Can Dubai Become the World's Leading AI Hub?
Hey, have you heard about the big AI event happening in Dubai? It’s called the “AI Retreat” and it’s scheduled for Tuesday, June 11th at the Museum of the Future. This event is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
The AI Retreat is organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with the National Program for Artificial Intelligence. It’s the first event under the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, or DUB.AI. The goal is to bring together over 1000 AI experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from both the government and private sectors, as well as major global tech companies.
They’ll be discussing the challenges and opportunities AI presents both locally and globally. The event aims to lay the foundational strategies for AI adoption across all sectors. There will be key sessions, panel discussions, specialised workshops, and high-profile roundtable discussions focusing on four main themes: Funding & Financial, Infrastructure, Data Enablement, and Talent Development.
The whole idea is to position Dubai as a global hub for AI, which should help build a better future for everyone. It’s a chance for leaders from various sectors to communicate openly, share goals, innovative projects, best practices, and success stories.
His Excellency Omar Sultan AlOlama, who is the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, emphasised the importance of identifying AI opportunities early and developing solutions that benefit economies and societies. He pointed out that the UAE was among the first to adopt national initiatives around AI.
He also mentioned that under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the direction of Sheikh Hamdan, Dubai has developed a comprehensive plan to accelerate AI adoption. This plan aims to establish Dubai as a global AI hub.
AlOlama added that the AI Retreat is key to positioning Dubai as a top destination for AI innovations, which will support the digital economy and enhance the nation’s future readiness. The UAE has become a leader in fostering international AI partnerships, and this event will help shape future strategies to harness AI's potential.
Back in April, Sheikh Hamdan launched DUB.AI, a plan focused on leveraging technology to improve quality of life, with a strong emphasis on AI governance and its deployment in crucial sectors. The plan aims to create an optimal ecosystem for AI companies and global talent by providing a business-friendly environment. It also supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to contribute AED 100 billion annually to Dubai’s economy by boosting the digital economy and increasing productivity by 50 percent.
