UAE launches $1 billion “AI for Development” initiative to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation

The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a landmark $1 billion programme aimed at expanding artificial-intelligence capacity across Africa as the continent enters a new phase of large-scale digital development.

The initiative, announced on 22 November 2025 during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg by UAE Minister of State Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, will support African governments in deploying AI tools, cloud-computing infrastructure and specialised training across strategic sectors.

According to official statements and regional economic reports, the programme will prioritise:
• National AI data-centre development
• Cloud-infrastructure expansion and computing-power access
• AI use cases in healthcare, agriculture, education and climate resilience
• Funding for African startups focused on fintech, digital governance and logistics
• Technical-skills training through dedicated AI academies

Africa currently accounts for less than 3% of global AI activity, largely due to limited computing resources and talent shortages. The UAE’s initiative aims to close this gap by providing financing, expertise and long-term development partnerships.

The programme will be managed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) in coordination with the UAE’s foreign-aid agencies. African governments will be eligible to submit project proposals from early 2026.

Analysts say the initiative strengthens the UAE’s role as a strategic digital-development partner for Africa, amid increasing competition from the U.S., China and the European Union. It may also help accelerate the continent’s progress in areas such as fintech regulation, cloud-based public services, data governance and AI-driven cybersecurity frameworks.