Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially inaugurated the Dubai AI Academy as a centrepiece of Dubai AI Week 2025 — a landmark step in the emirate's drive to build a world-class AI workforce and cement its position as a global technology leader.
Launch at Dubai AI Week 2025
Dubai AI Week ran from April 21 to 25 across two landmark venues: the Museum of the Future and AREA 2071. Sheikh Hamdan presided over the launch of the Dubai AI Academy, underscoring the government's commitment to making artificial intelligence education accessible at scale.
The Dubai Crown Prince stated that Dubai plans to welcome leaders from around the world who seek to advance artificial intelligence, positioning the city as their preferred destination for AI learning and innovation.
Dubai AI Academy: Location and Partners
The Dubai AI Academy is housed at the DIFC Innovation Hub within the Dubai AI Campus — the region's largest dedicated cluster of AI and advanced technology companies. The academy was established through a landmark partnership between three globally recognised institutions:
- Oxford University's Saïd Business School - Udacity - The Minerva Project
Together, these partners have designed specialised curricula tailored to the demands of tomorrow's AI-driven economy.
Programmes and Curriculum
The academy's training modules are built around three core pillars: identifying and implementing AI use cases, integrating AI into business strategy, and applying responsible deployment frameworks grounded in ethical standards.
Initial programme offerings include:
- AI for Civil Service — developed with Udacity and open to all government employees, building practical AI literacy across Dubai's public sector. - Leadership in the Age of AI — delivered with the Minerva Project, equipping participants with the strategic, ethical, and adaptive skills needed to lead in a complex, AI-enabled world.
The goal is to train 10,000 leaders and award advanced AI certification across both public and private sectors.
Supporting Dubai's AI Blueprint
The Dubai AI Academy directly supports two cornerstone strategic frameworks. The first is the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI), which aims to double AI's contribution to the emirate's GDP and strengthen its global competitiveness. The second is the DIFC 2030 Strategy, which relies on a pipeline of skilled professionals in AI, FinTech, and innovation to sustain DIFC's growth as a world-leading financial and technology hub.
By mainstreaming AI education, Dubai is building a workforce designed for a data-driven global economy — one where AI fluency is no longer a specialisation but a baseline expectation for leaders across every sector.
