AI to shape Dubai’s future, says Sheikh Hamdan
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a defining role in shaping Dubai’s future initiatives and services, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirmed, ahead of the first-ever Dubai AI Week which opened today.
Sheikh Hamdan, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), emphasised the emirate’s readiness to spearhead the global AI movement.
“More than 10 years ago, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, envisioned a future where every government service would be at our fingertips. Today, we are taking the next bold step into that future,” he said.
“AI is no longer just a tool – it is the infrastructure for cities that think, services that adapt, and governments that anticipate. In this new era of progress, AI will shape Dubai’s future.”
The Dubai AI Week is being organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) and is overseen by the DFF. It marks a major step in aligning Dubai’s strategic goals with rapid advancements in AI. Sheikh Hamdan states, “We will begin by assessing government entities based on their AI integration and measuring the academic sector by its contributions to AI research and teaching. We will also celebrate the companies advancing Dubai’s AI economy. This is Dubai’s new standard – those who do not embrace AI today will fall behind. See you at Dubai AI Week.”
The five-day event kicks off with the AI Retreat at the Museum of the Future, bringing together 150 senior government officials and global AI experts. The retreat includes four closed-door roundtables on critical themes: data and governance, infrastructure, economy and investment and talent development.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Deputy Managing Director of the DFF, will deliver the opening address. Keynote speeches will follow from Michael Spranger, Chief Operating Officer of Sony AI Inc., and Yossi Matias, Vice President and Head of Google Research.
Running concurrently, the Dubai Assembly for AI at AREA 2071 in Emirates Towers, from April 21 to 25, is set to welcome delegations from 15 countries, including South Korea, Canada, India, Australia, Germany, Italy and the UK. It will also feature participation from 25 global tech companies, 18 government entities, 20 universities and research institutions and 60 AI startups. More than 50 sessions will explore the future of AI implementation across various sectors.
By hosting this landmark event, Dubai aims to position itself as a hub for AI innovation and regulation, setting a new global benchmark for AI integration across governance, education and economic development.
