Latest news with #AIWeek2025
Khaleej Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Meet the winners who bagged Dh1 million in global prompt engineering contest
Abdulrahman Almarzooqi, a master's student at Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), is no stranger with being placed first place in a competition. Previously winning the Emirates Skills National Competition along with his brother, Almarzooqi took the first-place trophy for the prompt engineering competition in coding, and said he was proud to represent his country, the UAE, in this global competition. Almarzooqi, along with three others, won first place in the Global Prompt Engineering Championship and walked away with a collective Dh1 million prize. Prompt engineering, though it sounds intricate and intimidating, is the technical term for requesting a generative AI tool (like ChatGPT) to perform a task. In other words, it is how you talk to the AI. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The competition took place on April 22 and April 23 at the Boulevard Emirates Towers, on the sidelines of Dubai AI Week 2025. Participants from all academic and professional backgrounds competed across four creative categories: art, video, gaming, and coding, which are modes through which a machine can be communicated with. Winner of the gaming category Ibrahim Helmy, a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, never expected to even be chosen to participate. When he tried applying to join the championship, he did not have high hopes to be selected out of a pool of thousands, but his family and friends pushed him to try. 'Programming is my profession and gaming is my passion," Helmy said. 'I participated in this challenge because I tried to combine both. It was an interesting experience to try and mix both.' The programmer said he had to relearn much of what he knew about gaming because he needed to write the prompts from the perspective of a player and a game developer at the same time. 'There are obstacles, there are the players, the control, the environment, the tone, the visuals, and the audio,' he said. 'These are all things that make up a game, and if you miss one [element], you immediately notice it.' During the championship, Helmy said 'it felt super nerve-wracking knowing that they were going to be watching all the time. Sometimes AI can be frustrating." 'I can spend hours yelling at it. But the minute I sat in that seat, I started typing, and everything disappeared and faded," he added. Not just for coders Although the other categories required previous knowledge of programming, the video and art category were a little more flexible. Filmmaker Ibrahim Hajjo joined the competition because he was already familiar with the video editing world. However, he did not know much about AI tools, so decided to begin practicing the "science' of prompting once he signed up. With only two months of practice up his sleeve, Hajjo did not expect to win the competition in that designated category. During the tense 30 minutes the participants were given in the first round, Hajjo did as much as he could to bring out his creative side, but he said it was challenging. Yahya Kaddoura, architect and urban designer, was already working with AI in his field, not just for generating ideas, but using it to challenge whatever ideas or designs he works with. But he had to put his skills to the test in preparation for the championship in the art category and had to follow a series of steps to skew the ai machine to produce content to his liking. 'It was three stages. One is challenging the idea until I get a narrative for it. You need one image to explain that idea, so you create a narrative out of it.' He continued, 'After that is generating [the image]. Then editing it to do the final touches. Although the participants in the art category were given 20 minutes for the first round, Kaddoura had his final product in half the time. He said he prepared well before the competition. 'I was doing different practices,' he said. 'I had a bootcamp of almost three weeks with my friends, with a timer and everything.'
Trade Arabia
23-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Dubai launches AI policy for government bodies
Dubai has launched the AI Policy for Government Entities in the emirate aimed at reshaping government services. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, announced the policy and also reviewed the first edition of the Dubai State of AI Report during his visit to Dubai AI Week 2025, said a Wam news agency report. Sheikh Hamdan emphasised the importance of the report in outlining the crucial role of AI in reshaping government services in Dubai and highlighting the progress of AI adoption across various government entities. He said: "The impact of artificial intelligence is now evident in many sectors and fields, and the government sector is certainly one of them. We want Dubai's government entities to be fully prepared and ready for the transformations to come. "We reiterate the importance of collaboration among all government entities to exchange knowledge and successful practices in various AI applications in government work," HH Sheikh Hamdan added. The AI Policy for Government Entities stems from commitments made during the AI Retreat 2024. It sets a unified governance framework for deploying AI across all government departments, grounded in principles of explainability, human-centricity, interoperability, and proactive regulation. The policy positions Dubai as a regional benchmark for responsible AI adoption, ensuring that ethical considerations are embedded in every phase of AI deployment. Meanwhile, the launch of the Dubai State of AI Report was attended by Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director-General of Digital Dubai Authority. The report offers a comprehensive overview of how artificial intelligence is reshaping government services and operations across the emirate. Developed by Digital Dubai in collaboration with DFF, the report examines more than 100 high-impact, high-return AI use cases across key sectors, including urban planning, healthcare, finance, mobility, procurement, recruitment, compliance, and strategic decision-making. Many of these applications are already operational, while others are currently in development. The report highlights how Dubai has rapidly progressed from vision to measurable implementation, reinforcing its position as a global leader in applied, ethical, and scalable government AI. Together, the report and policy institutionalise a forward-looking model for AI in governance; one that is data-driven, citizen-focused, and future-ready. These developments signal a major milestone in Dubai's broader strategy to build a predictive, efficient, and personalised government. The report also outlines AI's role in improving social well-being, with tangible impacts in early disease detection, faster emergency response, personalised citizen engagement, and proactive public health planning. These efforts support Dubai's vision of becoming the most citizen-centric digital city in the world. At Dubai AI Week, Digital Dubai's exhibition showcases live demonstrations of many of the featured use cases, including intelligent hiring platforms, dynamic resource optimisation tools, and strategic planning systems — all designed to scale in alignment with the city's digital transformation agenda. The report concludes with an ambitious vision for AI in Dubai through 2035. Key pillars include predictive public services, agile governance aligned with international standards, affordable high-performance computing, carbon-conscious digital infrastructure, and a robust AI research and innovation ecosystem built on public-private collaboration.
Gulf Today
23-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Hamdan witnesses Dhs2b data centre launch
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, witnessed the announcement of a groundbreaking Dhs2 billion hyperscale data centre. The facility will be developed and operated by du, the UAE's leading telecommunications and digital services provider, in collaboration with Microsoft. The announcement was made during Sheikh Hamdan's visit to Dubai AI Week 2025, which is being organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation. The week-long event runs from April 21 to 25, 2025 across multiple locations including the Museum of the Future, AREA 2071, and Emirates Towers Boulevard. The hyperscale data centre will be developed in multiple phases, progressively expanding capacity to meet the growing demand. Microsoft will serve as the primary tenant, leveraging the facility's advanced computing capabilities to support its cloud infrastructure and next-generation digital services. Sheikh Hamdan said, 'The project marks a significant investment in digital infrastructure, reinforcing Dubai's leadership in adopting the latest technologies, innovations, and digital services.' He added, 'Data is the wealth of the future and the foundation of technological progress. We remain committed to supporting local and international companies as we harness technology in innovative ways to benefit our communities.' The project marks a pivotal leap in Dubai's strategy to transform its digital ecosystem, going beyond core telecom services and establishing critical infrastructure that supports future economies. The centre will play a vital role in addressing the surging demand for AI capabilities and sovereign cloud solutions, as well as a demand for increased digital capacity across the region. The announcement of du's new hyperscale data centre project supports the objectives of the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, announced in 2024 by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The plan focuses on developing national talent, integrating AI in the government sector, and expanding data centre infrastructure in Dubai. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan witnessed the launch of Dubai's first-ever PhD programme in Artificial Intelligence, announced by the University of Birmingham Dubai during Dubai AI Week 2025. The launch of the programme marks a new chapter in Dubai's journey to become a global hub for AI, supporting the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and reinforcing the emirate's long-term vision to foster innovation through advanced education and research. Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the importance of initiatives that contribute to both local and global innovation ecosystems. 'The academic sector plays a key role in shaping our future. Its contribution is crucial in preparing the talent and expertise required to drive Dubai's future readiness,' he said. WAM
Arabian Business
22-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Du to open $545m hyperscale data centre in Dubai
Microsoft and du will collaborate to open a massive $545m data centre in Dubai. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, witnessed the announcement of the groundbreaking AED2bn ($544.5m) hyperscale data centre. The facility will be developed and operated by du in collaboration with Microsoft. Dubai data centre The announcement was made during Sheikh Hamdan's visit to Dubai AI Week 2025, which is being organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation. The week-long event runs until April 25 across multiple locations including the Museum of the Future, AREA 2071, and Emirates Towers Boulevard. The hyperscale data centre will be developed in multiple phases, progressively expanding capacity to meet the growing demand. Microsoft will serve as the primary tenant, leveraging the facility's advanced computing capabilities to support its cloud infrastructure and next-generation digital services. Sheikh Hamdan said: 'The project marks a significant investment in digital infrastructure, reinforcing Dubai's leadership in adopting the latest technologies, innovations, and digital services. 'Data is the wealth of the future and the foundation of technological progress. We remain committed to supporting local and international companies as we harness technology in innovative ways to benefit our communities.' The project marks a pivotal leap in Dubai's strategy to transform its digital ecosystem, going beyond core telecom services and establishing critical infrastructure that supports future economies. The centre will play a vital role in addressing the surging demand for AI capabilities and sovereign cloud solutions, as well as a demand for increased digital capacity across the region. The announcement of du's new hyperscale data centre project supports the objectives of the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, announced in 2024 by Sheikh Hamdan. The plan focuses on developing national talent, integrating AI in the government sector, and expanding data centre infrastructure in the city. Since its launch, the plan has driven significant progress in the development of data centres and has led to a substantial increase in investments in the sector. This centre also reinforces the role of technological advancement in shaping the future economy and enhancing quality of life. Furthermore, it reflects the UAE's commitment to global leadership in innovation and sustainability. Currently, du operates various data centre sites across the UAE, offering secure and scalable foundation for digital applications and services. Dubai AI Week 2025 is hosting participants from more than 100 nationalities, featuring more than 180 speakers, over 150 sessions and workshops, and more than 140 activities. The event brings together global thought leaders from startups, corporates, governments, and academia to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
Al Etihad
22-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses announcement of Dh2 billion hyperscale data centre at Dubai AI Week 2025
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, witnessed the announcement of a groundbreaking Dh2 billion hyperscale data centre. The facility will be developed and operated by du, the UAE's leading telecommunications and digital services provider, in collaboration with Microsoft. The announcement was made during His Highness Sheikh Hamdan's visit to Dubai AI Week 2025, which is being organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, an initiative of the Dubai Future Foundation. The week-long event runs from April 21 to 25, 2025 across multiple locations, including the Museum of the Future, AREA 2071, and Emirates Towers Boulevard. The hyperscale data centre will be developed in multiple phases, progressively expanding capacity to meet the growing demand. Microsoft will serve as the primary tenant, leveraging the facility's advanced computing capabilities to support its cloud infrastructure and next-generation digital services. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said, 'The project marks a significant investment in digital infrastructure, reinforcing Dubai's leadership in adopting the latest technologies, innovations, and digital services.' He added, 'Data is the wealth of the future and the foundation of technological progress. We remain committed to supporting local and international companies as we harness technology in innovative ways to benefit our communities.' The project marks a pivotal leap in Dubai's strategy to transform its digital ecosystem, going beyond core telecom services and establishing critical infrastructure that supports future economies. The centre will play a vital role in addressing the surging demand for AI capabilities and sovereign cloud solutions, as well as a demand for increased digital capacity across the region. The announcement of du's new hyperscale data centre project supports the objectives of the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence, announced in 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The plan focuses on developing national talent, integrating AI in the government sector, and expanding data centre infrastructure in Dubai. Since its launch, the plan has driven significant progress in the development of data centres and has led to a substantial increase in investments in the sector. This centre also reinforces the role of technological advancement in shaping the future economy and enhancing quality of life. Furthermore, it reflects the UAE's commitment to global leadership in innovation and sustainability. Currently, du operates various data centre sites across the UAE, offering secure and scalable foundation for digital applications and services. Dubai AI Week 2025 is hosting participants from over 100 nationalities, featuring more than 180 speakers, over 150 sessions and workshops, and more than 140 activities. The event brings together global thought leaders from startups, corporates, governments, and academia to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
