Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE is rapidly positioning itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence, leveraging the technology not only for economic growth but also to enhance national resilience in an evolving regional landscape.
Its push is backed by strategic national policies, international partnerships and ambitious infrastructure projects that anchor the country’s AI development. The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence set out a roadmap to position the country as a world leader in AI by 2031.
Abu Dhabi, in particular, is harnessing AI to strengthen crisis management and security. The emirate integrates AI-driven analysis models to monitor early indicators, analyse large datasets across sectors and anticipate potential risks, allowing authorities to adjust response plans in real time. Digital dashboards and predictive analytics provide decision-makers with unified operational pictures, supporting rapid, data-driven interventions and enhancing the continuity of essential services during disruptions.
The emirate aims to become the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027, supported by a Dh13 billion ($3.5 billion) investment under its Digital Strategy 2025-2027.
The UAE’s AI ambitions are materialising through a wave of high-profile projects. G42, through Khazna Data Centers, is developing hyperscale data centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including Stargate UAE and a multi-gigawatt campus expected to become one of the largest AI compute clusters outside the United States.
Microsoft has outlined plans to invest $15.2 billion in the UAE’s AI and cloud ecosystem, including $4.6 billion already deployed in data centre infrastructure, with an additional $5.5 billion expected between 2026 and 2029.
The funds are aimed at supporting sovereign cloud services, high-performance computing and enterprise AI adoption.
The UAE’s AI capabilities are also being supported by access to advanced semiconductors from companies such as Nvidia, enabling the training and deployment of large-scale models.
On the software side, the UAE has launched a series of homegrown AI models.
In 2023, G42 and partners released Falcon, an open-source large language model that ranked among the top globally on benchmark tests at the time of its launch.
This was followed by Jais, an Arabic-language model designed to support regional use cases.
The research and talent pipeline is anchored by the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), established in 2019, which has enrolled hundreds of postgraduate students and partnered with global institutions on AI research initiatives.
Startup ecosystems are expanding through platforms like Hub71, which supports over 260 companies, including AI-focused startups, and facilitates billions of dirhams in funding and partnerships.
AI is also increasingly integrated into the country’s mobility and urban infrastructure.
In Abu Dhabi, the Integrated Transport Centre uses AI platforms like the Fusion Smart Mobility Analytics Framework to forecast traffic demand, optimise fleet operations and guide infrastructure planning.
Predictive analytics help anticipate congestion, improve traffic flow and enhance transport efficiency across the emirate.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has been deploying AI-based traffic management systems since the early 2020s and is working towards its target of making 25% of all trips autonomous by 2030.
The UAE’s surge as an AI and advanced technology hub is reflected not only in local policy and investment, but also in independent international rankings and research.
Oxford Insights’ Government AI Readiness Index consistently places the country among the top 20 globally, while the Cybernews 2025 AI Adoption Index ranks the UAE third worldwide for consumer AI adoption, with 56% of the population using AI tools, up from 27% in 2024.
KPMG’s Trust in AI report finds 97% adoption for work, study or personal use, with 89% of users reporting tangible benefits versus a global average of 83%.
In the 2025 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, the UAE ranked 9th globally out of 69 countries, with high scores in areas such as internet penetration, digital skills and future readiness.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi made it to the top five global rankings in the IMD Smart City Index 2025, placing 4th and 5th, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Stanford AI Index Report places the UAE among the top five countries globally for AI “vibrancy” — a composite measure that includes investment, innovation and talent.
