Dubai Opens First National AI Centre of Excellence to Drive UAE’s Sovereign AI Strategy
Situated at UOWD’s campus in Dubai Knowledge Park, the Centre is designed to serve as the core engine of the UAE’s sovereign AI strategy, uniting research, innovation, and commercialization to develop and export AI technologies built in the Emirates.
The UAE has taken a significant step toward strengthening its national AI capabilities with the launch of the AI Centre of Excellence, a first-of-its-kind initiative created by Lakeba Group, DoxAI, AqlanX, and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). Situated at UOWD’s campus in Dubai Knowledge Park, the Centre is designed to serve as the core engine of the UAE’s sovereign AI strategy, uniting research, innovation, and commercialization to develop and export AI technologies built in the Emirates.
The inauguration drew several distinguished guests, including John M Green, Chairman of UOW Global Enterprises; Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group; Ahmed Hamzawy, Chief Partnership Officer at Microsoft UAE; and senior representatives from the Australian Government and the New South Wales trade mission. Their presence underscored the Centre’s expected impact on the UAE’s future technology landscape.
The Centre aims to accelerate the UAE’s journey toward technological independence by advancing projects such as Arabic Large Language Models, real-time AI decision engines, and sovereign AI cybersecurity systems. Lakeba Group Founder and CEO Giuseppe Porcelli described the launch as a clear statement that the UAE intends to lead in building sovereign AI systems with global influence. UOWD President Professor Mohamed Salem added that the Centre will empower students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to create solutions for global challenges through collaboration and innovation.
Strengthening the partnership between academia and industry, Marisa Mastroianni, Advisor to UOWD, highlighted that the Centre will ensure research can rapidly progress from concept to market. AqlanX Co-Founder and CEO Demetrio Russo emphasized that the initiative will foster an ecosystem where AI innovation connects government, enterprise, and academia, reinforcing the UAE’s global competitiveness.
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of TECOM Group’s Education Cluster, said the Centre’s vision aligns with Dubai’s broader innovation agenda, supporting national strategies such as the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, the Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI, and the Education 33 Strategy.
During the launch, the Centre revealed five foundational AI systems developed as part of its first wave of research and commercialization. These include an AI-driven talent intelligence platform, sovereign Arabic Large Language Models, a modular “AI Factory” for sustainable high-density computing, AI analysis for temnographic electromagnetic data, and a sovereign AI cybersecurity initiative known as CRAM. Together, these projects demonstrate the Centre’s mission to merge academic excellence with commercial impact.
Microsoft UAE also announced a major talent-development partnership with UOWD and the Centre. Over the next year, Microsoft will offer AI Fundamentals training to students, faculty, and alumni; advanced learning resources bridging academic and enterprise use cases; free certification vouchers; and a new Women in Cyber initiative launched in collaboration with G42. These efforts align with Microsoft’s global AI vision centered on technology, talent, and trust.
The launch of the AI Centre of Excellence marks a pivotal milestone in the UAE’s journey to becoming a global hub for sovereign AI, positioning the country at the forefront of innovation, education, and future-ready talent development.
