MBRSG Releases New Report Showing UAE AI SMEs Lead MENA Innovation Drive
The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), backed by Google.org, has released a new report highlighting the UAE's leadership in artificial intelligence innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the MENA region.
Titled The Artificial Intelligence SMEs Ecosystem in the UAE: Overcoming Challenges, Expanding Horizons , the report is based on fieldwork with 81 UAE-based AI SMEs and a wider analysis of 327 companies across the Middle East and North Africa. It positions Dubai and Abu Dhabi as key centres for AI adoption, supported by strong infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and private-sector funding.
Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, noted that SMEs have been trailblazers in the UAE's AI journey, calling for greater collaboration to unlock the sector's full potential. Rasha El Hallak, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy UAE at Google, added that local entrepreneurs are reshaping the future of AI innovation in the region.
Key findings show UAE firms outpacing regional peers in AI deployment, particularly in advanced technologies like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. The study also reveals that while regulatory frameworks and capital access are strengths, talent shortages and AI governance gaps remain challenges.
Despite regional uncertainties in intellectual property protection, UAE firms demonstrate greater confidence, though they remain cautious about expanding IP portfolios beyond national borders.
With the MENA region projected to capture over US$320 billion from AI by 2030, the report emphasizes the UAE's role in accelerating regional AI growth and closing critical capability gaps.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
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