H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy, inaugurated the Dubai AI Campus cluster at the Innovation Hub, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
This initiative is part of phase one of the annual Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI), recently launched to accelerate AI adoption across all relevant sectors, creating an ideal nurturing ecosystem for AI businesses and talents to drive innovation in AI.
Sheikh Hamdan stated that Dubai continues to launch strategic plans aimed at accelerating AI adoption and its applications in all sectors, aligning with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to establish Dubai as a global hub of the digital economy and the preferred destination for major AI businesses and top talent from around the world.
He emphasised that the Dubai AI Campus at DIFC is a crucial step towards achieving the goals of doubling economic growth and increasing AI’s contribution to Dubai and the UAE’s GDP.
Sheikh Hamdan expressed confidence that the campus would significantly enhance Dubai’s economy by hosting hundreds of businesses and creating thousands of jobs in the coming years, thereby reinforcing Dubai’s position as a favourite destination for tech companies.
He added that Dubai prioritises competitiveness and its leading position as a hub for the digital economy in all projects and programmes launched, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
He reiterated that Dubai is moving steadily towards a new era of leadership and sustainable growth based on knowledge, innovation, and future technology applications, maintaining its status as a beacon of economic prosperity both regionally and globally.
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Announced in 2023, the Dubai AI Campus is the largest dedicated cluster for AI and advanced technology in the MENA region.
The launch supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to generate an average of AED 100B annually for Dubai’s economy through digital transformation. It also marks a significant initiative in realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to establish Dubai as a global digital economy hub and a key player on the global digital stage.
The new campus aligns with Dubai’s vision to be the chosen destination for tech businesses, driving innovation and technology integration across all sectors. It is estimated that AI will contribute $230B to the Middle East’s economy by 2030, constituting 14% of the UAE’s GDP by 2030.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; Issa Kazim, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre; and Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority.
The Dubai AI Campus cluster is part of the DIFC Innovation Hub, offering dedicated co-working spaces to tech startups, including AI businesses. Phase one of the campus is already complete, with over 75 businesses registered on a 10,000-square-foot site. Phase two will expand to over 100,000 square feet, attracting over 500 companies and creating more than 3,000 jobs by 2028.
Essa Kazim welcomed Sheikh Hamdan to the opening of the Dubai AI Campus, stating that the cluster would accelerate the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda while supporting the emirate’s future technology and digital economy strategies.
He noted that the opening of the Dubai AI Campus is part of the first phase of the annual Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI), serving as a key enabler that will bolster Dubai’s position as a global hub for advanced technology adoption.
Kazim added that Dubai and DIFC’s innovative structure provides startups with direct access to investors, investment funds, major corporations, and traditional financial institutions, ensuring that high-potential businesses receive the necessary funding to achieve their goals.
Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority, stated that the Dubai AI Campus accelerates the objectives of DIFC’s 2030 Strategy, which aims to further empower the growing fintech and innovation ecosystem.
Amiri also highlighted that the cluster cements DIFC’s position as the largest incubator for the financial sector in the MEASA region and looks forward to collaborating with regional players to simplify and expand their businesses through AI.
The Dubai AI Campus facilitates multinational tech partnerships with leading companies such as Amazon Web Services, HP, Microsoft, Oracle, and Nvidia, who will join the cluster as key partners. It will be home to the first innovation lab offering AI solutions to the UAE’s small businesses, in collaboration with du.
Additionally, the cluster will provide high computing capabilities, including DGX platforms, and state-of-the-art business accelerator programmes to advance AI application implementation in the private sector.
The Dubai AI Campus will offer a unique AI licence designed to meet the requirements of the next generation of AI-dependent businesses, utilising DIFC’s independent legal framework.
Businesses within the cluster will benefit from DIFC’s Digital Assets Law, the first of its kind globally, providing legal certainty to investors and users of digital assets.
Further showcasing its leadership in leveraging technological advancements, Dubai will host the premier Dubai AI and Web3 Festival, organised by Dubai AI Campus in collaboration with the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications Office, and DIFC, on 11 and 12 September 2024 at Madinat Jumeirah.
This event will highlight Dubai’s commitment to promoting future technology, attracting over 5,000 visitors and participants, along with more than 500 investors and 100 exhibitors.
Since its launch in 2021, DIFC’s Innovation Hub has continued to grow and forge significant partnerships, driving innovation and shaping forward-looking plans. It now hosts over 1,000 startups. As part of the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, the Innovation Hub launched the Metaverse Accelerator Program, which enrolled over 150 students in its first cohort.