation Majlis will showcase an array of technologies, including:
- Autonomous mobile manipulator: developed by Dubai Future Labs for order deliveries as well as picking and placing objects from shelves, bins and table-tops.
- AI-enabled wearable glasses for AR experiences: transforms the way we perceive and interact with other people, products or services
- Haptic gloves for natural XR interactions: enables touch interaction in virtual reality to feel the weight, vibrations and resistance of virtual objects
- 3D holographic display with generative AI: elevates the experience of interacting with digital signage by providing advanced conversational capability through natural language processing
- Automatic wireless charging: next era of charging devices autonomously from a distance using infrared technology
- 3D printing solutions: exploring next generation printers that can handle a greater range of materials to provide an additive manufacturing capability for new areas
- Optimised videoconferencing: all-in-one device providing advanced sensor and environment optimisation technology for video communications
- Next generation water filtration: reverse osmosis and carbon filtration purification system that turns any tap water into mineralised water.
The Emirates Group has a rich history of spearheading innovation within the industry. The Innovation Majlis follows closely on the heels of the launch of Sara, the world’s first check-in robot assistant, and the successful inaugural edition of ForsaTEK, an annual event that brings together startup programs, high-profile tech and industry partners, and key players in the ecosystem.
Moreover, the Emirates Group has partnered with the Dubai Future Foundation to establish the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics (ECEAR), solidifying its commitment to advancing aviation through research and development. The group has allocated a significant budget of $200 million to finance initiatives aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation.
