UAE joins global AI elite

The Global AI Competitiveness Index by the International Finance Forum (IFF), Deep Knowledge Group (DKG), positions the UAE as one of the strongest emerging Al powers, particularly because of its fast-growing enterprise ecosystem and deepening talent pool.

- Issac John [e-mail]

The latest findings resonate with a series of global indexes released over the past year — including Stanford University, Oxford Insights and other research bodies, painting a consistent picture of a nation moving quickly and strategically to consolidate its position in the Al era by accelerating its ascent as one of the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence hubs, with a growing body of international research placing the country among the top performers in AI talent, enterprise activity and government readiness.

The IFF-DKG report ranks the UAE ninth worldwide in AI enterprise density, with 49.5 AI firms per million people — a level that outpaces many advanced economies and highlights the country’s growing appeal for AI startups and scale-ups. It also places the UAE 16th globally in terms of its share of the world’s AI talent, and among the top 20 in talent density, surpassing countries such as Italy and Russia.