UAE launches new AI centre of excellence to drive sovereign technology and innovation
Five flagship AI projects unveiled to accelerate national AI strategy
Dubai: The UAE has launched a new initiative with the opening of the AI Centre of Excellence, established by Lakeba Group, DoxAI, AqlanX, and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). Located at UOWD’s campus in Dubai Knowledge Park, part of TECOM Group PJSC, the Centre is designed to support the UAE’s sovereign AI strategy by combining research, innovation, and commercialisation. Its goal is to develop, deploy, and export AI technologies created in the UAE for local and global use.
The launch was attended by key dignitaries, including John M Green, Chairman of UOW Global Enterprises; Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group; Ahmed Hamzawy, Chief Partnership Officer at Microsoft UAE; Paul Priest, Australian Diplomat from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Moin Anwar, Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Middle East, New South Wales Government, Australia.
The Centre will focus on areas including Arabic Large Language Models, real-time AI decision engines, and AI-powered cybersecurity systems, contributing to the UAE’s technological independence and development of intelligent systems aligned with national priorities.
Giuseppe Porcelli, Founder, Chairman & Group CEO of Lakeba Group, said: “The AI Centre of Excellence is more than a collaboration. It demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to building sovereign AI systems with global relevance. Together with our partners, we aim to transform research into practical innovation, advancing the nation’s AI capabilities for governance, growth, and societal benefit.”
Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD, added: “This partnership reflects the UAE’s commitment to education, innovation, and collaboration. The Centre will provide students, researchers, and entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop AI technologies addressing pressing global challenges.”
Marisa Mastroianni, Advisor to UOWD, highlighted the value of industry-academic collaboration: “By linking Lakeba’s commercialization model with the University’s research expertise, the Centre ensures innovation moves efficiently from concept to market while generating knowledge and economic value.”
Demetrio Russo, Co-Founder and CEO of AqlanX, noted: “The Centre is a pivotal step for the UAE. Our vision is to create an ecosystem where AI innovation thrives, connecting research, enterprise, and government to deliver measurable impact and global competitiveness.”
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park, and Dubai Science Park at TECOM Group, emphasized the Centre’s alignment with Dubai’s innovation agenda: “The AI Centre will be a hub for applied research, public-private cooperation, and innovation. By bringing together researchers and industry, it strengthens Dubai and the UAE’s position in the global AI economy, supporting national strategies such as the Digital Economy Strategy, Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI, and Education 33 Strategy ‘E33’.”
Five foundational AI use cases unveiled
At its inauguration, the Centre presented five flagship AI systems demonstrating its approach to research, industry application, and commercialisation:
AI-powered talent intelligence and learning analytics – Systems that map skills, predict workforce needs, and personalize learning for government, academia, and industry.
Sovereign language models and multilingual AI (Arabic LLMs) – Large Language Models developed in the UAE, providing secure and culturally aligned AI services for public and private sectors.
The AI factory – Modular micro-data centers for high-density AI workloads and smart-grid integration, serving as a testbed for energy-efficient AI solutions.
AI for analysis of temnographic electromagnetic data – Project Temnography uses AI-driven pattern recognition to enhance diagnostic capabilities of a technology detecting electromagnetic disturbances in biological tissues.
AI for cyber risk analysis and mitigation (CRAM) – An autonomous cybersecurity framework that identifies and mitigates risks across IT and AI systems.
Microsoft supports training and certification
Microsoft UAE announced support for talent development at UOWD and the AI Centre over the next 12 months, including:
AI fundamentals training for students, faculty, alumni, and administrators
Advanced learning resources bridging academic and enterprise applications
Free Microsoft Certification vouchers for students completing AI learning pathways
A Women in Cyber initiative with G42, enabling female students to earn advanced cyber certifications
This aligns with Microsoft’s global approach based on Technology, Talent, and Trust, as presented at the Global AI Summit in Abu Dhabi.
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