Sheikh Hamdan approved new targets for Dubai AI Campus at the third Dubai AI Festival. The city’s original five-year goal was achieved two years ahead of schedule.
Dubai’s AI economy just received a significant upgrade in ambition, and the numbers behind it tell a story about a city that consistently sets targets and then exceeds them faster than anyone expected.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, attended the opening of the third edition of the Dubai AI Festival at Dubai World Trade Centre on October 26th, 2026. The festival runs until October 27th under the theme Where Intelligence Meets Opportunity, drawing more than 20,000 attendees from over 100 countries alongside more than 150 speakers, 500 investors and 200 exhibitors.
At the event, Sheikh Hamdan approved a new strategic target for Dubai AI Campus: attract more than 1,000 AI companies and create over 5,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030.
The Target That Was Already Beaten
The context behind this new ambition matters considerably. Dubai AI Campus operates within the Dubai International Financial Centre. It launched in May 2024 and was given a five-year target. The plan was to reach 500 companies by 2028.
It reached that number by October 2026, two years ahead of schedule. This progress supports Dubai AI Campus 2030.
In the roughly two and a half years since its launch, the campus has attracted more than 500 AI companies that have collectively secured over AED1 billion in investment from private equity and venture capital funds. More than 2,000 specialised technology jobs have been created in that same period.
His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, described the next phase of ambition directly. “Dubai AI Campus has already achieved its 2028 target of attracting 500 AI companies two years ahead of schedule, and we are now raising our ambition to more than 1,000 companies and over 5,000 jobs by 2030. By bringing together talent, capital, technology and ideas, we are creating an environment where innovation can scale, human potential can be enhanced and Dubai can help shape the next chapter of the AI economy.”
The Campus That Does Not Exist Yet — But Will
One of the most significant announcements from the festival was the unveiling of architectural plans for the new Dubai AI Campus building, described as the world’s first purpose-built facility of its kind.
Located within the DIFC Zabeel District expansion, the building will span 100,000 square feet and bring together the infrastructure, expertise and resources specifically designed to accelerate AI innovation, adoption and commercialisation under one roof.
The technical specifications reflect the demands of serious AI development rather than general-purpose office space. GPU-ready systems support the computationally intensive work that large-scale AI requires. Secure AI development zones, digital twin environments, and AI-powered building management systems enable ready research settings. Modular, lab-ready floors can be configured for different research and development needs.
Government entities and private sector organisations will be able to use dedicated AI Labs within the building to develop, pilot and validate AI solutions before broader deployment across Dubai. A conference facility will host policy discussions, summits and thought leadership programming throughout the year.
An AI Experience Centre, open to residents, students, visitors, delegations and investors, will showcase the latest developments in artificial intelligence from campus companies, AI Labs participants and citywide pilot projects. The building is designed to be a point of convergence rather than simply a headquarters — a space where companies, government, investors, talent and the public share proximity and, by extension, opportunity.
The Festival Programme
The third Dubai AI Festival brings together voices from both the public and private sectors across two days of sessions focused on global AI governance, immersive technology, innovation ethics, the future of work, AI literacy, investment and infrastructure.
Senior UAE government figures presenting at the festival include His Excellency Dr Amin Al Ameeri from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, His Excellency Younus Al Nasser from Digital Dubai and Dr Abdalla Sulaiman Alhammadi from the UAE Ministry of Justice.
Private sector representation spans healthcare, aviation, telecommunications, financial services, education and technology. Speakers include Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du; Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates Airline; Alex Aliper, Co-Founder and President of Insilico Medicine; and Joseph Ziolkowski, Founder and Global CEO of Relm Insurance among others.
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, summarised the platform’s broader purpose. “Artificial intelligence represents the next defining chapter in this ambition. DIFC is helping translate this vision into tangible outcomes by bringing together the companies, talent, capital and infrastructure needed to accelerate AI innovation and adoption.”
Dubai AI Campus by the Numbers
- Launch date: May 2024
- Companies attracted: 500 plus
- Investment secured: Over AED1 billion
- Jobs created to date: More than 2,000
- New target, companies: More than 1,000 by 2030
- New target, jobs: Over 5,000 by 2030
- New campus size: 100,000 square feet
- Location: DIFC Zabeel District
