Dubai To Issue Licenses To Support AI And Web3 Businesses

Dubai will issue commercial licenses to help artificial intelligence and Web3 startups to set up businesses as the UAE aims to attract more investment and further digitize its economy.

The licenses will be issued by the AI and Web 3.0 Campus through the Dubai International Financial Center and will be 90% subsidized, the DIFC said on Monday.

The activities will include AI research and consultancies, IT infrastructure, technology research and development, and public networking services.

“We are confident that by granting these licenses, we will attract more global talent and investment to the region and create a culture of collaboration and innovation. This is a notable milestone for the Dubai AI and Web3 Campus and will strengthen Dubai’s position as the business destination of choice for technology-focused companies,” explained Mohammad Alblooshi, chief executive of the DIFC Innovation Hub.

Launched in June, the campus aims to form the largest cluster of AI and Web3 companies in the MENA region. DIFC aims to attract over 500 companies by 2028, bring $300 million in funds, and create more than 3,000 jobs over the next five years.

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AI has rapidly gained traction as the digital economy grows and countries continue to encourage its adoption. The technology is already in widespread use for online shopping, search engines, smart homes, data analysis, speech and face recognition systems, and more.

For businesses, AI could add between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually, according to a recent study from McKinsey. Web3, meanwhile, encompasses blockchain and general decentralization and is projected to contribute $15 billion to GCC economies annually by 2030.