Dubai:H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, inaugurated the third edition of the Dubai AI Festival at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event, which will run until October 27, 2026, has drawn over 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including policymakers, technology leaders, and entrepreneurs.
According to Wam, the festival, organized by the Dubai AI Campus in collaboration with the Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, is themed 'Where Intelligence Meets Opportunity.' It aims to explore the next phase of AI adoption and features participation from over 150 speakers, 500 investors, and 200 exhibitors.
Sheikh Hamdan emphasized Dubai's proactive approach to investing in advanced technologies, guided by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He highlighted the importance of positioning Dubai as a leader in technology adoption by providing top-notch infrastructure and a flexible regulatory environment. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) plays a crucial role in this vision by bringing together global technology companies, innovators, and investors.
During the festival, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed by Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, on the achievements of the Dubai AI Campus, which has surpassed its initial targets for company numbers and investment volumes. Since its launch in May 2024, the campus has attracted over 500 AI companies and secured AED1 billion in investment, creating more than 2,000 specialized technology jobs.
Sheikh Hamdan approved a new strategic target for the Dubai AI Campus to attract over 1,000 AI companies and create 5,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030. This move is aimed at establishing the campus as a global hub for specialized talent in the AI sector.
The festival also included a tour of the exhibition, where Sheikh Hamdan visited several leading local and international organizations, including Dubai Medical University and companies like ElevenLabs, Amazon Web Services, Alibaba Cloud, and Linkerbot. Sheikh Hamdan also reviewed plans for the new Dubai AI Campus building, a 100,000 square foot facility in the DIFC Zabeel District expansion, designed to be a central hub for AI development and innovation.
Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, and Arif Amiri highlighted the role of AI in Dubai's vision to become a global leader in technology and innovation. The Dubai AI Campus has already achieved its 2028 target ahead of schedule, and the new facility aims to further enhance Dubai's position in the AI economy.
The Dubai AI Festival features prominent speakers from various sectors, addressing key issues in AI governance, innovation, ethics, and the future of work.