Emergence of a Dominant AI Force in the Global Landscape
In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), a distinct geography of startups has emerged, with a select group of international cities becoming the hubs for capital, talent, research institutions, and corporate partners that early-stage AI companies need to scale. Among these cities, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is making significant strides and is quickly becoming a major player in the AI landscape.
Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Dubai, and San Francisco are the biggest global hubs for AI in 2025, according to the 2025 Global AI City Index by Counterpoint Research. While Abu Dhabi may not yet be in the top tier alongside cities like Singapore or San Francisco, its accelerated investments and regional leadership in AI mark it as one of the fastest-growing AI hubs globally.
The UAE, and particularly Abu Dhabi, is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with around $1.4 trillion earmarked for this purpose. This investment aims to drive economic transformation and build AI compute sovereignty, positioning the UAE as a regional competitor to established global tech capitals.
Abu Dhabi's AI ecosystem is still developing compared to established powerhouses like Silicon Valley and Beijing, but it shows strong potential. The city is host to a vibrant startup environment primarily centered in Dubai, and by extension, the UAE's growing AI ecosystem. Furthermore, Abu Dhabi's strategic positioning as a bridge between Western and Asian markets, coupled with its focus on AI applications across sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and telecommunications, mirrors strategies used by top AI cities like Singapore and Seoul.
The emirate's AI sector growth is reconfiguring Abu Dhabi as a major global centre for AI. In just one year, between June 2023 and June 2024, Abu Dhabi counted 673 AI companies, a 61% increase. This growth trajectory, extensive funding, and infrastructure development suggest that Abu Dhabi has strong potential to compete more directly with established global tech capitals within the next decade.
Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a natural magnet for founders and investors looking for an alternative to the overheated markets of the U.S. and Europe. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi's AI strategy, designed to cultivate and attract a deep talent pool.
While other cities like Seattle, Tel Aviv, Paris, Berlin, New York City, London, Boston, Bengaluru, Toronto, and Montreal continue to be significant players in the AI landscape, the pressures created by high costs, competition, and hiring gaps in established markets are creating an opening for newer, more flexible markets like Abu Dhabi to thrive. As Abu Dhabi continues to invest in its AI sector, it is poised to become a formidable force in the global AI landscape in the coming years.
- Gizmodo reported that Abu Dhabi's AI sector growth is reconfiguring it as a major global center for technology, following its 61% increase in the number of AI companies within a year.
- In 2025, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Dubai, and San Francisco are predicted to be the biggest global hubs for artificial intelligence, but Abu Dhabi, with its substantial investments and strategic positioning, shows strong potential to challenge these established tech capitals.
- The emirate is attracting founders and investors with its alternative market, boasting the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence as a key component in its AI strategy to cultivate a deep talent pool.
