News DeskDubai, UAE: A significant new chapter in the UAE’s technological independence was inaugurated today with the official opening of the AI Centre of Excellence (AICoE) in Dubai Knowledge Park.
Hailed as a first-of-its-kind national initiative, the Centre is a powerful collaboration between the Lakeba Group, DoxAI, AqlanX, and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). Located at UOWD’s campus, the facility is designed to serve as the engine room for the UAE’s sovereign AI strategy, merging advanced research, innovation, and commercialisation under one roof.
The core mission of the AICoE is ambitious: to build, deploy, and export sovereign AI technologies created in the Emirates—for the Emirates—and for the world, accelerating the nation’s journey towards technological self-reliance.
Speaking at the inauguration, which was attended by VIP dignitaries including Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group, and Ahmed Hamzawy, Chief Partnership Officer at Microsoft UAE, Giuseppe Porcelli, Founder, Chairman & Group CEO of Lakeba Group, stated the launch was a “declaration of intent.”
“The AI Centre of Excellence represents far more than a collaboration. It is a declaration of intent, that the UAE will lead in building sovereign AI systems with global impact,” Porcelli said. “We are transforming research into real-world innovation, accelerating the nation’s vision to be at the forefront of AI for good, for governance, and for growth.”
Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD, emphasised the academic impact, noting that the Centre will empower students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to pioneer technologies that address global challenges. This sentiment was echoed by Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park, and Dubai Science Park at TECOM Group PJSC, who highlighted the Centre’s alignment with national strategies.
“The Centre will strengthen the UAE’s and Dubai’s position as a leader in the global AI economy and a pioneering hub for higher education, in line with the nation’s Digital Economy Strategy and the Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI,” Janahi added.
Five Foundational AI Use Cases Unveiled
The AICoE’s inauguration included the showcase of five flagship AI systems, representing the first wave of research-to-commercialisation initiatives:
- AI-Powered Talent Intelligence & Learning Analytics: Adaptive systems designed to map skills, predict workforce needs, and personalise learning for government, academia, and industry.
- Sovereign Language Models & Multilingual AI (Arabic LLMs): Large Language Models trained and deployed within the UAE to enable secure, culturally aligned generative AI services for public and private sectors.
- The AI Factory: Modular micro-data centres built for high-density AI workloads, serving as a next-generation testbed for energy-efficient AI and smart-grid integration.
- AI for Analysis of Temnographic Electromagnetic Data: A research initiative exploring how AI-driven pattern recognition can enhance diagnostic capabilities in novel technologies detecting electromagnetic field disturbances in biological tissues.
- AI for Cyber Risk Analysis and Mitigation (CRAM): A research initiative focused on developing an autonomous, sovereign cybersecurity framework capable of analysing and mitigating risks across both IT infrastructure and AI systems.
Microsoft Commits to Skilling Partnership
Further bolstering the Centre’s resources, Microsoft UAE announced a major commitment to supporting talent development at UOWD and within the AICoE over the next 12 months.
Microsoft’s support package includes:
- AI Fundamentals training for all students, faculty, alumni, and administrators.
- Advanced industry learning resources to bridge academic and enterprise use cases.
- Free Microsoft Certification vouchers for students completing AI learning pathways.
- The launch of a Women in Cyber initiative with G42, enabling top female students to earn advanced cyber certifications.
This collaboration aligns with Microsoft’s global focus on the three pillars of Technology, Talent, and Trust, reinforcing the Centre’s ability to execute its mandate to build the next generation of intelligent systems aligned with national priorities.
