Dubai’s Digital Ambitions: The Rise of AI in the ‘City of the Future’

The Stunning Prologue of Innovative Framework by the Dubai AI Script

Editor’s note: Middle East Insights is a program series under the news division at China Media Group (CMG) Middle East station, focusing on reporting and interpreting critical and timely topic in political, economical, cultural and other relevant areas concerning this region.

An extensive AI Retreat conference took place on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates’ Museum of the Future and the Emirates Towers. This welcome international AI conference comes after the earlier released Universal AI Blueprint of the city in May this year, and brings together over one thousand government representatives, business magnates and AI specialists from across the world; making the event among the largest of the recent years.

When it comes to innovation strategy, Dubai has been at the forefront of leading the Middle East towards technology adoption. The first Information and Communication Technology ICT strategy was launched and implemented in 1999 and to date the focus of Dubai has transformed from a traditional oil base economy to a knowledge and service economy. Its vast e-transformation programs which include; Dubai Internet City, Dubai e-Government, and Smart Dubai testify to its integration.

In June 2023, the city created the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) to enhance AI adoption throughout the governmental agency or departmental systems. A blueprint of AI development that was launched in April 2017 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is called the ‘Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence’; it is expected that the annual contribution of the blueprint to Dubai would be AED 100 billion (approximately $27 billion) and productivity increase of fifty percent through AI digital solutions.

This structure involves developing AI and Web 3. No incubators for SMEs and providing the “Dubai AI Commercial License” key professionals and companies, promoting the advancement and investment of the AI industry. The first part of the implementation of the concept of “AI District” has been started by the appointment of twenty-two Chief AI Officers across the government sectors.

While delivering his speech at AI Retreat, Saeed Al Falasi, the director of the Dubai Center for artificial Intelligence underscored the effectiveness of the AI implementation in the government departments. Per subsequent reports, Dubai has ambitions for continuing to bring in new measures for advanced AI advancement even though competing as an international AI hub is hampered by geopolitical and industrial chain fundamentals.