DMCC’s Ambitious Initiative Aims to Position UAE as a Global Hub for AI Development and Real-World Applications
In a major step toward establishing the UAE as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has launched a cutting-edge AI Centre. This new initiative, announced by DMCC’s CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem during a media roundtable, aims to accelerate the development and adoption of AI solutions across industries, driving innovation and attracting top investors to the region.
The centre, which occupies two floors at DMCC’s Uptown Tower, will serve as a vital platform for tech companies, offering the tools and resources needed to integrate AI into their operations and create scalable AI-based solutions. The goal, according to Bin Sulayem, is to position Dubai as the next global AI hub by fostering real-world applications that can revolutionize industries and attract emerging technologies to the region.
A Strategic Vision for the Future
“We are planting seeds,” said Bin Sulayem, emphasizing the long-term vision behind the AI Centre. “We are planning to be the next AI hub. Through this centre, we will look to advance AI adoption and real-life use cases that can attract new technologies.”
While the decision to launch the AI Centre came with its challenges, Bin Sulayem highlighted DMCC’s strong track record of supporting transformative industries. “Since AI is going to be a part of our lives and the businesses we engage with, it’s crucial to have this industry close by,” he added.
The centre’s establishment aligns with the UAE’s broader national strategy to become a global leader in AI by 2030, a vision underscored by Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation. Belhoul hailed the launch of the DMCC AI Centre as a significant step towards achieving this ambitious goal.
Empowering Businesses and Accelerating AI Solutions
The new AI Centre will serve as a hub for innovation, providing tech companies access to co-working spaces, high-tech meeting rooms, and a dedicated AI solutions showroom. Positioned within DMCC’s technology ecosystem alongside the Crypto Centre and Gaming Centre, the AI Centre is designed to support the growing intersection of AI, Web3, crypto, and gaming technologies.
Already home to over 50 AI and robotics companies from around the world, DMCC has established key partnerships with global firms such as Builder.ai and AGCC. These collaborations aim to help companies develop apps using AI technology and run accelerator programs that attract and scale the best AI innovations globally.
Sachin Dev Duggal, founder of Builder.ai, spoke about the centre’s potential: “Centres like these have the ecosystem and vendors in one place, so it will help especially companies without a huge amount of cost to find the AI solutions they need.”
In addition to providing infrastructure and support, the DMCC AI Centre will offer businesses access to capital, knowledge-sharing platforms, networking opportunities, and educational resources, ensuring they have the tools to thrive in the competitive AI landscape.
A Multiplier Effect for the UAE Economy
The launch of the AI Centre is expected to generate a “multiplier effect” throughout the DMCC business district, scaling AI solutions across various sectors and contributing significantly to the UAE economy. In a trade report earlier this year, DMCC projected that AI will contribute over Dh15 billion to the national economy by 2030.
According to Belal Jassoma, director of Ecosystems at DMCC, the AI Centre has already begun making an impact by connecting corporations with cutting-edge technologies. “We have programs in place where we engage with corporations, identify their needs, and find the right technology to address them,” Jassoma said. He highlighted the centre’s global reach, mentioning a collaboration with South Korea that has already yielded two successful AI applications in the UAE.
Building on DMCC’s Success
The AI Centre builds on the success of previous DMCC initiatives, such as the DMCC Crypto Centre, which was launched in 2021. Currently home to over 600 businesses, the Crypto Centre has secured over $150 million in available funding, establishing itself as a thriving ecosystem for cryptographic and blockchain companies.
With the opening of the AI Centre, DMCC is poised to further strengthen its position as a global hub for emerging technologies, driving innovation and attracting investors from around the world. As AI continues to reshape industries and economies, Dubai is well on its way to becoming a key player in the global AI revolution.
