H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, has announced that Dubai AI Week will return in April 2026, aiming to expand its scale and global participation. The event’s growth reflects Dubai’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and solidifying its status as a global hub for AI enterprises, talent, and innovation.

This announcement came during the closing of Dubai AI Week 2025, which successfully attracted over 30 000 experts and participants from more than 100 countries. The event, organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence and overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, featured 10 major events across the city, more than 250 sessions including panel discussions and workshops, and launched over 30 initiatives and partnerships between government and private sector stakeholders, investors, and startups.

Sheikh Hamdan talked about the importance of doubling the targets for the next Dubai AI Week, with plans to expand to 20 events across the city and involve leading technology experts worldwide. According to MSN, he remarked that “Artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented transformation in human history, reshaping how individuals, institutions, and governments think and operate.” He added that the upcoming event would play a crucial role in bringing together innovators shaping the future of technology.

The Dubai AI Week 2025 also showcased participation from major tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, IBM, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Cohere. Sheikh Hamdan underscored the ongoing efforts to embed AI skills and applications within educational institutions, research centers, and innovation hubs, fostering an environment that supports the creation of billion-dollar AI ventures.

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation, noted that Dubai AI Week builds upon years of expertise and initiatives led by the foundation. He stated that this comprehensive platform unites leading experts and pioneering companies in the AI sector.

The week included various significant activities, such as the AI Retreat at the Museum of the Future, which attracted over 150 experts and policymakers. The Dubai AI Festival saw participation from more than 10 000 individuals, including 500 investors and experts, featuring over 100 speakers across multiple sessions and workshops.

Additionally, the event coincided with the AI Week in Schools, introducing AI concepts to over 10 000 students from 60 Dubai schools in collaboration with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The Global Prompt Engineering Championship gathered nearly 3 800 participants from 125 countries, competing for a total prize pool of AED1 million.

Key developments announced during the week included du’s new AED2 billion hyperscale data centre project and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority’s AI Strategy 2030, which comprises 81 projects and initiatives. The new ‘Dubai State of AI Report’ assessed over 100 high-impact AI use cases across various sectors, further emphasizing the commitment to AI integration in public services.

Education and healthcare advancements were also highlighted, with the University of Birmingham – Dubai launching the city’s first PhD program in AI. The AI in Healthcare Forum gathered leading health experts to discuss the transformative role of AI in the sector.

The Dubai Media Academy unveiled the AI Initiative in Arab Media to develop a comprehensive AI-driven content ecosystem tailored to the Arabic media landscape. The week concluded with the celebration of the first certified AI companies under the Dubai AI Seal, aimed at fostering collaboration between government entities and AI developers.

Throughout the week, discussions covered crucial topics such as AI’s impact on future jobs, ethical leadership in AI, and the significance of the Arabic language in the age of artificial intelligence. The event was supported by strategic partners including the Digital Dubai Authority and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), alongside participation from leading global technology firms.