The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged a significant investment of $1 billion through its “AI for Development Initiative,” announced during the G20 leaders’ summit held in Johannesburg. This initiative aims to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and AI-enabled services across Africa, marking a strategic move for the UAE as it seeks to support development on the continent.
The announcement was made by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who led the UAE delegation at the summit on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed. According to Saeed Al Hajeri, UAE Minister of State, the initiative will facilitate access to AI computing power, technical expertise, and foster global partnerships, aiding African nations in various sectors such as education, agriculture, health care, digital identity, and climate adaptation.
According to a 2025 study conducted by TRG Datacenters, the UAE ranks second globally in AI capabilities, trailing only behind the United States. The Emirates boasts over 188,000 AI chips and a total power capacity of 6.4K megawatts. The initiative is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to leverage AI for national development, aiming to enhance digital infrastructure, improve government services, and boost productivity within Africa.
Strategic Goals and Implementation
“This is AI deployed at scale to meet national development priorities – not experimental work, but practical delivery,” said Al Hajeri, emphasizing the practical aspect of the initiative. The UAE aims to ensure that these technological advancements benefit partners across the Global South, with a commitment that no country is left behind in the AI era.
This commitment follows a recent authorization from the United States, allowing the export of Nvidia’s AI chips to UAE-based AI company G42 and Saudi tech start-up Humain. This approval is seen as a crucial step for the UAE and Saudi Arabia in their broader efforts for economic diversification.
The announcement aligns with a series of bilateral agreements between the US and these Gulf nations, including the UAE’s commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the US as part of a comprehensive technology investment framework. Earlier this year, the UAE also revealed plans to establish a 5-gigawatt UAE-US AI Campus during US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Emirates.
Furthermore, the UAE has successfully cultivated numerous start-ups, partnerships, and attracted investments from major tech companies, including Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI.
Commitment to Broader Development
Al Hajeri noted that the UAE’s commitment to Africa transcends technology alone. “We are delivering large-scale clean energy projects across the continent,” he stated, highlighting the UAE’s involvement in sustainable energy initiatives. The UAE is also preparing to co-host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in partnership with the Republic of Senegal.
The UAE has emerged as a significant aid donor in Africa, providing $1.05 billion in assistance in 2023 alone. Notably, since the onset of the civil war in Sudan in 2023, the UAE has delivered $784 million in aid, according to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In terms of investments, the UAE ranks as the fourth-largest investor in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $107 billion in 2024 and total investments amounting to approximately $118.6 billion between 2020 and 2024.
This significant financial commitment underscores the UAE’s role as a pivotal player in the African development landscape, leveraging AI as a tool for driving sustainable growth and enhancing resilience in key sectors.
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