Abu Dhabi’s AI sector expanded 61% in a year, with 150 new companies launched in six months, driven by research and innovation.
ABU DHABI: The UAE capital is rapidly cementing its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence, with new figures from the Abu Dhabi Chamber showing a 61 per cent year-on-year expansion in the sector. Between June 2023 and June 2024, the emirate’s AI ecosystem grew to 673 companies — one of the highest concentrations in the MENA region — with 150 firms launching in just the first half of 2025.
Over 58 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s AI companies focus on innovation, research, and consultancy, signalling a mature, research-driven business environment. This growth is underpinned by strategic investment, advanced infrastructure, and cross-sector demand, with initiatives such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) leading the charge.
MBZUAI, the world’s first graduate-level, research-focused AI university, continues to attract top-tier talent and achieve global recognition for its research impact. Alongside institutions like Hub71, AI71, G42, and Space42, Abu Dhabi is pioneering advances in open-source AI models, enabling worldwide access for researchers and developers.
His Excellency Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, Second Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, said the sector is evolving from “early adoption to real-world transformation” through collaboration between government, industry, and global innovators. “We aim to create conditions where innovation thrives — not as an exception, but as the standard,” he added.
The Abu Dhabi Chamber’s 2025–2028 strategic roadmap prioritises policy advocacy, ease of doing business, and ecosystem connectivity, reinforcing the emirate’s competitive edge as a magnet for cutting-edge technology enterprises.
