This year’s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai had an interesting attraction that drew a lot of attention from the visitors and international media. The robots from Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Hamdan’s office, might not have anything to do with tourism directly, but showcased how next gen technology is making a difference in the emirate. I was informed by an IT department official in the Office of The Crown Prince of Dubai that these interactive robots are basically used in educational programmes – from primary level to engineering.

Dressed like an Emirati man, the robot named Fattan entralled the audience with its many movements, with its eyes shining bright. It can dance, move its arms and legs. Fattan, like all the other robots, can speak six languages including French, English, Spanish, German. It can identify faces and talk, and wait for a response. It is also equipped with sonars so that it does not bump into objects, and even if it falls down it can roll over and stand up.

The robots are created by a French company called Aldebaran Robotics, which is a pioneer in robotic technology.