A Grand View Research report forecasts UAE’s AI market to hit Dh170 billion by 2030, anchoring the MENA region’s Dh610 billion AI surge.
DUBAI: The UAE’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is projected to soar to Dh170 billion by 2030, solidifying its role as a regional leader in AI-driven transformation, according to new findings by California-based Grand View Research. The study positions the UAE at the forefront of a Dh610 billion (USD 166.33 billion) AI wave sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), growing at a staggering annual rate of 44.8%.
Currently valued at Dh43.7 billion (USD 11.92 billion) in 2023, the MENA AI sector is on track for exponential growth, spurred by strong government backing, sovereign fund investment, and strategic plans such as the UAE’s Strategic Plan 2031. These initiatives aim to use AI to boost financial efficiency and foster innovation across vital sectors.
“The Middle East, and especially the UAE, is no longer just an adopter of global AI technologies – it’s shaping its own playbook,” noted Swayam Dash, Managing Director at Grand View Research. “The region is emerging as a global testbed for AI-powered governance and economic progress.”
The UAE AI market 2030 outlook is further supported by data showing that nearly 75% of UAE companies have either maintained or increased their AI investments over the past year. Machine learning and deep learning applications are driving change particularly in healthcare, logistics, and financial services.
In healthcare, the Middle East and Africa AI market is set to grow from Dh709 million in 2023 to Dh5.39 billion by 2030, while the legal AI sector is expected to triple in size to Dh446 million, presenting first-mover advantages in regulation and digital governance.
The study also highlights the impact of enabling technologies like 5G, IoT, and cloud computing, which are accelerating smart city initiatives across the region — with the UAE leading in real-time, scalable integration.
The full report from Grand View Research outlines how data-centric governance and AI policy frameworks are shaping the region’s digital economy over the next decade, positioning the UAE as a global AI innovation hub.
