Dubai has unveiled the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) as part of its ambitious plan to establish itself as a prominent hub in the $111B AI sector. The announcement was made by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).
The primary objective of the newly launched Centre is to support government entities in the implementation of cutting-edge technologies across crucial sectors.
In Dubai, the advancement of artificial intelligence and other future technologies is progressing rapidly, aligning with the global trend of technological innovation. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the city’s commitment to embracing these innovations and staying at the forefront of technological progress. This initiative is in perfect alignment with the vision and directives set forth by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.
The ultimate goal is to position Dubai as a worldwide leader.
By establishing the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and embracing innovative technologies, Dubai aims to solidify its global leadership role in driving progress and innovation.
He said: “Dubai’s government will be the best in the world in deploying artificial intelligence (AI) within its various entities.”
“This new centre is the first step in achieving this goal and developing future services to keep pace with rapid technological advancements.”
Enhancing Government Services with AI
Sheikh Hamdan urged employees within Dubai’s government entities to utilize generative AI tools to boost productivity and optimize the delivery of government services.
Sheikh Hamdan added: “We aim to see practical applications of generative AI technologies in our government sector. Technological development is moving very rapidly, and in Dubai we are determined to be just as fast in testing and harnessing it for the benefit of society.”
“We want new AI-powered government tools to have a clear impact and tangible results.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, graced the launch event. The Dubai Centre for AI has set a target to train over 1,000 government employees from 30+ entities on the applications of generative AI. The centre plans to initiate multiple pilot projects, enhancing government services and boosting the productivity of employees.
“We are confident that developing AI applications will contribute significantly to actualising Dubai’s vision for the future. The technological leaps we see today will only be the beginning of our journey towards an entirely new and different future, with transformative changes in health, education, economy, media and government sectors,” Sheikh Hamdan further said.
Driving AI Research and Innovation
The Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Media Council, and Dubai Digital Authority, in collaboration with relevant authorities, will oversee the implementation of the Centre for AI’s objectives. Their focus will include developing AI-related legislation, attracting global technological solutions, and nurturing local talent. The launch of this initiative aligns with Sheikh Mohammed’s directives to integrate the latest AI technologies across various sectors.
The establishment of the centre coincides with the projected growth of the generative AI sector, expected to reach $110.8B by 2030, with generative AI accounting for 10% of all data produced by 2025.
Within the next two years, these methods anticipate generative AI techniques playing a significant role in the healthcare sector, systematically discovering over 30% of new drugs and materials. The Centre for AI will focus on developing legislation, studying ethical and social implications, and enhancing government services through simulations, predictive analytics, and personalized user experiences. The centre aims to provide superior government services tailored to residents’ needs. It plans to achieve this by utilizing generative AI. The centre seeks to collaborate with international technology companies and academic institutions. This collaboration aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a regional leader in AI research and innovation.
