His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, has given the green light to a sweeping set of projects and initiatives designed to cement Dubai’s status as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies. The approvals were announced following the second 2025 meeting of the Higher Committee for Future Technology Development and the Digital Economy, where progress on past initiatives was also reviewed.

A Clear Vision for a Smarter City
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed emphasized Dubai’s unwavering commitment to becoming the fastest, smartest, and most technologically advanced city in the world. He affirmed that this drive is directly inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which focuses on building an integrated, knowledge- and innovation-powered digital economy.

Highlighting the clarity of Dubai’s priorities, the Crown Prince stressed the need for government entities to not just keep pace with future shifts, but to leverage AI tools for delivering more efficient, secure, and innovative services, aligning with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). He also underscored that Dubai’s success is a result of a unified ecosystem, collective mindset, and strong collaboration across government to achieve a lasting impact.

Key Initiatives Approved for Digital Transformation
The newly approved projects are set to significantly boost the emirate’s technological capabilities and entrepreneurial ecosystem:

1. The AI Infrastructure Empowerment Platform
This new platform is designed to rapidly increase the adoption of AI technologies across all Dubai government entities. It will provide a secure, fully integrated digital environment featuring advanced infrastructure and smart, ready-to-use services.

The platform aims to:

Accelerate government use of AI.

Improve operational efficiency and reduce costs through shared digital infrastructure.

Strengthen governance and cybersecurity to ensure data integrity and trustworthiness.

2. Dubai AI Acceleration Taskforce
A new dedicated taskforce has been created to enhance cooperation and align the strategic vision for AI adoption among government bodies. Formed after extensive discussions with Chief AI Officers from 27 government entities, the taskforce will focus on enhancing institutional integration, speeding up decision-making, and driving measurable impact by accelerating the deployment of cutting-edge AI technologies.

3. Unicorn 30 Programme
Spearheaded by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, this ambitious programme aims to fast-track the growth of 30 emerging companies in new economic sectors. The goal is to transform these startups into global “unicorns”—enterprises valued at over a billion dollars—originating from Dubai. The programme, launched under the umbrella of Dubai Founders HQ, includes 10 key initiatives covering essential areas like financing, growth, regulation, and governance to create a supportive environment for global scaling.

Looking Ahead: Major Milestones and Progress
The committee meeting also provided updates on other major developments:

GITEX Global 2026 Relocation: Plans were reviewed for the 2026 edition of GITEX Global, which will mark a significant evolution by moving from the Dubai World Trade Centre to Expo City Dubai. This move aims to expand the event’s scope, feature richer content, and provide an unparalleled experience supported by world-class, sustainable infrastructure.

Dubai PropTech Hub: An update was provided on the Middle East and North Africa’s first-of-its-kind property technology hub, announced last July. The hub aims to become the region’s largest by 2030, planning to attract 200 specialized companies and create over 3,000 skilled jobs.

Dubai continues to reinforce its role as a magnet for global talent and innovation, using technology, knowledge, and determination to set a global benchmark for smart governance and sustainable development.