Microsoft will deliver an expanded program available to all educational institutions in the UAE, including 10,000 teachers and 150,000 students at GEMS private schools, to embed AI literacy and practical skills at every learning level.
microsoft hosted the Dubai edition of the Global AI Tour, bringing together leaders from government, education and industry to explore how artificial intelligence can drive innovation, productivity and sustainable growth across the UAE. The event featured keynotes, developer experiences, and customer showcases demonstrating how organizations are turning the potential of AI into real-world impact.
During the event, Microsoft announced Microsoft Elevate UAE, an expansion of its global skills development initiative. Building on the company’s existing commitment to skill one million people in the region by the end of 2027, Microsoft Elevate UAE will provide in-demand AI skills to more than 250,000 students, staff, faculty and staff, and more than 55,000 government employees through ongoing programs and partnerships and cutting-edge AI tools. Microsoft will deliver an expanded program available to all educational institutions in the UAE, including 10,000 teachers and 150,000 students at GEMS private schools, to embed AI literacy and practical skills at every learning level.
“For more than 30 years, Microsoft has partnered with the UAE to expand opportunity through technology. This investment strengthens that partnership by developing talent to transform AI, giving people the skills to unlock their potential and enabling industry to innovate and improve lives.”
– Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President, Microsoft
At AI Tour Dubai, Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft, delivered the opening keynote and joined Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, and Samer Abu-Ltaif, President of Microsoft EMEA, for a roundtable discussion to discuss the next steps in the companies’ partnership and Microsoft’s recently announced $15.2 billion investment in the UAE. Smith highlighted how this investment will bring together technology, talent and trust to strengthen the nation’s AI infrastructure, develop regional capabilities and expand opportunities across all sectors of the economy. He highlighted Microsoft’s commitment to ensuring that its investments directly contribute to the UAE’s long-term vision for innovation, education and inclusive growth.
AI Tour is Microsoft’s global flagship series, bringing the company’s latest AI innovations to key audiences across priority markets. The Dubai edition served as a rallying point for the region’s AI ecosystem, combining customer stories, immersive product experiences, and live technology demonstrations showcasing the impact of AI. New this year, Connection Hub has highlighted startup success stories from local UAE entrepreneurs. PRYPCO is a real estate technology startup based in Dubai. Otera is an agent automation platform that provides enterprise-grade AI solutions. Ahead of the event, Brad Smith met with these founders to celebrate their contribution to the UAE’s growing innovation landscape and reinforce Microsoft’s commitment to empowering the local startup community.
Building on this momentum, Microsoft also announced the next phase of its collaboration with G42 and the JAHIZ platform to train and certify 55,000 UAE federal government employees in AI over the next 12 months. The program combines foundational skills with practical applications to help public sector professionals leverage AI to improve service delivery and innovation. Additionally, Microsoft continues to offer leadership development programs focused on responsible AI adoption and digital transformation for senior government executives.
“AI is one of the most transformative opportunities of our time, and nowhere is this more evident than here in the UAE. We are proud to stand alongside our visionary partners as we bring Microsoft Elevate UAE to life.Together, we will transform this country’s bold AI vision into meaningful progress, equip educators with Copilot, equip students with future-ready skills, and empower government workers to responsibly and effectively deploy AI. There is incredible momentum and impact, and we are excited to continue to strengthen our collaboration in the UAE and contribute to a future where everyone has access to innovation and opportunity.”
– Amr Kamel, General Manager, Microsoft UAE
AI Tour Dubai also featured interactive sessions and product demonstrations across Copilot, Azure OpenAI Service, and Microsoft Cloud, giving developers, IT professionals, and business leaders the opportunity to build practical skills and discover new ways to accelerate AI adoption. This event is part of Microsoft’s Global AI Tour, which visits major cities around the world to help customers and partners reap the benefits of AI responsibly and at scale.
