Microsoft kicked off its global AI tour in Dubai on Thursday 6 February, where the tech giant highlighted how AI applications are already driving economic growth across the UAE.
In partnership with Abu Dhabi-based tech firm G42, Microsoft spotlighted a range of AI innovations, highlighting how its own solutions are empowering organisations across various industries in the UAE to succeed.
“The UAE’s swift embrace of AI is setting an ambitious benchmark,” explained Naim Yazbeck, general manager of Microsoft UAE. “Across sectors like education, finance, energy, and retail, the innovations emerging here showcase the transformative power of AI in unlocking unparalleled opportunities for growth and progress. At Microsoft, we are honoured to partner with forward-thinking organisations in the UAE, driving transformation in this new AI era and empowering them to shape a future characterised by innovation and resilience.”
The event comes after significant investment from Microsoft in the UAE’s digital economy, such as co-funding the Center for Responsible AI and the AI for Good Lab, both announced in September 2024, in partnership with G42. Around the same time, the tech giant also opened an expanded Microsoft Engineering Center, in a move to attract developers to the UAE to support the country’s increasing need for cutting-edge technologies.
So far, Microsoft has had a hand in enabling a range of customers from the public sector and regulated industries, including First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and the Department of Government Enablement (DGE), to accelerate their adoption of Microsoft Azure Public Cloud and AI transformation while maintaining compliance with UAE cyber security regulations.
Exploring AI innovations
During the event, Charles Lamanna, corporate VP, business and industry copilot at Microsoft, met with senior executives from leading organisations in the UAE who have developed a diverse range of AI-powered solutions and initiatives by leveraging the power of Microsoft’s AI suite of solutions.
Lamanna commented: “The pace of cloud and AI adoption in the UAE is remarkable. It’s impressive to see public and private sector organisations not only embracing the latest AI advancements but also rapidly developing their own cutting-edge applications. From AI-driven government services to intelligent customer engagement solutions, the level of innovation here reflects the UAE’s forward-thinking vision and its commitment to becoming a global hub for AI.”
Some of the UAE-based organisations developing AI-powered solutions include:
First Abu Dhabi Bank
The bank’s FAB Wealth RM AI Advisor tool enhances relationship managers’ ability to provide performance insights for clients and their portfolios, using a comprehensive dashboard. The tool also simulates personalised investment recommendations, through personalised investment advice and proactive engagement.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement
The Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement’s AI-powered TAMM platform is delivering around 950 government services to citizens, residents, visitors and investors in the emirate with unparalleled efficiency.
A major advancement in the delivery of government services in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi government entities, federal entities, and private sector partners, including Microsoft and G42, TAMM provides 24/7 personalised service recommendations and features a conversational AI assistant in multiple languages, enhancing customer experience in Abu Dhabi.
Alef Education
Alef Education is harnessing the power of AI to transform learning experiences for more than 1.1 million students worldwide. The company leads the development of innovative AI-powered learning solutions, including the Alef AI Tutor, designed to support student learning by tracking progress, identifying challenges, and personalizing learning paths to improve performance. This approach has resulted in a 12.1 per cent improvement in student outcomes within one academic year.
