Dubai is set to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) as the inaugural Dubai AI Week kicks off on April 22, 2025. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has emphasized the city’s vision, robust infrastructure, and advanced capabilities that position it at the forefront of AI development. The event is organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) under the supervision of the Dubai Future Foundation, aiming to foster collaboration and innovation across the AI ecosystem.
Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the long-standing vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who foresaw a future where all government services would be digitized and accessible over a decade ago. “AI is no longer just a tool,” Sheikh Hamdan stated. “It is the infrastructure for cities that think, services that adapt, and governments that anticipate.” He pointed out that the integration of AI into government, education, and economic frameworks will be the defining factor of success in the years ahead.
In a significant move, Dubai will soon begin evaluating government departments based on their AI integration and measuring academic institutions on their contributions to AI research and development. “This is Dubai’s new standard,” Sheikh Hamdan asserted. “Those who do not embrace AI today will fall behind.”
The AI Week will commence with the AI Retreat on April 21 at the Museum of the Future, bringing together 150 global AI experts and government officials for closed-door discussions on crucial themes such as data governance, infrastructure, investment, and talent development. Keynote addresses will be delivered by H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, alongside executives from Sony AI and Google Research.
Running concurrently from April 21–25 at AREA 2071, the Dubai AI Assembly will host delegations from 15 countries, including South Korea, Canada, Germany, and India. The assembly will also welcome 25 international tech companies, 18 government entities, 20 universities and research centers, and 60 AI startups. Participants will showcase cutting-edge AI solutions and engage in over 50 specialized sessions. Topics will cover a wide range, including future AI trends, agentic AI in the workplace, AI wearables, generative AI, and AI in education. Notable sessions include “Future Forward” by Gartner, “Agents Amongst Us” by Microsoft, and “AI Wearables and Connectivity” by Meta.
In addition to flagship events, Dubai AI Week will feature community-driven initiatives such as AI Week in Schools (April 21–25), the Dubai AI Week Hackathon (April 25), and sector-specific events like the HIMSS Executive Summit and the International Conference on AI Innovations. The Global Prompt Engineering Championship and the Dubai AI Festival will also take place during the week, providing platforms for creative and technical AI exploration.
Dubai AI Week is backed by leading institutions and global tech giants. Strategic partners include Dubai Chambers Digital, Digital Dubai, DEWA, and the UAE AI Office. The event also enjoys support from tech leaders such as Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, IBM, Google Cloud, PwC, Gartner, Nvidia, Palantir, Cohere, and ElevenLabs. Bringing together over 10,000 participants from more than 100 nationalities, Dubai AI Week reflects the emirate’s commitment to shaping the future of AI.
With its forward-thinking policies and investment in talent and innovation, Dubai aims to remain at the forefront of AI development across government, business, and education. The event serves as a vital platform for global collaboration, empowering the next generation of AI talent and accelerating the adoption of AI across various sectors.
