UAE and Global Participants Converge at Dubai's AI Accelerator Program

Dubai's Future Foundation launched the second round of its AI accelerator program, bringing together 15 tech companies from the UAE and around the world to work with government agencies on practical AI solutions. The program selected these companies from over 1,300 applicants and will tackle 105 proposed AI use cases from more than 20 government entities.

The Dubai AI Applications Center is running this accelerator to bridge the gap between tech innovation and government services. Companies like IBM and e& are participating alongside local startups to develop AI tools that can improve how Dubai's government operates.

Here's what makes this interesting: the participating companies keep 100% of their intellectual property rights while getting direct access to government decision-makers. This setup lets them test their AI solutions in real government environments and potentially scale across the region.

Saeed Al Falasi, who runs Dubai's AI Applications Center, says the city is seeing major growth in AI investments and applications. Government agencies are adopting AI faster, and more international companies are setting up shop in Dubai to be part of this push.

The program connects directly to Dubai's broader AI strategy, which Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed launched to make Dubai a global tech and innovation hub. The goal is to integrate AI into daily government operations to make services faster, more efficient, and accessible to everyone.

For the tech companies, this means real-world testing grounds for their AI products. For Dubai's government, it's a way to modernize services without having to build everything from scratch. The first meeting between companies and government agencies happened at Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub, with Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, attending.

Dubai has also created the Dubai AI Seal initiative, which certifies trusted AI companies. This certification system helps build confidence in AI solutions while creating a supportive environment for the sector to grow.

The economic stakes are significant. Dubai is positioning itself as the Middle East's AI capital, competing with other regional tech hubs. By giving companies full IP ownership while providing government partnerships, Dubai is trying to attract the kind of AI talent and investment that could define the next decade of regional tech development.