Sheikh Hamdan approves expanded Dubai AI Campus goals: 1,000 firms and 5,000 jobs by 2030

AI Campus surpasses original targets

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy, attended the opening. He was received by Essa Kazim, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Organised by Dubai AI Campus, part of DIFC, in partnership with the Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, the festival is being held under the theme ‘Where Intelligence Meets Opportunity’ and focuses on exploring the next phase of AI adoption.

During the event, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed by Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, on the progress of Dubai AI Campus. The campus has exceeded its original five-year targets two years ahead of schedule, attracting more than 500 AI companies and securing over AED1 billion in investment from private equity and venture capital funds since its launch in May 2024. It has also helped create more than 2,000 specialised technology jobs.

Sheikh Hamdan commended DIFC’s achievements and emphasised the importance of building on this progress through stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors. He then approved a new strategic target for Dubai AI Campus: to attract more than 1,000 AI companies and create over 5,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030, further establishing the campus as a global destination for specialised talent.

Sheikh Hamdan: AI a driver of economic progress

Sheikh Hamdan said that Dubai, guided by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, continues to invest proactively in promising sectors and advanced technologies that create new opportunities for economic growth. He described artificial intelligence as one of the world’s most significant drivers of technological and economic progress, offering immense opportunities to transform businesses and develop innovative solutions.

“Our priority is to position Dubai at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, a flexible regulatory environment and access to the world’s best talent and expertise. This will enable companies and innovators to develop AI technologies and translate their potential into sustainable economic value,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

He highlighted DIFC’s role in realising this vision by bringing together technology companies, innovators, investors and global institutions within an integrated ecosystem that strengthens Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for technology and innovation.

Tour of exhibition showcases AI applications

Sheikh Hamdan toured the exhibition accompanying the festival, visiting stands of leading local and international organisations. At Dubai Medical University, he was briefed on how AI is being integrated into medical education and clinical diagnostic training.

He also visited ElevenLabs, which develops AI-powered solutions for creating and editing audio, images and videos in more than 90 languages; Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing cloud computing and AI solutions; Alibaba Cloud, which combines cloud computing, AI and data analytics to help businesses drive innovation and improve operational efficiency; and Linkerbot, a company specialising in high-precision robotic hands and advanced robotic control technologies.

Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied during the tour by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority.

Purpose-built AI Campus building unveiled

Sheikh Hamdan also reviewed the architectural vision and development plans for the new Dubai AI Campus building, described as the world’s first purpose-built facility of its kind. Located within the DIFC Zabeel District expansion, the future building will serve as a central hub for AI development and innovation, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a living laboratory for the AI-driven economy.

Spanning 100,000 square feet, the facility will bring together infrastructure, expertise and resources to accelerate AI innovation, adoption and commercialisation, supporting Dubai’s ambition to become a leading global centre for the AI economy by 2030. Its advanced infrastructure will include GPU-ready systems, secure AI development zones, digital twin environments and AI-powered building systems.

Modular, lab-ready floors will house AI Labs where government entities and private-sector organisations can develop, pilot and validate AI solutions before wider deployment. Dedicated conference facilities will host summits, policy discussions and thought leadership events throughout the year. An AI Experience Centre will showcase the latest developments in artificial intelligence, including innovations from the AI Labs, campus-based companies and citywide pilot projects, and will be open to residents, students, visitors, delegations and investors.

Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, said: “Dubai has long pursued a clear vision of becoming a global hub for technology and innovation, creating an environment where new ideas, industries and businesses can thrive. Artificial intelligence represents the next defining chapter in this ambition. DIFC is helping translate this vision into tangible outcomes by bringing together the companies, talent, capital and infrastructure needed to accelerate AI innovation and adoption. The continued growth of Dubai AI Campus and the development of its new purpose-built facility in DIFC Zabeel District will further strengthen Dubai’s position as a global leader in AI and the technology economy.”

Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said: “AI is becoming an integral part of the global economy, transforming how companies operate, capital is deployed and financial services are delivered. Our ambition is not simply to integrate AI into DIFC, but to reimagine how a financial centre operates in the age of AI, with responsibility, security and trust as its foundations. Dubai AI Campus has already achieved its 2028 target of attracting 500 AI companies two years ahead of schedule, and we are now raising our ambition to more than 1,000 companies and over 5,000 jobs by 2030. By bringing together talent, capital, technology and ideas, we are creating an environment where innovation can scale, human potential can be enhanced and Dubai can help shape the next chapter of the AI economy.”

Festival speakers address key AI topics

The festival features prominent speakers from the UAE public sector, including Dr Amin Al Ameeri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Health Regulation Sector at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention; Younus Al Nasser, Chief Executive of the Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment at Digital Dubai; Dr Abdalla Sulaiman Alhammadi, Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Strategy and Future Department at the UAE Ministry of Justice; and Amna Al Owais, Deputy Director of DIFC Courts.

Leading figures from education, aviation, healthcare, telecommunications, technology and financial services include Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer of du; Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates Airline; Mayank Kumar, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Borderplus and upGrad; Alex Aliper, Co-Founder and President of Insilico Medicine; Matthew Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of Invisible Technologies; Husni Khuffash, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Positron AI; and Joseph Ziolkowski, Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer of Relm Insurance.

Discussions during the two-day festival focus on key issues shaping the future of artificial intelligence, including global AI governance, immersive experiences, innovation and ethics, the future of work, AI literacy, investment and infrastructure.