Latest news with #DubaiAIWeek2025
Scroll.in
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Tech jobs aplenty in Dubai's AI boom – depending on your passport
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology's impact outside the West. Ameca, a humanoid robot, smiled and blinked at the crowd at Dubai AI Week 2025, a celebration of all things artificial intelligence. Landmark announcements marked the event, including a $545 million hyperscale data center to supply Microsoft and Dubai's first PhD program in AI. AI engineer Nair, 29, felt inspired. Since moving to the United Arab Emirates last October from Kerala, India, she had applied to hundreds of entry-level jobs and faced rejections, scams and exploitative offers. Rest of World is not revealing her first name to protect her identity. Now she remembered why she'd emigrated. 'Dubai is emerging as a global AI hub,' she told Rest of World. 'It was fascinating to see how companies are pushing the boundaries of what's possible.' Tech workers like Nair are moving to the UAE, attracted by a Golden Visa programme that gives 10 years of residency to skilled professionals, no taxes, high salaries and the ease of setting up business, recruiters and tech professionals told Rest of World. 'The UAE ranks second only to the US in attracting top AI talent, with many of these experts now calling the UAE home,' Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE's Minister of Economy, said last year. The UAE has positioned itself as the US's tech ally. During President Donald Trump's recent visit, it secured access to 500,000 of the most advanced Nvidia chips, critical for AI development. It also announced plans to build the largest AI campus outside the US in collaboration with American tech companies. And last year, Microsoft and Emirati AI firm G42 announced they are working together to create a 'skilled and diverse AI workforce.'. The UAE's laser-sharp focus on AI makes it attractive for tech workers at a time when opportunities are shrinking in the West. More than 50,000 tech workers, mostly mid-level managers and developers, have been laid off in the US this year from about 100 companies, according to the layoff tracker There are also fewer openings for roles such as software developers, and many tech workers fear the Trump government's stringent immigration policies. Venture capital investment in startups, too, has cooled in the West. But beneath the UAE's sheen of opportunity, the job market can pose challenges for tech workers depending on where they're from, workers and recruiters told Rest of World. Senior tech talent from the West are often headhunted for top positions at high salaries. Experienced AI experts from South Asia and Ukraine fill the lower ranks, for lower pay. And young talent like Nair fall in a gray area of AI professionals who struggle to get hired. With a Master's in electronics engineering and specialisation in AI hardware from an Indian college and one year of work experience, she has been job-hunting for months. 'You get automatic rejections,' she told Rest of World. 'Companies want candidates with four to five years of experience for entry-level roles, or they hire through referrals.' This is not due to a dearth of jobs. Dubai has more than 800 AI firms, most of them startups, according to the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence. Abu Dhabi has over 400 AI companies. Most of them plan to recruit this year. But the UAE also has an 'abundance' of tech workers, according to a 2024 talent report by the UAE Ministry of Economy and immigration law firm Fragomen. Most of these workers are not qualified for specialised AI roles, the report said. About 95% of 50,000 companies surveyed in the report said they hired tech professionals from outside the Middle East. 'There's not enough domestic university talent so we recruit candidates from India and Ukraine,' Vahid Haghzare, director of SVA Recruitment based in Dubai, told Rest of World. The UAE is a 'global migration node', Froilan Malit Jr, a visiting scholar at American University in Dubai and an expert on migration to the Middle East, told Rest of World. It is a transit space for people from developing countries to gain experience before moving West, while Western professionals can leverage their expertise for higher pay and long-term residency in the UAE, he said. Western professionals are attracted by Dubai's lifestyle perks, while Asian and Muslim tech workers appreciate a culture that's a mix of East and West, Malit Jr. said. 'It's a win-win: tax-free income, top schools, security, and cosmopolitan living.' Workers get different salaries based on their years of experience, and also where they are from, he said. Workers from developing nations experience a 'citizenship penalty' and command a lower salary in the UAE than their western counterparts, Malit Jr. said. 'That's what triggers a lot of tech workers from the Global South to move to the West, and then return [to the UAE] with a new passport,' he said. Jarkko Moilanen, head of data products at the Abu Dhabi Department for Government Enablement, which oversees the city's digital transformation, moved to the UAE in 2022 from Finland after being recruited as one of 200 global experts to help drive the effort. 'I needed a change,' said the 50-year-old AI professional, who has helmed transformations at various tech companies in Finland. A year later, he decided to stay long-term in the UAE and applied for a Golden Visa. The nation has made relocation relatively frictionless, especially for AI-related specialists, developers and entrepreneurs. Dubai had issued an estimated 158,000 Golden Visas by 2023. Moilanen said that he is incentivised to stay in the UAE rather than go back to Europe, which he perceives as being in economic decline. In contrast, Abu Dhabi has gone all in on AI, and plans to become the world's first AI-native government, laying the groundwork to fully automate and digitise government processes. Moilanen said that he has also received multiple job offers from recruiters in Saudi Arabia, but has turned them down as he hopes to launch an AI and data business in the UAE. 'The data and AI combination here is hot. They have the money to execute fast,' he said. AI startups are thriving in the UAE, with support from funds like Hub71, an Abu Dhabi-based incubator. In Dubai, Sandbox, funded by Oraseya Capital, supports existing startups, while the Dubai Future Accelerators helps companies collaborate with the government. Entrepreneur Nidhima Kohli, originally from Luxembourg, recently launched her startup, The AI Accelerator, an online course meant to help entrepreneurs and executives use AI tools to improve productivity. She migrated to Dubai in 2022 and received a Golden Visa the following year. 'I've lived in London, Paris, and the US, but never felt as safe as in Dubai. It is international, people are approachable and happy to connect with you,' she told Rest of World. She said she appreciates the ease of networking and setting up a business in the UAE. 'The UAE is putting money where its mouth is. They want to grow and not stifle innovation.' But for less experienced workers from South Asia, like Nair, hurdles persist. She has seen many scam jobs on LinkedIn, including a recruiter who asked her to pay $1,000 for a certification course. She has also received exploitative offers. One company offered her 3,000 dirhams ($816) per month, much below market rate. Another asked her to work seven days a week, without paid leave or sick days. Despite all the setbacks, Nair remains hopeful for the road ahead. 'I'm excited about the opportunities to grow, learn, and make a meaningful impact here.'
Hi Dubai
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai AI Week Hackathon Showcases Future of Autonomous Innovation
Dubai's ambition to lead global AI innovation took center stage as the Dubai AI Week Hackathon: Agentic AI concluded the city's landmark tech event for 2025. Held at AREA 2071 in Emirates Towers Boulevard, the hackathon gathered developers, creatives, and innovators to design autonomous AI agents addressing real-world challenges in sectors like travel, logistics, finance, and real estate. Organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), part of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), and delivered with Hackmasters, the hackathon was a highlight of Dubai AI Week 2025, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Over 170 participants formed 36 teams, first collaborating virtually from April 21 to 23, then advancing to two days of live hacking and demos at AREA 2071. Ten teams reached the final round, with the top three earning prizes for their innovative, autonomous solutions. Expert mentors and judges from organisations including DEWA, Microsoft, DeepOpinion AI, and Al Futtaim Group Real Estate supported the participants, providing technical expertise and strategic advice throughout the competition. Dubai AI Week 2025 featured 10 major events across the city, attracting over 10,000 attendees, 180 speakers, and 150 sessions. Strategic gatherings like the AI Retreat, Dubai Assembly for AI, and the Global Prompt Engineering Championship reflected the city's drive to position itself as a global hub for responsible and impactful AI innovation. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hi Dubai
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Hamdan bin Mohammed Announces Return of Dubai AI Week in April 2026 with Expanded Scale and Global Participation
Dubai reaffirmed its commitment to becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence, with H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announcing major plans to expand AI initiatives following the success of Dubai AI Week 2025. Speaking at the closing of the event, Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the need to accelerate AI adoption across all sectors to unlock new opportunities, empower talent, and solidify Dubai's leadership in innovation. He confirmed that the next Dubai AI Week will take place in April 2026, doubling its scale with 20 events and broader global participation. Dubai AI Week 2025, organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence under the Dubai Future Foundation, attracted over 30,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The week featured 10 major events, 250 sessions, and the launch of over 30 new initiatives, partnerships, and agreements between government bodies, private sector players, investors, and startups. Top global tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and NVIDIA took part, alongside 60 startups and 20 universities. Highlights included the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, AI Week in Schools reaching over 10,000 students, and major announcements like du's AED2 billion data centre project with Microsoft. Sheikh Hamdan stressed that Dubai's future readiness rests on embedding AI across education, research, and governance while fostering an ecosystem capable of nurturing billion-dollar AI ventures. His remarks reflected a wider vision to position Dubai at the forefront of the global AI landscape, supported by advanced digital infrastructure, agile regulation, and a strong focus on responsible innovation. The event also showcased new strategies from key entities such as the Roads and Transport Authority's AI Strategy 2030 and the launch of Dubai's State of AI Report, signaling a unified push across sectors to drive AI-led growth and transformation. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hi Dubai
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Ignyte Signs Strategic Partnerships to Accelerate Dubai's Digital Economy Growth
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, witnessed the signing of four major strategic agreements between Ignyte and key organisations including the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), du, Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Campus (Dtec), and in5, in a move to fast-track Dubai's digital economy growth. The agreements, signed during Dubai AI Week 2025, support the Dubai Digital Economy Strategy's mission to position the emirate as a global innovation hub. The event, held under Sheikh Hamdan's patronage, is taking place from April 21 to 25 at the Museum of the Future and AREA 2071. Sheikh Hamdan said the partnerships reflect Dubai's commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and driving the future digital economy by connecting visionaries with opportunity. As part of the partnerships, DFF will join Ignyte's platform to expand innovation initiatives and connect with startups and investors. du, as Ignyte's Exclusive Telco Partner, will provide critical infrastructure, digital tools, and mentorship to early-stage companies. Through Dtec, startups will gain access to soft landing programmes, flexible workspaces, and subsidised licensing, while in5 will offer fast-track incubation and mentorship services across technology, media, and design sectors. These collaborations mark a major milestone for Ignyte's expansion and align closely with Dubai's vision of creating one of the world's most dynamic digital economies. Dubai AI Week 2025 has drawn participation from over 100 nationalities, featuring more than 180 speakers and 150 sessions, highlighting Dubai's growing influence in the global AI and innovation landscape. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hi Dubai
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai AI Academy Launches to Accelerate Artificial Intelligence Education and Adoption
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has launched the Dubai AI Academy, an ambitious initiative designed to position the emirate at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) education and innovation. The announcement was made during the inaugural Dubai AI Week 2025, underlining the city's commitment to AI-driven economic growth and technological advancement. Located within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation Hub, the Dubai AI Academy aims to educate 10,000 emerging and experienced leaders in AI. With backing from the DIFC Academy, the Academy will offer tailored training programs in partnership with prestigious institutions like Oxford University's Saïd Business School, Udacity, and the Minerva Project. The Academy's courses will focus on equipping professionals across various sectors with the knowledge needed to harness AI's potential. Initial offerings include 'AI for Civil Service', designed for government employees, and 'Leadership in the Age of AI', which will teach strategic decision-making, ethics, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The initiative is part of Dubai's broader vision to double the contribution of AI to its GDP and cement its status as a global AI hub. It aligns with the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence ( and supports the city's growing AI, FinTech, and innovation ecosystem. Through this educational push, Dubai aims to foster a workforce ready to lead in the AI-powered future, driving progress across government, business, and society while enhancing its global competitiveness. News Source: Emirates News Agency
