Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Sep 28: In a move highlighting the UAE’s ambitions as a global AI hub, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at Qasr Al Shati, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday. The high-level meeting focused on accelerating AI research, innovation partnerships, and collaboration between OpenAI and UAE-based institutions, underscoring the country’s drive to become a world leader in artificial intelligence.

During the discussions, both parties explored ways to advance AI research and its practical applications across the public and private sectors, reflecting the UAE’s mission to build a robust and integrated AI ecosystem. Altman praised the UAE’s proactive AI vision, international partnerships, and policy initiatives shaping the global AI landscape.

In recognition of his contributions, Sam Altman was awarded the first-ever honorary doctorate by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate-level AI research university. The award acknowledges his role in advancing AI, fostering innovation, and cultivating global talent in the field.

The UAE has invested heavily to establish itself as a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and AI. Its strategy includes supporting homegrown AI development, fostering collaboration between government and private sectors, and forming international partnerships for access to advanced technologies—efforts aimed at securing global AI leadership while diversifying the economy beyond oil.

The country is also building one of the world’s largest AI data centers and spearheading initiatives to modernize and preserve the Arabic language using AI. These include developing digital dictionaries, AI-powered readability and linguistic tools, and Arabic language models tailored for regional applications, expanding the language’s digital presence while safeguarding cultural heritage.

The UAE continues to strengthen global ties, particularly with the United States. In May, a landmark agreement was signed to establish one of the largest AI campuses outside the US, fostering joint research and training—further reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global AI innovation hub.