Sheikh Hamdan Sets Ambitious New AI Targets As Dubai Campus Exceeds Goals Early

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, inaugurated the 3rd Dubai AI Festival while outlining aggressive new expansion goals for the emirate’s technology ecosystem.

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the festival’s scale, noting it has brought together more than 20,000 participants from 100 countries, 150 speakers, 500 investors, and 200 exhibitors.

During his visit, the Crown Prince reviewed progress at the Dubai AI Campus at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and reviewed plans for its latest expansion into the Zabeel District.

The initiative has outpaced initial growth forecasts by reaching major capital and company benchmarks two years ahead of schedule.

“The Campus has attracted more than 500 specialised companies and over AED 1 billion in investment, achieving its targets 2 years ahead of schedule,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote on X.

Following the campus’s rapid success, leadership has significantly scaled up long-term targets for the sector.

“We have now set our sights even higher, with a new target of attracting more than 1,000 specialised companies by 2030,” Sheikh Hamdan added.

“In Dubai, we continue to raise our ambitions, positioning the city at the forefront of AI and shaping the future of the global economy.”

The expansion reflects Dubai’s broader economic agenda to attract foreign direct investment and tech talent, cementing its position as a central launchpad for next-generation technology enterprises in the region.