AI Everything Abu Dhabi: Turning AI ambition into real-world deployment

Ayman Hassan, VP – Commercial, inD discusses the vision behind Ai Everything Abu Dhabi, the rise of agentic AI, the growing maturity of the UAE’s home-grown AI ecosystem, and how the event is connecting global technology companies with governments, enterprises and investors.

What is the larger vision for AI Everything Abu Dhabi, and how does the event help position Abu Dhabi and the UAE within the global AI landscape?

Ai Everything Abu Dhabi opens as the largest AI-first expo and summit of the year, but the event’s ambition goes well beyond that scale.

Under the theme “The New Intelligence Order from Abu Dhabi”, Ai Everything Abu Dhabi is designed not simply to discuss or demonstrate AI, but to bring together the capital, sovereign capability, frontier technology and decision-makers required to deploy it at scale.

No city is better placed than Abu Dhabi to host this convergence. Beyond AI adoption, the city is weaving AI into the fabric of government, business and society itself. It is building the foundations of the world’s first truly AI-native government.

The emirate is assembling the full AI ecosystem: computing power, research, homegrown models, talent, governance and large-scale deployment. The event connects these capabilities with the global companies, investors and institutions to turn research into viable products, and pilots into live deployments and compelling use-cases.

Hosted by the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE) and accelerated by Solutions+ as Global Partner, the event is closely aligned with Abu Dhabi’s ambition to build AI into government, business and society, and solidifies the city’s position at the centre of the emerging global intelligence economy.

What are the major themes you expect to dominate conversations at this year’s event?

The central conversation is how AI moves from promising capability to dependable, large-scale use. Agentic AI is a major part of that shift, bringing autonomy, trust and accountability to the forefront of the conversations. Sovereign computing power, data centres and intelligent infrastructures, new energy and cybersecurity are equally highlighted across the show floor and conference agenda.

Government transformation features strongly, with over 50 UAE government entities participating. Our agenda explores applications across education, finance, healthcare, government and enterprise, alongside quantum applications. By connecting research with pilots and live deployments, the programme gives participants a practical understanding of how AI can address the specific demands of their sector.

How has the profile of participating companies evolved as AI moves from generative AI towards agentic and increasingly autonomous systems?

We have over 400 participating enterprises and organisations, spanning global technology and AI leaders, government entities, infrastructure developers, frontier model builders and AI-first startups. That breadth reflects the capabilities needed to put increasingly translate AI visions into tangible working models across sectors.

The emphasis is moving towards specialised, contextually relevant applications. Enterprises need AI that understands their data, workflows and industry requirements, and can perform useful tasks reliably within those parameters.

This is bringing end-to-end solution providers and specialists in data and enterprise software into focus. As agentic systems take on more complex work, success depends on how effectively these capabilities come together to deliver measurable results.

Beyond showcasing technology, how is AI Everything connecting global AI companies with enterprises, investors, government entities and potential partners in the region?

We have a comprehensive business matchmaking programme that puts qualified buyers and investors in direct, pre-arranged contact with companies matching their interests. Our concierge teams work with participants to understand their priorities, then build relevant introductions through curated meetings, closed-door briefings and sector dialogues.

What makes this effective is the depth of our established ecosystem relationships worldwide. Government, global enterprises, startups, investors and research institutions all come together with specific needs and capabilities. Our role is to connect those interests so a conversation can progress into a business deal, a funded pilot or a strategic public-private partnership.

What does the growing international participation at AI Everything tell us about the UAE’s emergence as a global hub for AI innovation and investment?

It reflects confidence in the UAE’s ability to influence and advance the global AI economy. Ai Everything Abu Dhabi brings together leaders from more than 70 countries and over 200 investors managing US$91 billion in assets. That participation connects global expertise with a market actively building its AI capabilities. The deeper significance is the opportunity for companies to research, trial, deploy and grow here, contributing to an ecosystem with an increasingly international reach.

How strongly will home-grown UAE AI companies be represented at the event, and what does this tell us about the maturity of the local AI ecosystem?

Abu Dhabi features prominently at the event, and this is no coincidence. The city has become a global testbed for pioneering AI initiatives, investments and projects, right from building the world’s first AI-native government by 2027 to deploying agentic AI across 50% of government sectors, services and operations.

At the event, we have the following Abu Dhabi entities and organisations participating: Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the UAE Ministry of Investment, UAE Cybersecurity Council, UAE ICP, Abu Dhabi Ports, G42, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Hub71, Awqaf Abu Dhabi, Public Prosecution, Alef Education, Higher Colleges of Technology, Khalifa Fund, and Khalifa University Enterprise Company, alongside entities from across other emirates.

This breadth speaks to the maturity of the local ecosystem: research, infrastructure, enterprise applications, capital and public-sector demand are developing together.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for international AI companies looking to establish or expand their presence in the UAE and wider region?

For international companies, the opportunity is actively engaging a market with clear ambitions to accelerate global AI progress, exceptional government support, and market demand.

Ai Everything Abu Dhabi brings companies into direct contact with the institutions, buyers and investors that can help turn a promising solution into a viable regional business.

What tangible outcomes would you like to see emerge from AI Everything Abu Dhabi in terms of partnerships, investments and new AI initiatives?

We want to see capital deployed, commercial partnerships formed, pilots moving into live operations and research finding a route to market. We also want founders to secure customers and international companies to establish partnerships that continue well beyond the event.

The work is to align government, investors, enterprises, startups and research institutions around opportunities they can advance together. Attendance tells us the scale of the gathering. Investment, new deployments, stronger local capabilities and research progress tell us its economic value. Those are the outcomes that matter.