- Lakeba Group, UOWD, DoxAI, and AqlanX launched the Gulf’s first AI Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi to advance the UAE’s sovereign AI capabilities.
- The Centre will focus on AI R&D, talent development, startup incubation, and commercialisation aligned with the UAE National AI Strategy 2031.
- The initiative strengthens UAE-Australia collaboration, combining academic leadership, industry expertise, and public-private partnerships to drive regional AI innovation.
Lakeba Group, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), DoxAI, and AqlanX have opened the Gulf region's first-ever AI Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi, a major milestone in developing the United Arab Emirates' sovereign artificial intelligence capabilities. The Centre will operate under UOWD's academic and research leadership, utilising Australian-developed intellectual property and frameworks, led by Global Group CEO Marisa Mastroianni. The hub would be intended to drive applied research, workforce development, and public-private partnership in the UAE's fast-expanding technology industry.
The project comes in the wake of a reaffirmed commitment to UAE-Australia bilateral relations. During a visit by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in September, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized common vision in technology, education, investment, and sustainability. Lakeba, with long-standing alliances with Microsoft and Intel, is at the forefront of the initiative and is the sole Australian company in the UAE NextGen FDI Consortium, stressing the growing footprint of Australian technology in the country.
The Centre was launched as part of the UAE's NextGen FDI drive, spearheaded by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, to get the private sector involved in defining the country's digital revolution. The drive aims to create a lively ecosystem that hosts best-in-class companies and talent, facilitate the development of AI expertise, research, and infrastructure. In the words of Dr. Al Zeyoudi, the AI Centre of Excellence will be a beacon for developing future generations of AI professionals while supporting the UAE's overall economic and technological aspirations.
Developing homegrown AI capabilities from research and development to intellectual property commercialisation, aligned with regional needs, is a core aim of the Centre. It will finance local R&D, develop talent pipelines, incubate startups, and spur commercialisation of products that are in line with the UAE's culture and economic ambitions. Some of the main focus areas are Arabic language models, automation platforms in energy, healthcare, and education sectors, and systems for achieving national targets. The Centre will also serve as the formal R&D headquarters of AqlanX, in support of the UAE's National AI Strategy 2031 and wider digital economy initiatives.
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The partnership explicitly defines roles for partners. UOWD offers academic and research leadership, Lakeba Group offers global venture-building skills and technology partnerships, DoxAI offers automation tools and engineering expertise, and AqlanX offers commercialisation and infrastructure integration. The partnership covers research, product development, and market deployment together. The CEO of Lakeba Group, Giuseppe Porcelli, characterized the venture as an example of bringing together academia, government, and enterprise to define the future of AI.
The pillars of the Centre are AI talent incubation by UOWD students and staff, sovereign AI R&D, commercialisation by way of joint ventures, and inputs towards responsible AI policy and cyber-ethics. These activities should yield scalable, trusted AI solutions developed in the UAE for local and global markets. Marisa Mastroianni underlined the significance of the partnership, pointing to its ability to provide students with experiential learning in top-tier research, technology, and industry, equipping them to become leaders in AI innovation. Demetrio Russo, Co-Founder and CEO of AqlanX, said that the Centre marks a turning point for the region, developing homegrown talent, local intellectual property, and solutions that can make global impact.
The launch is seen as a milestone in the UAE's evolution from being a consumer of technology to a contributor, strengthening bilateral co-operation with Australia while developing trusted regional substitutes for global technology platforms. By focusing on sovereignty, inclusiveness, and national value, the AI Centre of Excellence is poised as a pillar of the UAE's future digital economy and as a regional driver of innovation.
