The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is dedicated to speeding up the development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next decade. His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, emphasized this commitment during the opening keynote at the Dubai AI Retreat. He stated that the UAE aims to focus on acceleration rather than getting caught in the debate of regulation versus innovation.

The Dubai AI Retreat, part of Dubai AI Week, is taking place at the Museum of the Future and features over 150 government officials and global experts. The event includes four closed roundtable discussions that cover key topics such as data governance, digital infrastructure, economy and investment, and talent development. Participants are exploring relevant policies and legislation while discussing strategies to amplify the positive impact of AI across vital sectors.

During his address, HE Al Olama pointed out that discussions about AI globally often revolve around two main ideas: innovation and regulation. He highlighted a third approach that the UAE has adopted, which is centered on acceleration. He remarked, “We believe that we should not compromise regulation for the sake of innovation, but we should focus on accelerating the use of this technology in the best way possible.”

In addition, HE Al Olama expressed the importance of deploying AI to enhance lives, stating that the ideal form of AI in the UAE is “frictionless.” He also noted that the most successful businesses in the nation are those that adopt emerging technologies, asserting that every unicorn emerging from the UAE has been an AI-first company. He insisted that every new company launched in the country should also embrace this AI-first approach.

Dubai AI Week, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, runs from April 21 to April 25, 2025. The event is set to attract leading global experts, policymakers, innovators, and industry leaders specializing in AI. Key events during the week include the AI Retreat, Dubai Assembly for AI, Global Prompt Engineering Championship, and the Dubai AI Festival, among others.