Inside Dubai AI Week: AI Strategy with Hamed Al Shirawi
TECHx: Could you share a bit about yourself and how your journey led you to your current role?
I've worked in many great organizations, always with a focus on building Dubai's ecosystem, especially when it comes to business and innovation. Since joining the Dubai Future Foundation, I've been deeply involved with advanced technologies, particularly in how we can use them to strengthen Dubai's ecosystem through strategic platforms and initiatives.
Today, I'm part of the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence, which operates under the Dubai Future Foundation. Our work focuses on enabling Dubai's AI ecosystem across sectors through collaborations, events, and real-world applications.
TECHx: Dubai has hosted AI-related events in the past. What made this the right time to launch a full Dubai AI Week?
AI is not new to Dubai, and Dubai is certainly not new to AI. Yes, we've had events like the AI Show in the past, but with AI Week, we've taken a more comprehensive and strategic approach. We created a dynamic, week-long platform that brings together our efforts and those of the wider ecosystem, all under one umbrella.
Some initiatives are in their first year, others are in their second or third. What's unique is the collective focus: we're showcasing AI across different sectors and use cases, and we're engaging a diverse audience through different types of events, from immersive experiences to high-level policy discussions.
TECHx: What are some of the key events taking place during AI Week?
We kicked off with the AI Retreat, which brought together policymakers and influential leaders to move the needle on key AI priorities. Then there's the Dubai Assembly, where we're hosting global leaders like OpenAI, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Meta, Google Cloud, and IBM.
Government entities like the Digital Dubai Authority and Dubai Health Authority are also here, not just attending but showcasing live installations and immersive experiences. We've curated a mix of workshops, side sessions, and panel discussions, all aimed at driving meaningful conversations and collaboration.
TECHx: One of the most talked-about events is the Global Prompt Engineering Championship. What can you tell us about that?
Yes, it's one of the highlights of the week. The Global Prompt Engineering Championship is an exciting, live competition where participants from around the world compete in prompt engineering across four categories: coding, gaming, film, and art.
They're competing for a prize pool of AED 1 million. It's judged live by a panel, and the atmosphere is incredibly immersive and inspiring. This event not only highlights the creative and technical side of AI but also the global talent driving innovation in this space.
TECHx: Are there educational or youth-centered initiatives involved this week?
Absolutely. We're running a special program with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority to introduce AI-focused content in schools. There's also Machines Can See, an event happening over two days that focuses on academia and data science.
Another notable event is the AI Festival, hosted by the International Financial Centre (IFC), which explores AI's role in finance, investment, and fintech. Each event targets a different segment of the ecosystem, ensuring that AI Week is inclusive and far-reaching.
TECHx: Looking ahead, what do you believe is the future of AI, particularly for Dubai?
As you mentioned, Dubai is at the forefront and has always aimed to be ahead, when it comes to adopting transformative technologies. We're constantly exploring opportunities, identifying challenges, and turning those challenges into opportunities.
At AI Week, we're already seeing some of the best AI solutions from around the world. So just imagine what's next. While I can't predict the future, I can confidently say that Dubai will be leading it.
TECHx: With the rapid growth of AI, cybersecurity is a major global concern. How does Dubai plan to address that?
Like any transformative technology, AI presents both opportunities and challenges. And yes, cybersecurity is one of the major ones. But this isn't new, we saw the same when the internet first emerged, and people were understandably concerned.
What's important is how we address these challenges. By bringing together the right experts, fostering collaboration, and creating synergies, we can not only mitigate risks but also turn those challenges into opportunities. Many of the participants here are already engaging in those important conversations.
TECHx: Finally, what message would you like to share with the people attending AI Week and those following it from afar?
We've created this platform, an entire week filled with opportunities across Dubai. If you're not involved in AI yet, you're already falling behind. It's time to explore the opportunities that AI presents.
And if you are an early adopter, this is the place to discover what AI really means for your field—whether it's education, healthcare, business, or any other sector. Learn what's out there, adopt it, and use it to boost efficiency, productivity, and innovation. There's something here for everyone, and we're excited to welcome you.
By Sehrish Tariq, Content Strategist, Events & Publications at TECHx Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
AI chip smuggling 'gets more airtime than it should', White House official says
The idea of high-performance AI chips being smuggled into potentially nefarious hands gets more attention than it should, a White House official has said. Michael Kratsios, who serves as director for the Trump administration's Office of Science and Technology Policy, said on Wednesday that there are a lot of misconceptions and misguided fears about the 'physical diffusion' of artificial intelligence technology developed by the US. 'We're not talking about like a bag of diamonds or something,' he said during a discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank about Mr Trump's recently announced AI Action Plan. Some politicians have expressed concerns about the potential for recently announced US AI partnerships overseas to be exploited by countries like China to try to acquire powerful American-made technology. 'These are like massive racks that are tonnes in weight and you're not going to put it on a forklift or back it into a truck, or something," he explained, adding that the idea of chip smuggling "probably gets more airtime than it should." Mr Kratsios also said the hypothetical scenario of the US partnerships with other countries leading to the misuse of data centres by countries like China for 'training runs' to access the centres was overblown. 'What you're most worried about is large-scale runs that are for training sophisticated models and those are actually pretty easy to flag,' he said, adding that the US will make sure to implement what's known in IT circles as Know Your Customer policies to prevent bad actors from gaining access to data centres powered by US technology. Mr Kratsios said that Mr Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, put too many chip export restrictions on allies, and that the export of US technology to countries with peaceful AI aspirations was critical to an overall AI strategy. During Mr Trump's visit to the Gulf in May, he announced the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership framework that will eventually lead to the construction of a 5GW UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi. 'The [Biden administration] limits made no sense at all,' he said, referring to President Biden's policies aimed at limiting the powerful CPUs and GPUs available to certain countries. Those policies were largely aimed at preventing the diffusion of US technology to China. It proved controversial, with companies like Microsoft and Nvidia claiming the policies hurt US efforts more than helping. Some US AI companies like Anthropic, however, have sought to keep the export controls. 'In some cases, smugglers have employed creative methods to circumvent export controls, including hiding processors in prosthetic baby bumps and packing GPUs [graphics processing units] alongside live lobsters,' read an April policy letter from Anthropic. That letter later came under criticism over what some called the oversimplification of how AI data centres work. Regardless, in keeping with that theme of reversing the Biden export policy, the Trump White House recently announced plans that would allow for Nvidia to resume sales of its H20 graphics processing unit to China. That decision, however, has come under criticism from several technology analysts and politicians. A group of Democratic senators this week sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging him to reverse course. At the CSIS event, Mr Kratsios said the concerns from Democratic senators were oversimplified, adding that the H20 was designed to comply with US concerns about giving China too much computing power, among other things. 'It's not a free-for-all sale,' he said, referring to White House's H20 announcement. 'Any sale that Nvidia wants to make to China is one that's going to require an export licence.' Mr Kratsios added that the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security would be evaluating each of those licence applications and 'weight the costs' before giving Nvidia approval.
Zawya
15 hours ago
- Zawya
Creating smarter South African retail experiences
In recent years, there's been a dramatic shift in the way people shop and the way brands connect with them. And while much of this shift might seem seamless from the outside, more often than not, it's quietly being powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). For retailers, embracing AI isn't just about future-proofing their businesses, it's about unlocking smarter, faster and, believe it or not, more human ways of working that will ultimately benefit the customer, the team and the bottom line. From predicting stock needs and personalising customer journeys to freeing up in-store teams from repetitive admin, AI isn't just making retail more efficient. Surprisingly to some, it's making it more human. 'Retail has always been about people. Meeting their needs, building loyalty and creating a connection,' says Jeané van Greunen, chief client officer at Helm. 'What AI allows us to do is add that personal touch at scale, with more accuracy, efficiency and empathy.' When people think of AI in retail, they often imagine robots, self-checkouts, or talking screens. But some of the most powerful innovations are happening behind the scenes. A key area that's benefiting is inventory management. Thanks to machine learning, retailers are now moving from reactive stock planning to predictive models that factor in everything from the weather to local buying trends. That means less waste, fewer empty shelves, and more happy customers. And it gives staff more time to focus on what they do best, which is helping people and building those relationships. Another major benefit lies in dynamic pricing. AI can analyse real-time data to optimise promotions and protect margins in a fast-moving, highly competitive environment. 'We're seeing AI support retailers in making thousands of micro-decisions each day. Those decisions no human team could possibly keep up with alone,' says Van Greunen. 'But it's not about removing people from the process. It's about making those processes more intelligent and responsive, and ultimately, more human.' AI is also transforming customer-facing experiences often in ways that feel effortless. From virtual fitting rooms and smart search tools to in-app product suggestions that feel helpful (not creepy), machine learning is making shopping more personal and less transactional. It's happening in-store too with heatmaps and traffic analytics to help retailers improve store layouts. Voice assistants and AI-powered chatbots guide customers and allow human staff to focus on relationship-building, not repetitive queries. 'Some retailers worry that AI will make the experience colder,' says Van Greunen. 'But the opposite is true. It's helping brands become more responsive, relevant, and emotionally intelligent. People still buy from people and AI just helps those people shine.' One of AI's most underrated benefits in retail is how it supports teams on the ground. Automating low-value, time-consuming tasks like scheduling, reporting, or basic troubleshooting means staff have more time and more headspace to deliver real value. 'When you give your people the tools to be more effective, they feel more engaged. They perform better, stay longer, and become true ambassadors for your brand. That's where AI and people strategy come together.' Helm believes that AI and automation should be designed around people and not the other way around. That's why they partner with retailers to reimagine customer and employee journeys that are strategic and scalable, but most importantly, human. From intelligent automation to data-led CX strategies, Helm serves to help retail businesses make AI work in the real world – not as a gimmick or a quick fix, but as a genuine driver of value and long-term, sustainable growth. 'We've worked across industries, and the same message keeps coming up: retailers want to evolve, without giving up what makes them unique,' says van Greunen. 'Our role is to help them use AI to elevate that uniqueness, not replace it.' In a sector where margins are thin and expectations are high, AI has become indispensable in gaining and maintaining a competitive edge. When used wisely, it can boost loyalty, cut costs, improve efficiency and above all, empower the people at the heart of the business. Just like customer demands keep changing, retail will keep moving, but with the right technology and a human-centred approach, that move will always be in the right direction.
Tahawul Tech
15 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
AI chip race Archives
In the UAE, e& UAE subscribers reached 15.5 million, driven by rising demand for advanced connectivity solutions, AI-powered services, and tailored digital experiences that address the evolving needs of both individuals and businesses.
