Dubai AI Campus doubles its ambition to more than 1,000 AI companies by 2030

On 26 October 2026, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, approved new targets for Dubai AI Campus. The campus, part of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), now aims to attract more than 1,000 AI companies and create over 5,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030.

The announcement was made as Sheikh Hamdan opened the third Dubai AI Festival at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The two-day festival, which ran until 27 October 2026, was organised by Dubai AI Campus in collaboration with the Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence.

The key facts

• New targets: more than 1,000 AI companies and over 5,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030.
• Progress so far: since its launch in May 2024, the campus has attracted more than 500 AI companies, which have collectively secured over AED 1 billion in investment from private equity and venture capital funds, and has supported more than 2,000 specialised technology jobs.
• Ahead of schedule: the campus exceeded its original target of 500 AI companies by 2028 two years early. Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said the campus is "now raising our ambition to more than 1,000 companies and over 5,000 jobs by 2030".
• New building: a future Dubai AI Campus building of 100,000 square feet is planned within the DIFC Zabeel District expansion, with GPU-ready systems, secure AI development zones, digital twin environments and AI-powered building systems.
• Scale of the festival: more than 20,000 attendees from over 100 countries, with more than 150 speakers, 500 investors and 200 exhibitors.

Why it matters for international clients

For founders building AI and technology businesses, the new targets signal sustained government support for a dedicated AI cluster in Dubai, with a growing community of companies, investors and specialist talent in one location. The figure of over AED 1 billion raised by campus companies from private equity and venture capital funds shows that capital is already flowing to businesses based there.

For investors and families, a larger AI cluster in DIFC adds to the opportunities to back early-stage technology companies from the UAE, alongside the country's wider network of tax treaties and its residence options for founders and investors.

What to do

• If you are considering moving an AI or technology business to Dubai, compare DIFC with other free zones and the mainland on licensing, regulation, office requirements and access to clients. Our guide on free zone or mainland is a useful starting point, and our company setup service covers the full process.
• Plan the structure for UAE corporate tax from the start, including whether free zone treatment can apply to your income, how intellectual property will be held, and how founders will be paid. See our corporate tax service and our guide on paying yourself from a UAE company.
• If you are relocating personally, review your exit from your current country of tax residence and your UAE residence options. See our moving to Dubai checklist and golden visa guide.

Sources

• Dubai Media Office: Hamdan bin Mohammed approves new targets for Dubai AI Campus (26 October 2026)
• Emirates News Agency (WAM): Hamdan bin Mohammed approves new targets for Dubai AI Campus
• Khaleej Times: Sheikh Hamdan approves Dubai AI Campus target of over 1,000 companies by 2030 (26 October 2026)

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