His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has stated that artificial intelligence (AI) will be the cornerstone for shaping the future of Dubai. He highlighted that the city is not only prepared to embrace upcoming transformations across various sectors but is also actively shaping these changes by utilizing AI to improve quality of life and create new opportunities.

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural Dubai AI Week, which begins tomorrow, Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that Dubai possesses the vision, infrastructure, and capabilities necessary to lead the next wave of global AI development. The event is organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) and is overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).

Sheikh Hamdan remarked, “AI is no longer just a tool – it is the infrastructure for cities that think, services that adapt, and governments that anticipate.” He stressed that the integration of AI into core strategies will define the future of governments, institutions, and societies, especially in public services, education, and the economy.

He also mentioned plans to evaluate government entities based on their AI integration and measure the contributions of the academic sector in AI research and education. Furthermore, Sheikh Hamdan indicated that the companies advancing Dubai’s AI economy will be celebrated, setting a new standard for the city. He warned that those who fail to embrace AI today risk falling behind.

The first day of Dubai AI Week will feature the AI Retreat, a gathering of policymakers and industry experts to discuss AI adoption and regulation, alongside the launch of the Dubai AI Assembly. This assembly will host country delegations and various sessions focused on the future of AI implementation across different sectors.

The AI Retreat will take place on April 21 at the Museum of the Future, gathering 150 government officials and AI experts for closed-door discussions on critical themes such as data governance, infrastructure, economy, and talent development. It will begin with a welcome address from His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence.

Concurrently, the Dubai Assembly for AI will run from April 21 to 25 at AREA 2071 in Emirates Towers. It will bring together delegations from 15 countries and numerous global tech companies, government entities, universities, and AI startups, showcasing cutting-edge innovations through over 50 sessions.

Dubai AI Week aims to attract over 10,000 participants from over 100 nationalities, including experts, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, with the goal of accelerating AI adoption across sectors. The event will also feature notable activities such as the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, the Dubai AI Festival, and the Machines Can See Summit.

In addition to these flagship events, community-driven programs and sector-specific engagements, such as the HIMSS Executive Summit and the International Conference on AI Innovations, will take place throughout the week. These initiatives reflect Dubai’s commitment to shaping the global AI agenda and empowering the next generation of AI talent.

Dubai AI Week enjoys support from strategic partners like Dubai Chambers Digital, Digital Dubai, and the UAE AI Office, along with collaboration from leading global technology firms. For further details, visit the official website of Dubai AI Week.