UAE AI Shifts from Experimentation to Measurable Returns, Forum Says

From Experimentation to Measurable Returns

Reporting from Dubai, participants at the ninth Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2026) said the United Arab Emirates has shifted artificial intelligence from trial stages to a source of measurable growth, pointing to trust, regulation and rapid adoption as the main drivers.

They described how the Emirates has placed itself at the forefront of the global AI economy by combining supportive rules, digital infrastructure and a willingness to deploy emerging technologies on a large scale.

The discussion showed that the region’s AI scene has moved quickly from pilot projects to practical uses that raise productivity, boost sales and draw investment.

Investment Surge and Government Push

Pablo Charron, founder and chief executive of the UAE‑based startup Ayan, said the true test of AI lies in commercial outcomes rather than technical sophistication. His firm helps brands see how AI assistants affect consumer buying decisions.

“AI impact has to be measured where the sale happens, online and in store and the UAE is the right place to build this,” Charron said. “Leaders here decide fast, and AI is already part of how the country runs every day. Nobody needs convincing, it matters. They want to know what it changes.”

The focus on returns is visible in funding figures. AI and AI‑enabled companies in the Middle East and North Africa raised $678 million in the first half of 2026, an increase of 81 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, with the United Arab Emirates accounting for 93 percent of the total, according to data cited at the forum.

Earlier in 2026 the UAE Cabinet approved a plan to operate half of government services using agentic AI within two years.

Sector Impact and Challenges

Industry leaders noted that AI is already reshaping fields such as finance, healthcare, media and marketing.

Jigar Sagar, founder of Triliv Holdings, said adoption is speeding up because organisations are beginning to see tangible value. “The value comes when it is applied to a real problem. Traditional sectors such as financial services, education and healthcare have been quick to adapt to AI, and that will change how society functions,” he said.

Varun Mayya, founder and chief executive of Aeos, told delegates that AI has dramatically changed production economics, giving examples where content‑creation costs fell from about $1,000 to $50 per hour. His firm now creates roughly 2,000 videos each month using AI‑driven workflows.

“There is one thing AI cannot do. It cannot create distribution,” he said. “AI makes products easier to build. Attention is scarce to gain. The owner of the audience wins.”

Saqr Ereiqat, secretary general of the Dubai Digital Asset Association, said the country had invested early in laying the groundwork for a digital economy. “We are just at the beginning of this curve when it comes to the digital economy powered by AI,” he said. “Trust is the new currency, and the UAE is using it to attract capital and talent.”