Dubai Crown Prince Meets First Companies to Earn AI Seal

Hamdan bin Mohammed met with the first group of companies that received Dubai’s AI Seal. This marks a major milestone in Dubai’s trip to become a global AI leader. The Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) launched this seal in January 2025 to promote trust and accountability in AI technologies.

The certification program puts Dubai’s AI enterprises in a pioneering position for responsible AI development. Companies must meet strict standards in six key areas to receive this prestigious recognition. These areas include security, quality, and ethical AI implementation. The AI companies that earn the seal get unique serial numbers and classifications. This creates a trusted network of technology providers. The program showed its effect during Dubai AI Week 2025, which drew 10,000 attendees from over 100 countries and featured more than 180 speakers.

The Dubai AI Seal gives certified companies an edge in government procurement and national projects. This highlights AI’s economic value to Dubai’s future. The certification program is part of Dubai’s Universal Blueprint for AI. It builds stronger bonds between government entities and technology firms while making Dubai a pioneer in AI governance frameworks.

Sheik Hamdan launches AI Seal to promote responsible AI

Dubai revealed a state-of-the-art certification initiative called the “Dubai AI Seal” in January 2025 under the directives of Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This program creates a detailed framework that verifies and promotes trustworthy artificial intelligence providers in the emirate.

Dubai AI Seal revealed during AI Week 2025

The Crown Prince of Dubai celebrated a major milestone when he met the first group of companies that received the prestigious Dubai AI Seal certification during Dubai AI Week 2025. The first-ever AI Week drew 10,000 participants from over 100 countries and featured more than 180 speakers across 150 sessions and workshops. The Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) received applications from more than 325 companies seeking this certification. Companies can now build secure partnerships between government entities and trusted technology providers through this seal.

Sheik Hamdan marked the occasion with these words: “A few months ago, we launched the Dubai AI Seal initiative to create a comprehensive framework that fosters partnerships between government entities and specialized technology companies working on AI applications in Dubai, the UAE, and beyond”.

Crown Prince emphasizes trust and innovation in AI governance

Sheik Hamdan repeatedly stressed the vital importance of responsible AI development and governance during the AI Week events. Dubai believes in preparing for the future through technology that improves quality of life and enhances government performance.

The certification process reviews AI companies in Dubai based on several strict criteria:

• Nature of AI activities and services
• Number of specialized AI engineers hired
• Current and upcoming projects
• Existing partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders

His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, Dubai Future Foundation’s CEO who oversees DCAI, explained that the initiative “will help create powerful partnerships between the public and private sectors, locally, regionally, and globally”. The Dubai AI Seal became mandatory for technology companies that wish to participate in government AI projects.

This initiative matches the Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI and stands as a crucial part of the emirate’s strategy to become a global leader in artificial intelligence development and regulation.

Dubai sets certification standards for AI companies

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The Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) has set up strict certification standards for companies that want the prestigious Dubai AI Seal. This framework makes sure only genuine AI service providers receive recognition. It creates a trusted network for both government and private sector alliances.

Review criteria include security, transparency, and partnerships

Companies need to pass a full review in six key areas to get the Dubai AI Seal. DCAI looks at their AI activities and services, the number of specialized AI engineers they’ve hired, their current and future projects, and their existing partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders. The review process looks at:

• Technical capabilities and service offerings
• AI workforce expertise and specialization
• Maturity of AI products and solutions
• Research and development presence in the UAE
• Security protocols and data governance
• Transparency in AI system development

“With the ever-increasing interest in finding strategic uses for AI, it can be challenging to determine which organizations are reputable and possess real know-how and expertise,” according to industry experts. The certification process removes uncertainty by providing a clear way to identify reliable AI providers for procurement.

Companies receive serial numbers and classification under the seal

Certified AI companies in Dubai get a unique serial number and classification under the Dubai AI Seal. The classification system has six distinct tiers—E, D, C, B, A, and S. These tiers show the company’s economic contribution to Dubai’s AI ecosystem, with S representing the highest effect.

Government entities and businesses can quickly verify a company’s legitimacy by checking the serial number on the Dubai AI Seal website. This verification system creates an efficient process to identify credible AI partners.

The Dubai AI Seal has become mandatory for companies that want to work on UAE and Dubai government projects. This requirement highlights the AI sector’s economic importance and its potential to create new jobs through stronger alliances between government entities and technology companies. The certification gives AI companies a competitive edge in government procurement while proving their credibility.

Dubai Future Foundation drives AI policy and regulation

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The Dubai Future Foundation leads Dubai’s AI strategy through its specialized unit, the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI). This partnership builds the foundation of Dubai’s growing AI governance framework.

DCAI oversees implementation and compliance

The Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence plays a key role in managing the AI Seal certification process. It evaluates applications in six key areas and ensures certified companies meet the standards for artificial intelligence Dubai initiatives. The center helps government entities evaluate candidates for the Chief Executive Officer for Artificial Intelligence position—a role each Dubai government department will create.

DCAI gives free certification to qualified technology companies with Dubai licenses that provide AI-related products or services. The center’s work goes beyond certification. It brings global AI solutions to Dubai, strengthens national talent, and boosts the quality of life for Dubai’s residents through responsible AI applications.

Blueprint for AI supports national digital transformation goals

The Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence creates a complete roadmap. It aims to add AED 100 billion to Dubai’s economy each year while boosting productivity by 50% through innovative digital solutions. This initiative directly supports the goals set by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

The yearly plan focuses on four key goals:

• Adding AI to all strategic sectors in the emirate
• Building an ideal environment for AI companies and global talent
• Providing better government services through future technologies
• Making Dubai a global center for AI governance and legislation

The first phase brings specialized AI commercial licenses to boost investments and attract AI companies to Dubai from around the world. The Blueprint creates a forward-looking model for AI in governance that utilizes data, focuses on citizens, and prepares for the future.

The Dubai AI Policy for Government Entities, shown during Dubai AI Week 2025, builds on this foundation. It creates a unified governance framework for AI use across government departments. This framework highlights explainability, human-focus, interoperability, and proactive regulation—elements that make Dubai a regional leader in responsible AI implementation.

How Dubai’s AI Seal positions it as a global tech leader

Dubai’s AI Seal initiative puts the emirate on the global technology map. This certification framework for artificial intelligence technologies creates a unique ecosystem that welcomes innovation and responsibility.

Seal offers competitive edge in government procurement

The certification program gives AI companies priority to secure government contracts and projects across the UAE. Companies must have this seal to participate in Dubai government AI initiatives. This creates a clear path for qualified providers to build public sector partnerships. Beyond procurement benefits, certified companies get marketing support through DCAI channels. This increases their visibility in public and private sectors.

Initiative attracts international AI firms to Dubai

The Dubai AI Seal has attracted huge international interest since its January 2025 launch. More than 325 companies have applied for certification. This strong response shows how the global tech community sees Dubai’s growing role in the digital world. The certification program lines up with other initiatives. These include specialized AI commercial licenses that help international technology companies set up operations in Dubai.

The program strengthens Dubai’s role as a global AI hub by building a recognized network of verified providers. Companies in this ecosystem get:

• Access to government partnerships and funding
• Integration into Dubai’s innovation community
• Participation in Dubai AI Week and related events
• Opportunities for cross-sector collaboration

Potential model for global AI governance frameworks

Dubai leads the way in responsible AI governance through its certification approach. The evaluation method looks at quality, security, and ethical considerations. This creates a model other regions can use to develop AI regulations. Dubai shows how governments can promote innovation while overseeing AI development. This could shape future global standards for artificial intelligence governance and certification.

Dubai’s AI Seal certification program marks a turning point in the emirate’s technological development. Dubai has showed its steadfast dedication to setting up strict standards that welcome breakthroughs with responsibility. The certification process evaluates companies in six key areas including security protocols, technical capabilities, and ethical considerations. This creates a foundation of trust needed for environmentally responsible AI development.

The program matters way beyond just regulation. Certified companies gain real economic advantages through special treatment in government contracts. The initiative builds stronger bonds between public entities and tech firms. It also draws global AI talent to Dubai’s expanding ecosystem.

Sheik Hamdan’s leadership plays a vital role in this vision. His focus on responsible AI governance lines up with Dubai’s Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence goals. This complete roadmap wants to add AED 100 billion yearly to Dubai’s economy. It also aims to boost productivity by 50% through trailblazing digital solutions.

The strong response of over 325 companies seeking certification proves Dubai’s growing influence in the global AI world. The Dubai AI Seal, though new, shows great promise as a model for responsible AI governance worldwide. The emirate leads the AI revolution by creating a unique ecosystem that runs on breakthroughs within a framework of accountability and trust.