UAE Launches $1 Billion ‘AI for Development’ Initiative for Africa
The UAE has announced a $1 billion “AI for Development” initiative to support AI projects across African countries, focusing on digital infrastructure, agriculture, education and government services...
✨ Key Highlights
The United Arab Emirates has launched a groundbreaking $1 billion "AI for Development" initiative aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence adoption across African nations. This program seeks to support AI-driven projects in vital sectors such as digital infrastructure, education, agriculture, and public services.
- The initiative was announced by H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
- It will be led by the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), the export financing arm of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), in collaboration with the UAE Foreign Aid Agency.
- H.E. Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, emphasized AI's potential for inclusive growth and building long-term technological cooperation.
- The UAE believes AI can help address challenges like food security, education, and public service delivery in Africa, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Continue Reading
Read the complete article from Tech Arena
Part of the Day's Coverage
UAE Launches $1B AI Initiative & Tech Firms Partner to Boost Africa's Digital Sector - December 2025
The United Arab Emirates has launched a $1 billion "AI for Development" initiative aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence adoption across African nations, supporting projects in digital infrastructure, education, and public services. In a separate move to strengthen infrastructure, Africa Data Centres has partnered with CSSi SA to enhance South Africa's digital capabilities by deploying racks and providing data sovereignty solutions. This collaboration aims to meet the growing demand for reliable data storage. In another partnership, Bolt and Gebeya have collaborated to provide affordable transportation for Africa's service workforce, starting in Kenya and Ghana to ease mobility challenges. Additionally, the Mauritius-based FinTech startup Black Swan has won the MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) 2025, a pan-African pitch competition focused on next-generation financial solutions.
