New AI hub targets cross-border investment and market access for startups in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe
The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), through the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), has signed an agreement with the South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) to establish a dedicated trade and investment hub focused on artificial intelligence.
The initiative aims to support AI startups and investors across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe by addressing barriers to capital and market access. It will also facilitate matchmaking between companies and investors, and promote the development of regulatory and business frameworks for AI-driven trade.
The Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, will serve as the Middle East’s anchor partner for the hub. The programme is supported by additional partners across Europe.
Saeed Al Falasi, Director of DCAI, said the partnership is intended to connect ecosystems across continents to accelerate technology exchange and investment flows. He noted that Dubai’s position as a trade and finance hub makes it a strategic gateway for AI companies expanding globally.
Nick Bradshaw, Founder and Chairman of SAAIA, said the collaboration is designed to address underrepresentation of African startups in global AI markets, despite signs of strong innovation in the region. He referenced the $628 million acquisition of Tunisia-based InstaDeep by BioNTech as evidence of investor interest in the continent’s AI potential.
The hub will offer services such as investor networking, startup acceleration, and cross-border expansion support. It will also work to align stakeholders on responsible AI development, talent mobility, and regulatory convergence.
The partnership comes amid rising AI investment in the Middle East and Europe. According to IDC, spending on AI systems in the Middle East and Africa is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 29% through 2026. Africa’s AI sector, while still early-stage, is drawing attention from global firms and regional sovereign funds.
The launch of the hub adds to Dubai’s broader push to establish itself as a global centre for AI and digital economy initiatives under its D33 economic agenda.
