Sectors — AI & Emerging Tech
AI is moving from experimentation into everyday work, reshaping every sector.
88% of organisations now use AI in some form, and investment more than doubled in 2025. The UAE leads the world in AI adoption and is building the infrastructure, skills and partnerships to turn it into economic value.
Where the sector is heading
01
Investment and adoption accelerate
Global view
Corporate AI investment more than doubled in 2025, with generative AI capturing nearly half of private AI funding, and 88% of organisations now use AI in some form.
UAE lens
70.1% of the UAE’s working-age population uses AI, the highest rate in the world and nearly four times the global average of 17.8%.
02
From tools to agents
Global view
AI agents that can plan and act on tasks are the next frontier, but adoption is still in the single digits across most business functions.
UAE lens
In November 2026, ADNOC agreed to deploy OpenAI’s Frontier agent platform across its operations, and Abu Dhabi launched a Machine-Readable Government initiative with OpenAI to make policies readable by AI.
03
Infrastructure becomes strategic
Global view
Data centres used about 485 TWh of electricity in 2025, set to roughly double by 2030, making compute, power and chips strategic assets.
UAE lens
Abu Dhabi is building a 5 GW UAE-US AI campus, including the 1 GW Stargate UAE cluster, whose first 200 MW phase was scheduled for 2026.
04
Skills reshape work
Global view
The World Economic Forum expects 170 million jobs to be created and 92 million displaced by 2030, with AI and big data the fastest-growing skills.
UAE lens
AI is now taught in UAE public schools from kindergarten to Grade 12, introduced from the 2025–2026 academic year.
How innovation will shape it
The role of AI and emerging tech
AI and emerging technologies are becoming the engine of innovation in every sector we work in, from energy and climate to water and food.
- AI agents that automate workflows across government and enterprise
- AI-enabled prototyping that turns ideas into working products in days, not months
- Sector-specific AI for energy, climate, water, food and health
- Robotics and autonomous systems
- Digital twins and simulation for smarter planning and operations
The role of talent
Skills for the next economy
Global view
Employers expect 39% of key skills to change by 2030, and technological skills led by AI and big data are growing faster than any other.
UAE lens
With AI in every public school and the world’s highest adoption rate, the UAE is building a generation that grows up with AI.
The next economy needs people who can build with AI, not just use it: engineers, data scientists, product builders and entrepreneurs, and young people ready to create what comes next.
How we work with governments and corporates
We design the right format for what you want to advance.
The conversation
Forums, roundtables and leadership dialogues that bring the right decision-makers together.
Investment
Investor platforms, live pitches and curated deal rooms that connect capital with ventures.
Innovation
Accelerators, challenges, innovation sprints and hackathons that turn ideas into solutions.
Partnerships
Partnership strategies and sponsorship programmes that bring corporates, funders and stakeholders on board to back and scale your initiative.
Talent
Youth programmes, skills bootcamps, challenges and forums that equip young people for the future of AI and emerging tech.
Reach
Outreach campaigns that scout and engage startups, SMEs, investors and partners across the region and beyond.
Our work in ai & emerging tech
Deal sourcing in climate tech
For investors and corporates
We scout climate tech startups and SMEs applying AI and emerging technologies, and bring the strongest to investors and corporates as curated deal flow.
Forums and investor platforms
From IC Live Pitches to sustainability forums
Across our forums and investor platforms, we put AI at the centre of the conversation, showing how it is transforming energy, climate, water and food, and connecting the people building it.
AI-enabled prototyping studio
Across our programmes
In our programmes, founders and young innovators use AI to turn ideas into working prototypes in days, not months.
Al Ain Innovates
Innovation sprint · With AD Ports Group
An innovation sprint designed for young innovators and founders to build and test new solutions.
Al Dhafra Innovates
Innovation sprint · With AD Ports Group
An innovation sprint designed for young innovators and founders to build and test new solutions.
Out-of-Labs
Venture building · By Youth 4 Sustainability
A venture-building programme that turns ideas into investable startups.
Let's design the right format for your goals.
Let's co-createSources