Everything You Need To Know About Dubai AI Week 2025

The first edition of Dubai AI Week is all set to run from April 21-25, 2025, with a packed agenda and a powerful mix of global business leaders, investors, startups, and innovators converging in the city for five days of collaboration, competition, and cutting-edge conversations on the future of artificial intelligence (AI). 

Dubai AI Week, which is being organized by the Dubai Future Foundation through the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, will bring together more than 10,000 participants, 180 speakers, over 140 sessions and workshops, 25 global tech companies, and delegations from 15 countries in a series of events dedicated to AI. Discussions will target six core sectors: government and regulators, global industry leaders, startups and investors, tech innovators, future-driven talent, and students. 

In a statement, HE Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation, said, “Dubai AI Week marks a major milestone in the UAE’s journey to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across governments and industries. It reflects our commitment to advancing national strategies that put innovation at the heart of future-readiness, and to turning AI potential into practical, real-world impact. The week will bring together brilliant minds from around the world to develop smart, scalable solutions that serve humanity and open new pathways for innovation and progress. It will also serve as a global platform to highlight best practices in AI adoption and inspire the next wave of ideas and experimentation." 

The event will see a total of 10 AI-focused events take place across the city, spanning summits, exhibitions, competitions, and hackathons, and will cater to high-level decision-makers and government leaders, business leaders, investors, and exhibitors, as well as students. Here's Inc. Arabia's guide to all of the action. 

AI Retreat 

The week will begin with the second edition of the AI Retreat, which will be held at the Museum of the Future on April 21. The high-level, closed-door meeting will bring together more than 100 global decision-makers and AI leaders and is designed to fast-track strategies for AI integration across sectors. The retreat will feature focused discussions on AI governance and ethics, unveiling key AI initiatives, and host strategic partnership meetings. Conversations will revolve around four core themes: data and governance, infrastructure, economy and investment, and talent development. 

Dubai Assembly For AI 

Running throughout Dubai AI Week, the Dubai Assembly for AI will take over AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, hosting 2,500 global figures of note from the AI domain. With live activations from leading AI companies, the Assembly, which shall run across eight key themesranging from governance and sustainable development to the future of gaming, healthcare, education, and work, is set to be a focal point of global AI dialogue. 

Global Prompt Engineering Championship 

On April 22 and 23, the spotlight will be on the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, where 24 elite finalists (picked from 3,800 participants across 125 countries) will compete live in four categories: art, video, gaming, and coding. With AED1 million in prizes on the line, the event at Emirates Towers Boulevard will test the limits of creativity and technical prowess in prompt engineering. 

Dubai AI Festival 

Running from April 23-24, Dubai AI Festival, hosted by Dubai AI Campus in partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), is set to attract 5,000 business leaders, 500 investors, and 100 exhibitors from 100 countries. The festival is thus expected to create a powerful platform for business-driven AI collaborations, showcasing breakthrough initiatives and global partnerships. 

Machines Can See 

Another of Dubai AI Week's key events, Machines Can See, will take place on April 23 and 24 at AREA 2071 and the Museum of the Future. Bringing together 1,200 participants, including 100 top executives from major tech companies, 300 startups, and 40 keynote speakers, the summit shall focus on AI’s role in boosting global security and sustainability. 

AI Innovation Conference 

On the institutional front, the AI Innovation Conference, organized by Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in collaboration with the Emirates Academy for Identity and Citizenship, runs from April 22 to 24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel as well as the GDRFA headquarters. The event shall dive into AI’s role in enhancing public organizations and improving educational quality, with a focus on research and development, scientific capacity building, and cutting-edge institutional applications. 

HIMSS Executive Summit 

The HIMSS Executive Summit 2025, organized by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) with support from the Dubai Health Authority and Emirates Health Services, will be held on April 23 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. As a premier health-tech event, the summit offers an exclusive platform for networking and exploring the key technological advancements reshaping the Middle East’s healthcare sector. This year’s agenda will spotlight generative AI, genomics, precision medicine, and digital transformations.

Dubai AI Week Hackathon: Agentic AI 

On April 25, innovators will go head-to-head in the Dubai AI Week Hackathon: Agentic AI, a challenge-driven competition supported by Hackmasters. Held across Emirates Towers Boulevard, AREA 2071, and Dubai Future Accelerators, the hackathon will push participants to design autonomous AI agents that tackle real-world challenges. 

8th International Conference On Education Quality

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, in collaboration with the Emirates Academy for Identity and Citizenship, will host the 8th International Conference on Quality in Education from April 22 to 24 in Dubai. Themed "Artificial Intelligence Innovations: Future Visions in Empowering Public Institutions and Enhancing Education Quality," the conference will focus on advancing research and development in AI and technology, enhancing both local and global educational capabilities. The event, which will take place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai and the General Directorate headquarters, will explore the latest AI applications to support public institutions and improve educational systems.

AI Week In Schools 

Held in partnership with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), AI Week in Schools will run from April 21 to 25 across educational institutions in Dubai with the aim to introduce students to AI concepts and prepare them to navigate the future of technology. 

Image courtesy Dubai Media Office.