As shown by the Global AI Competitiveness Index the UAE stands among the top renditions worldwide regarding AI company density per population. The International Finance Forum (IFF) together with Deep Knowledge Group evaluated over 55,000 AI enterprises throughout the world. The United Arab Emirates positioned itself as the ninth most innovative nation together with Singapore and the United States and the United Kingdom.
The top 10 countries with the highest AI company density are:
- Singapore – 162.8 AI enterprises per million people
- Israel – 135.2
- Switzerland – 73.6
- United States – 61.2
- Canada – 58.3
- United Kingdom – 56.5
- Ireland – 50.8
- Finland – 50
- United Arab Emirates – 49.5
- Hong Kong, China – 47.1
AI Strategy and Economic Growth
The UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 will generate investments of $91 billion (AED 335 billion) in GDP and accomplish 50% cost reduction through AI-driven innovations. The government of UAE invested large sums of money into AI infrastructure by establishing a $2.7 billion (AED 10 billion) Dubai Future Accelerator Fund.
The UAE has initiated global leadership by creating the first AI research university in the world known as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) which offers valuable educational scholarships. Top AI professionals benefit from the Golden Visa program through which they can secure 10-year residency to fuel annual growth of 30% in AI talent throughout the country.
G42: A Leading AI Pioneer
The AI achievements of the UAE find their perfect representation through Abu Dhabi-based G42. The company G42 received a $1.5 billion Microsoft investment during 2024 to pursue advanced AI research as part of its healthcare, finance and smart city solution services. Jais represents the 30-billion-parameter Arabic AI model developed by the company that establishes the UAE as a top nation in language technology enhanced by artificial intelligence.
UAE’s AI Future
The United Arab Emirates transforms into a worldwide AI center thanks to advanced infrastructure capabilities combined with official AI supportive policies and public investments. AI will transform several industries before 2031 which will strengthen the UAE’s role as a leader in both AI development and economic expansion.
