‍Photo credit: WAM

Dubai took a significant step towards its goal of becoming a world leader in artificial intelligence (AI) as DMCC – the free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise – launched its AI Center on Tuesday, Dubai’s latest innovation platform to advance pragmatic AI adoption throughout the MENA region.

Occupying two floors of DMCC’s headquarters in Uptown Tower near Jumeirah Lake Towers, the AI Center will be part of a newly integrated hub alongside DMCC’s established technology ecosystems, the DMCC Crypto Centre and DMCC Gaming Centre.

It will offer a state-of-the-art space, providing members with world-class facilities including advanced co-working spaces, high-tech meeting rooms and an exclusive AI solution showroom.

Khalfan Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation, emphasized Dubai and the UAE's commitment to becoming a world leader in AI by 2031 through the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. Belhoul said the opening of the DMCC AI Center is a significant milestone in achieving this goal, fostering an environment that attracts new companies, encourages innovation and solidifies Dubai's status as a global hub for AI and emerging technologies.

DMCC is already home to over 50 global AI and robotics companies and, as the AI Center launches, has recruited a range of leading AI players as official partners.

Global custom software and app developer Builder.ai will support DMCC members build apps using AI technology, while UAE-based AGCC will run accelerator and market entry programs to attract and scale up the best AI technology from around the world. 

One such event is set to take place at Expand North Star in Dubai this October, with DMCC and AGCC organizing a competition with a prize pool of $100,000 for start-ups to scale up practical, sustainability focused AI solutions in the GCC region.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at DMCC, said: “With AI projected to add over $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030, its transformative potential on global trade, supply chains and business is clear. 

"Capitalizing on this momentum, the DMCC AI Centre will provide companies, investors and partners with another world-class ecosystem from which to access the best AI services and solutions from Dubai.”

Read more: Abu Dhabi’s AI sector sees massive surge in new companies in 2024

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