30 Tech Companies From 13 Countries Participate In 8-Week DCAI Accelerator Program

Thirty companies from 13 countries around the world took part in the accelerator program of the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI).

Following its success, the DCAI announced the next phase of the program.

During the eight-week event, which took place in area 2071, participating companies developed more than 300 AI-based projects aimed at solving 100 challenges given by 33 government entities in Dubai.

DCAI then announced on Thursday what will happen next in the program, revealing that among the projects, 72 will be developed and worked on based on two main pillars: the future of government services and the future of the media and communication services sector.

The accelerator program was launched in June by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai who also serves as chairman of Dubai Executive Council and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation. It was created to support Dubai government entities with future technology.

During the event, the Crown Prince of Dubai visited AREA 2071 and met with participating entrepreneurs and innovators.

Shedding light on the final stage of the program, DCAI director Saeed Al Falasi explained how the projects will help the Dubai government employ AI tools in upcoming projects and stay up-to-date when it comes to new technology.

"Through this program, Dubai has presented a new global model of partnership between the government and private sectors and those with innovative ideas to anticipate the future uses of AI, and employ its tools to enhance the quality of life and develop its future opportunities," he said, according to WAM.

He went on to share that DCAI — which is supervised by the Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Media Council and Dubai Digital Authority — will work to empower the "government employees with AI tools and skills to develop qualitative, practical and applicable solutions on a large scale, as well as support entrepreneurs in this field by providing partnership and financing opportunities."

The accelerator program received applications from 615 tech companies, of which only 30 were selected. Shortlisted applicants were from countries like Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Canada, Pakistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Singapore, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, the Crown Prince of Dubai announced the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, noting that its winner would receive a prize of AED 1 million. He also explained at the time that the championship was aligned with Dubai's efforts to become a platform for generative AI startups.