February 19th, 2026: Leaders of 58 countries gathered at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi where they renewed their commitment to AI cooperation by outlining a global roadmap in which countries can collaborate in artificial intelligence. The summit, held February from 16th to 20th 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam in the capital of India, is the first global summit to be held in the Global South and it has become a marquee platform on international AI policy and governance.
Attending the opening session on behalf of the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who was representing his country, the United Arab Emirates. The presence demonstrated the interest of the UAE in advancing multilateral cooperation in the field of innovative technologies, especially in the development and regulation of AI.
AI Cooperation Goes Center Stage
The main theme of the talks was AI cooperation, which was perceived as a unique pillar to define the future of the global AI implementation. Representatives of 58 countries have endorsed a common statement and direction that should reinforce the idea of responsible AI research, governance frameworks, and policy frameworks, which can be embraced at cross borders.
Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister leading the summit, highlighted the need to bridge the gaps in technologies and make sure that both large and small countries will be able to enjoy the benefits of the AI innovations. The leaders emphasized the necessity of AI cooperation that would not be too fast and could have ethical guardrails, accessibility, and economic growth.
Closing Public And Private Dividend
One of the key issues that were discussed at the summit was how collaboration between the government and the private sector can enhance AI cooperation. The representatives discussed novel models of collaboration that could contribute to the scaling of AI solutions in such domains as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance.
The involvement of Sheikh Khaled also entailed bilateral meetings with the Indian officials where both parties agreed on the expansion of their cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, which once again emphasizes AI cooperation as a strategic priority in international relations and technology diplomacy.
Responsible And Inclusive Artificial Intelligence To The Global Good
The speakers at the event emphasized that the use of AI cooperation should be based on the common values of inclusiveness, openness, and responsible application. The summit brought together policymakers, tech chiefs, investors and researchers, reaffirming that global collaboration continues to be essential in order to leverage the transformative power of AI coupled with reducing the risks associated with AI implementation.
Besides diplomatic involvement, the summit has included the presence of high profile input by government leaders, business leaders of major tech companies and international entities, all in response to the necessity of continued AI cooperation to build on mutual solutions to societal and economic issues.
Upgrading UAE-India Strategic Relations
On the margins and sidelines of the summit, Sheikh Khaled had talks with the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi with the aim of increasing bilateral cooperation on diverse hi tech technologies. Both of the leaders sought opportunities to develop AI cooperation in areas like healthcare innovation, smart infrastructure, education technology and digital governance
These discussions strengthened the existing strategic alliance between the UAE and India, especially in new technologies where the cooperation of AI creates a transformational impact.
A Shared Vision For AI
Since India AI Impact Summit is still on, the focus is on establishing long-term AI cooperation models that may serve the subsequent summits and collaborative projects. Having 58 countries on the list and the global delegates actively taking part in the process, the summit has become the herald of a new time in multilateral discourse on responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence.
The presence of Sheikh Khaled represented the wider outlook of the UAE in making itself a global leader in AI. The summit highlighted that there should be multilateral, transparent, and proactive AI cooperation that will allow countries to exchange information and create regulatory frameworks and help to promote sustainable technological advancement. The discussions also explored opportunities to need to be in line with the global standards in developing AI and also that innovation should also come with responsibility.
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