Dubai AI Week 2026 will be held from April 6 to 9 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation. The second edition of the event will be organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, under the foundation’s oversight.
According to an official statement issued by the organisers, the four-day programme will convene government entities, senior officials, technology companies, and AI researchers from the UAE and overseas. The event is positioned within Dubai’s broader policy framework on artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
Alignment With Dubai’s AI And Economic Strategy
Dubai AI Week 2026 aligns with the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence and supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033 and position the emirate among the world’s top three cities for business and investment.
The event will focus on six pillars identified by organisers: empowering societies, governing the future, accelerating infrastructure, sustaining the planet, expanding knowledge frontiers, and reimagining health. These themes correspond with the UAE’s national push to embed artificial intelligence across public services, infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
The UAE government has, in recent years, expanded its institutional AI framework, including the appointment of a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and the development of national AI strategies. Dubai AI Week is structured as a platform to bring together public- and private-sector stakeholders around these objectives.
Scale Of The Inaugural Edition
According to figures released by the organisers, the inaugural edition of Dubai AI Week attracted more than 30,000 participants and experts. It hosted over 500 sessions and activations featuring more than 700 speakers, and resulted in the announcement of over 30 partnership initiatives and agreements between government entities, private companies, investors, and startups.
The first edition spanned 10 major activities across Dubai and included participation from global technology companies and emerging startups. The figures were disclosed in an official press release and have not been independently verified.
The 2026 edition will include the AI Retreat, Dubai Assembly for AI, Dubai AI Festival, the Machines Can See Summit, and other specialised events.
Statements From Dubai Future Foundation
Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, stated that the event was launched under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to serve as a global platform for AI leaders and policymakers.
“The event presents a significant opportunity for partners from the UAE and around the world to contribute to advancing the role and impact of AI across the digital economy,” he said.
He added, “Dubai AI Week brings together a diverse group of decision-makers, CEOs, tech pioneers, and leading global companies to discuss current and future opportunities for AI tools, applications, and use cases, highlighting their potential to enhance government performance and quality of life for communities.”
Focus Areas And Programme Structure
Organisers said discussions during Dubai AI Week 2026 will cover AI’s impact across sectors, future jobs and skills, AI tools in education and research, leadership and governance, responsible AI, and developments in media.
The programme will also include meetings bringing together Chief AI Officers from public and private sector entities. Developers from within the UAE and abroad are expected to convene to discuss AI applications and technical implementation.
Analysis: AI Positioning Within Dubai’s Economic Agenda
Dubai’s strategy reflects a broader Gulf trend of using artificial intelligence as a lever for economic diversification. In the UAE, AI adoption is linked to productivity gains, investment in digital infrastructure, and the development of a knowledge economy.
Dubai AI Week functions as both a policy coordination platform and an international networking forum. The scale of participation in the inaugural edition indicates strong institutional backing and private-sector engagement. However, measurable economic outcomes, such as job creation, technology exports, or foreign direct investment directly linked to the event, have not been publicly disclosed.
As the UAE continues to position itself as a regional technology hub, events such as Dubai AI Week provide a structured platform for policymakers, investors, and technology firms to interact.
The 2026 edition will be closely watched for new policy announcements, partnerships, and institutional commitments aligned with the emirate’s long-term digital transformation agenda.
–Input WAM
