The UAE on track to become a “flag carrier” in AI

Across sectors like aviation, finance, health care, energy and space, the UAE has firmly established itself on the global stage. 

Now, artificial intelligence is taking centre stage – with the nation harnessing its leadership, talent development and pursuit of excellence to shape this emerging field internationally.

That work is already well underway. Institutions such as the Dubai Future Foundation and the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence are embedding innovation into the fabric of public-private partnerships – positioning Dubai as a lab for the future, and a flag carrier of innovation.

At the core of the UAE’s AI vision is a commitment to intellectual sovereignty. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence – the world’s first AI-only graduate university – embodies this. Its mission is not only to nurture talent but also to export it, and help shape global AI capabilities. 

The UAE is also building sovereign computing – a crucial step in shaping the future of access, trust and innovation. By aligning AI with global challenges, from education to energy, this strategy brings AI closer to where it’s needed most.

As the first nation to roll out ChatGPT access at scale, and with infrastructure built to reach nearly half the world’s population, the UAE is setting the stage for an AI era that is inclusive, sovereign and globally resonant.  

AI is not an end in itself for the nation – it is the foundation of a better future. These recent advances represent a nation with a clear vision of where it’s headed, with the tools to lead the way.