From Code to Corridors: How Dubai is Building a Tech-First Policy and India-Focused Scale | The Economic Times Podcast

What does it take to turn a sandbox into a globally-competitive innovation ecosystem? In this episode of Live, Work & Play in Dubai, we sit down with Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO of AI at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), to decode the blueprint behind Dubai’s digital transformation—from AI regulation and startup readiness to blockchain strategy and the city’s expanding corridor with India. Dr. Marwan shares personal anecdotes, including learning to code in Arabic at age eight, and unpacks how Dubai’s policy approach — agile, feedback-led, and human-centric — is helping entrepreneurs, regulators, and technologists co-create the city’s future. From digital identity and single-window platforms to Golden Visas and Unicorn 30, this episode explores how Dubai is not just anticipating the future, but building it.