The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has officially unveiled the agenda for the inaugural Dubai AI Week, scheduled to take place from April 21-25, 2025. The event is held under the patronage of His Highness 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 DFF.
Organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence and overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, this global event will bring together AI pioneers, innovators, decision-makers, and industry leaders from over 100 countries. The aim is to promote international collaboration and emphasize the pivotal role of AI in reimagining government services, accelerating economic growth, and building future-ready societies, Dubai Media Office reported.
Pivotal moment in UAE’s AI journey
Dubai AI Week represents a major milestone in the UAE’s mission to shape the global AI landscape. This will be realized through a series of flagship initiatives, immersive experiences, and high-impact collaborations.
His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE minister of Cabinet Affairs and vice chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation, stated that Dubai has emerged as a global destination for shaping the future of AI, becoming a leading hub for the world’s foremost tech companies in this rapidly evolving sector. He highlighted that this progress is guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, along with the ongoing support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“Dubai AI Week marks a major milestone in the UAE’s journey to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across governments and industries,” Al Gergawi remarked. “It reflects our commitment to advancing national strategies that put innovation at the heart of future-readiness, and to turning AI potential into practical, real-world impact.”
He further added, “The week will bring together brilliant minds from around the world to develop smart, scalable solutions that serve humanity and open new pathways for innovation and progress. It will also serve as a global platform to highlight best practices in AI adoption and inspire the next wave of ideas and experimentation.”
Read more: Dubai AI Week 2025 to feature third edition of Machines Can See AI Summit
Public-private partnership enabler
His Excellency Al Gergawi underscored the significance of participation from UAE and international government entities, noting that Dubai AI Week provides a unique opportunity to reinforce collaboration between the public and private sectors, showcase groundbreaking advancements in AI, and explore how emerging technologies can contribute to both economic growth and social progress.
He also welcomed the presence of national pavilions from various countries, calling it a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise, spotlight talent, and connect forward-thinking companies with global opportunities.
9 AI-driven events set to inspire
Dubai AI Week will feature a series of key events across the city, including high-level summits, exhibitions, hackathons, and global competitions dedicated to advancing AI. These events further encompass the AI Retreat, Dubai Assembly for AI, Global Prompt Engineering Championship, Machines Can See Conference, Dubai AI Festival, Dubai AI Hackathon: Agentic AI, 8th International Conference on Education Quality, HIMSS Executive Summit, and AI in Schools – all aimed at introducing students and educators to AI concepts.
More than 10,000 AI experts and participants are anticipated to attend this week-long event, which will host over 180 local and international speakers, more than 150 sessions and workshops, along with over 140 activations. Leveraging the global appeal of Dubai AI Week, the event aims to feature over 25 global tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, IBM, Gartner, and Swift, in addition to welcoming over 15 country delegations showcasing their latest innovations in AI from regions such as the US, South Korea, India, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany.
Platform for strategic partnerships
Collaboration is essential for the success of the global AI industry, and Dubai AI Week is set to facilitate impactful local and international partnerships. This year, the event’s strategic partners include Digital Dubai Authority, DEWA, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and the UAE AI Office.
Additional partners comprise global tech leaders and AI pioneers, such as Meta, IBM, Google, Microsoft, Gartner, OpenAI, Swift, Nvidia, Palantir, Cohere, and ElevenLabs.
The AI Retreat
The AI Retreat on April 21 at the Museum of the Future will be an exclusive, invite-only gathering of over 100 global leaders, tech giants, decision-makers, and AI experts from both government and private sectors, aimed at addressing AI challenges, applications, and opportunities on both local and global scales. Closed roundtable discussions will focus on Economy and Investment, Data and Governance, Infrastructure, and Talent Development.
The Dubai Assembly for AI
Moreover, the Dubai Assembly for AI, taking place from April 21 to 25 at AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, will welcome over 2,500 global AI leaders, policymakers, and executives. This event will feature 25 sessions and live AI activations presented by leading AI companies.
The Global Prompt Engineering Championship
Additionally, the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, set for April 22 to 23 at AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, will see 24 finalists and AI enthusiasts compete for AED1 million in prizes across four categories: Art, Gaming, Coding, and Video. This championship offers a platform for creative talents to showcase their skills in prompt engineering by crafting precise instructions for AI tools to generate unique content.
Dubai AI Festival
Furthermore, organized by Dubai AI Campus in partnership with DIFC and the UAE AI Office, the Dubai AI Festival, occurring from April 23 to 24 at Madinat Jumeirah, will host 8,000 industry experts, 500 investors, and 100 exhibitors from around the globe, providing a vibrant platform for networking, partnerships, and collaboration.
The Machines Can See Summit
The Machines Can See Summit, held from April 23 to 24 at the Museum of the Future and AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, will feature keynotes, sessions, workshops, and an expo zone. The summit aims to explore how AI can serve as a force for good, driving positive changes across industries and societies.
The 8th International Conference on Education Quality
The 8th International Conference on Education Quality, taking place from April 22 to 24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, is organized by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai in collaboration with the Emirates Academy for Identity and Citizenship. This conference will convene leading experts, researchers, decision-makers, and university students to discuss the latest developments in artificial intelligence and innovations in public services and education.
Supported by the Dubai Health Authority, the HIMSS Executive Summit 2025 on April 23 at Emirates Towers Hotel will investigate the potential of generative AI in healthcare, genomics, and precision medicine, as well as the deployment of innovative tools to accelerate digital maturity.
The Dubai AI Week Hackathon on April 25, held at AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, is organized by DFF in collaboration with Hackmasters. This hands-on competition will challenge innovators to design autonomous AI agents capable of independently solving real-world problems.
AI Week in Schools, occurring from April 21 to 25 in collaboration with the KHDA, aims to introduce students to AI concepts and applications, inspiring a new generation of AI-literate innovators.
Promising sectors for AI growth
Dubai AI Week 2025 highlights the opportunities and future impacts of artificial intelligence across essential sectors, including Government and Regulators, Global Industry Leaders, Future-driven Talent, Startups and Investors, Tech Innovators, and Students and Educators.
Each event during Dubai AI Week is crafted to activate these sectors in meaningful ways. From shaping agile policy at the AI Retreat to exploring cutting-edge trends with global leaders at the Dubai Assembly for AI, the Global Prompt Engineering Championship and Agentic AI Hackathon spotlight emerging talent. The Dubai AI Festival connects startups and investors in a dynamic business environment, while the Machines Can See Summit gathers tech innovators driving advancements in robotics and autonomous systems. Moreover, AI Week in Schools introduces the next generation to the tools and thinking that will shape their futures. Through this integrated approach, Dubai AI Week promotes collaboration, unlocks opportunities, and accelerates AI readiness across the entire innovation ecosystem.
