Omar Al Olama: Our success in artificial intelligence will motivate everyone to move forward

Dubai, 12 October / WAM / His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, confirmed that the UAE’s investment in artificial intelligence began in 2008, when Abu Dhabi was investing in electronic chips and in international companies specialized in artificial intelligence.

This came within Expand North Star, which is the largest global platform for startups and investors and is held within the GITEX Global 2025 events in Dubai Harbour, with the participation of more than 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries.

The scientists said, “We do not think like other countries think, but rather look to the future from a long-term perspective. We started investing in artificial intelligence very early and at a time when no one expected us to be a major player in this field. Despite all the challenges, we prove today that we are capable of achieving leadership, and this success will motivate everyone, east and west, to advance on this path.”

He added: “We do not only aim for success, but we believe in the importance of continuous learning from all those who share this journey with us. We believe that we are the best to learn and most worthy of listening. We pledge to take every piece of advice seriously and work to implement it in a way that enhances our common aspirations for the future.”

During a session entitled “Expanding the Horizons of the Digital Future: How Emerging Technologies Will Redraw the Map for Startups in the Next Decade,” Hatem Dowidar, Global CEO of e& Group, said: “With the development of the technical landscape and changing customer needs, we may witness shifts in companies’ investment standards in addition to the emergence of new opportunities with technologies such as the fifth generation standalone / 5G standalone / or generation / 5.5G, which will provide a broad start for innovative business models and new startup companies. We must also ensure that artificial intelligence is governed optimally to ensure data integrity and protect privacy. For example, within our system, we have implemented an integrated artificial intelligence governance system that ensures data anonymity and maintains customer privacy.”
Among the most prominent participating Emirati institutions, Brisight is one of the G42 companies and the largest big data analytics company in the region. A year after the launch of the Brisight Artificial Intelligence Accelerator in the 2024 edition with the aim of nurturing and accelerating emerging companies in their early stages, the event revealed the first batches that now have prototypes ready to enter the market.
The BriSight Artificial Intelligence Accelerator is the first Emirati program dedicated to accelerating startups in the field of artificial intelligence and the first program launched by a listed technology company in the Middle East.

The program leverages BriSight’s technical expertise, corporate partnerships and client base to provide direct business pathways for startups along with access to world-class infrastructure and advanced education opportunities.
Thomas Pramutidham, CEO of PreSite, said: “There are many accelerator programs around the world, but what distinguishes our program is that we are building a global platform. The Emirates and Abu Dhabi have become the capital of artificial intelligence and the place where technology meets innovation. Through the G42 system and the arrival of the global Emirates, we provide our batches with not only computing capabilities and expertise, but also real business opportunities, and since then these companies have met with the ambassadors.” institutions and the most prominent stakeholders in the public and private sectors.”
The presentation confirmed BriSight’s growing position in driving the AI ​​innovation scene in the UAE, as it presented 10 high-potential startups from around the world working to develop artificial intelligence solutions with real-world impact.
Pramutidham’s participation coincided with BriSight signing a partnership with the UAE Cyber ​​Security Council as part of a series of cooperation concluded on the eventful opening day.

Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, explained the impact of entrepreneurs in supporting the national security mission, saying, “Cybersecurity is an integral part of our identity and everything we do. Amidst this technological momentum, whether it is artificial intelligence today or quantum computing tomorrow, safety and security will remain two basic pillars for empowering the new generation of startups and ensuring the optimal use of technologies. As the UAE is focused on “Our digital transformations are human-driven and we see many entrepreneurs and ambitious thinkers supporting our national security and critical infrastructure.”

The 2025 edition, with the participation of 180 countries, sets a record for international attendance within Expand North Star, as Apex Brasil, the trade and investment promotion agency in Brazil, is the first state partner in the history of the event, and through two pavilions it displays 55 emerging companies and innovation centers, specializing in artificial intelligence, fintech, and others.
The Expand North Star 2025 edition presents the largest showcase of unicorn companies to date with more than 40 companies, most notably Psi Quantum from the United States, a $68 billion company working on building the first fault-tolerant quantum system, and Talabat from Kuwait, the leading regional platform for on-demand ordering and delivery, worth $8.5 billion.
The list also included Andalusia Labs from the UAE, a global leader in digital asset risk architecture and one of the fastest unicorn companies in history, reaching a value of $1 billion within 11 months of launch, and Carousel from Singapore, one of the fastest growing e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia.
From Europe and North America to Asia and the Middle East, the event hosts elite multinational banking institutions, venture capital institutions, as well as investment institutions looking for the next generation of companies capable of shaping the future of technology and innovation.
The institutions include: JP Morgan (United States), Daiwa Capital Management (Japan), Eurasio (France), Octopus Energy Generation (United Kingdom), Qatar National Bank (Qatar), Raiffeisen Bank (Austria), Samsung Ventures (Japan), and SBI Ventures (Germany).

The activities of the Expand North Star exhibition were launched within the activities of GITEX Global 2025, beginning its tenth session, which is considered the largest in the world in connecting emerging companies with investors, with the participation of thousands of visitors from inside and outside the country. It is organized by the Dubai World Trade Center and hosted by the Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy. Its activities continue in Dubai Harbor from the 12th to the 15th of this October, with the participation of an elite group of pioneers. Businesses, investors, founders, executives and global experts as well as strategic partners from the public and private sectors from around the world.

The event offers an integrated program of events and specialized dialogue sessions that focus on opportunities for financing, expansion, and concluding investment deals to enhance comprehensive digital growth and support emerging artificial intelligence economies around the world.

The exhibition coincides with the “UAE: Start-up Capital of the World” initiative, which aims to confirm the country’s position as a global center for entrepreneurship and innovation and provide 30,000 new jobs by 2030, in addition to launching ten “unicorn” companies by 2031, thus strengthening the UAE’s position as a premier destination for entrepreneurship and quality investment.

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