Readers' Perspectives: UAE-India Relations, AI Apprenticeships, and Local Resilience

Write to us: Share your feedback on the news of the week regarding UAE-India ties. Writing in reference to Ramola Talwar Badam’s article titled Indian ambassador calls on young people to continue to work for progress of UAE (August 14), reader K Ragavan from Bengaluru, India, highlights that the robust and longstanding relationship between India and the UAE—built over decades of trade, culture, education, and contributions from Indian professionals and workers across diverse sectors—is prominently visible today. The strong people-to-people connection has been vital in fostering this partnership, making the ambassador's message to the younger generation especially significant. Maintaining this spirit of mutual respect and co-operation will continue to drive progress and prosperity in both nations.

On the topic of technology and employment, Gleb Tsipursky from Columbus, US, references research from Stanford University’s Digital Economy Lab. The findings show that the shortfall of workers aged 22-25 in highly AI-exposed jobs widened from 15 percent in July 2025 to 19 percent by June of this year due to reduced hiring. For nations like the UAE, whose National Employment Strategy 2031 aims to build a knowledge economy, employers can utilize AI for apprenticeships. By having AI handle initial drafts, summaries, or comparisons—which junior employees then verify, trace, and present to senior colleagues—automation can strengthen the workforce rather than eliminate entry-level learning opportunities.

Turning to politics, Filiz Ozmisir from Toronto, Canada, and Martin George from the UK respond to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's blooper reel, which was posted to address claims that his multilingual promo videos used AI. Commenting on the mayor's genuine approach, readers expressed admiration for his authenticity in modern politics.

Finally, Tahir Khan shares feedback on a video depicting authorities in Oman successfully clearing crude oil from a 12km stretch of coastline following the grounding of the Russian tanker Caroline Bezengi last month (August 17), praising the courage and determination of the Omani community in tackling environmental challenges.