On Monday, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced plans to create the largest cluster of artificial intelligence companies and tech startups in the MENA region. The initiative will be known as the “Dubai AI & Web 3.0 Campus” and has been given the go-ahead through directives by the First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also acts as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for the UAE, and President of the DIFC.

Over the next five years, the Dubai AI & Web 3.0 Campus will expand to over 100,000 square feet and become a haven for entrepreneurs, tech disruptors, developers, and anyone passionate about emerging technologies. The campus will be constructed with a world-class digital infrastructure while including R&D facilities, shared workspaces, and giving access to accelerator programs to build and scale AI companies.

Governor of the DIFC, Essa Kazim, was enthusiastic about the recent announcement, noting that: “DIFC’s 2030 strategy is central to shaping the future of finance and innovation. AI is expected to inject Dh103 billion into the UAE economy by 2035 and contribute 14 percent to the country’s GDP by the decade’s end. The Dubai AI & Web 3.0 Campus will significantly contribute to this growth as a global nexus for R&D, investment, and innovation by attracting over $300 million in collective funds, 500+ global AI and Web 3.0 startups, and creating 3000+ jobs by 2028”.

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Investors and government officials hope the new initiative will catalyze local growth, attracting global startups, innovators, and industry leaders to the site and establishing a thriving local tech industry.

By seamlessly integrating physical and virtual infrastructures, the Dubai AI & Web 3.0 Campus could eventually become a preferred headquarters for leading Web 3.0 and AI companies and venture capitalists operating in the MENA region.