Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Directs Dubai AI Week to Return in April 2026 with Double the Scale and Global Participation

Technology

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Directs Dubai AI Week to Return in April 2026 with Double the Scale and Global Participation

In a bold move to accelerate Dubai's position as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced that Dubai AI Week will return in April 2026 with double the scale and global participation. His announcement came after the highly successful Dubai AI Week 2025, which attracted over 30,000 experts and participants from more than 100 countries.

Organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence and overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai AI Week 2025 featured 10 major events across the city, with more than 250 sessions, panel discussions, and workshops. The event also witnessed the launch of over 30 new initiatives, partnerships, and agreements between government entities, private sector stakeholders, investors, and startups.

Notable global tech companies such as Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, IBM, Amazon, NVIDIA, and Cohere participated in the event, making it a prominent platform for the AI community. Sheikh Hamdan remarked on the success of Dubai AI Week 2025 and set ambitious goals for the next event, emphasizing that Dubai AI Week 2026 would see the number of events expand to 20 and attract a broader range of tech experts from around the world.

"Artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented transformation, reshaping how individuals, institutions, and governments think and operate," said Sheikh Hamdan. "Those best prepared for the future are those building the foundations today—by enabling ecosystems, empowering talent, and ensuring responsible AI governance."

In line with these ambitious goals, Dubai is focused on embedding AI skills and applications across its schools, universities, research centers, and data ecosystems, aiming to foster an environment conducive to the growth of billion-dollar AI ventures. Additionally, Dubai's advanced digital infrastructure, agile regulatory frameworks, and commitment to building AI talent make it an attractive destination for global AI investments.

The Dubai AI Week 2025 saw notable developments such as the AI Retreat held at the Museum of the Future, attracting over 150 global experts, and the Dubai Assembly for AI, which welcomed more than 10,000 participants. The event also featured the AI in Healthcare Forum and the AI in Higher Education program, which saw the University of Birmingham-Dubai announce its first PhD program in AI.

Dubai's AI journey also gained momentum with the launch of several strategic initiatives. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) unveiled its AI Strategy 2030, which includes 81 projects and initiatives. The Dubai Centre for AI Applications released a report on successful AI deployments in government services, further highlighting Dubai's forward-thinking approach.

The event also provided a platform for global tech companies and startups to showcase their innovations. Over 60 startups participated, along with 25 international delegations from countries like South Korea, Canada, India, and the United States. The second edition of the Global Prompt Engineering Championship saw nearly 3,800 participants from 125 countries, further emphasizing Dubai's growing importance as a global AI hub.

Looking ahead, Sheikh Hamdan's directives for Dubai AI Week 2026 align with the broader goal of positioning Dubai as a key player in shaping the future of AI on the global stage. His Highness also emphasized the importance of AI in empowering governments and institutions to improve services and quality of life for communities worldwide.