UAE announces $500m investment in AI, research platform

The UAE has unveiled a $500 million program to accelerate research and development into AI and other emerging technologies. (Screenshot)
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Updated 14 February 2024
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UAE announces $500m investment in AI, research platform

  • Initiative will provide access to new technology for developing countries
  • Body created to advance development of open source generative AI models

LONDON: The UAE has unveiled a $500 million program to accelerate research and development into artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

The announcement was made by the Advanced Technology Research Council on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.

The investment comprises a $200 million initiative aimed at providing access to cutting-edge technology for emerging and developing countries and the creation of the Falcon Foundation, a $300 million nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the development of open source generative AI models.

Faisal Al-Bannai, secretary general of the ATRC, said: “Our commitment is to empower every nation with the means to thrive in this technology-driven world.

“The ATRC stands ready to partner with countries worldwide, leveraging our expertise in technology to address their challenges and drive collective progress in the AI-driven era.”

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The newly established ATRC Global Tech R&D Platform will serve as a conduit for countries to leverage UAE’s technological expertise in six sectors: aerospace and space, food and agriculture, healthcare, safety and security, sustainability, environment and energy, and transport.

“By committing to absorb resource and research costs, the funding will facilitate the development of sophisticated technology solutions, empowering these nations to keep pace with the latest advancements,” the ATRC said in a press release.

According to the ATRC’s Technology Innovation Institute, the Falcon Foundation will drive knowledge sharing and expedite the democratization of AI.

“By enabling open computing resources for the continued research and development of Falcon AI, the foundation will provide a robust ecosystem to ensure the adaptability of the models across a broad spectrum of applications and contexts,” it said.

CEO Ray Johnson said: “We’re committed to fostering transparency and collaboration in AI. Extending the UAE’s collaborative spirit into AI development, we set new standards for openness and we encourage all other entities who support open source from around the world to join us.”

Last year, the institute was among the first to open source its large language model, Falcon 40B, royalty free in an effort to establish transparent governance models and encourage knowledge exchange.


Oman property price index jumps 17.3% in Q3 

Updated 28 December 2025
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Oman property price index jumps 17.3% in Q3 

JEDDAH: Oman’s real estate price index recorded a 17.3 percent increase in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to official data. 

The commercial property price index rose 14.6 percent, driven by a 19 percent increase in commercial land prices, while the cost of commercial shops fell by 8.5 percent, as per the country’s National Centre for Statistics and Information, or NCSI, based on figures from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. 

Industrial land prices posted a moderate increase of 5.5 percent, while residential property prices recorded stronger growth of 18.7 percent year on year, the Oman News Agency reported. 

The rise in Oman’s real estate price index comes amid broader momentum across Gulf property markets, where residential activity remained resilient in the third quarter of 2025. Higher demand in major cities across the region, supported by population growth and ongoing infrastructure investment, helped underpin price gains, even as some markets faced tighter financing conditions. 

“As for the residential property price index, it achieved clear growth in the third quarter of 2025, with a rate of 18.7 percent compared to the third quarter of 2024, as residential land prices increased by 19.6 percent, residential apartments by 22.4 percent, in addition to the growth of villa prices by 16.5 percent, while the prices of other houses decreased by 0.5 percent,” the ONA report stated. 

Oman’s residential land prices climbed 19.6 percent, with apartments rising by 22.4 percent, while villas increased by 16.5 percent. Prices of other types of houses saw a slight decline of 0.5 percent. 

At the governorate level, Muscat recorded the highest increase in residential land prices at 48.3 percent, followed by Musandam at 29.7 percent, Al-Dakhiliyah at 12.3 percent, Al-Batinah South at 8.7 percent, North Al Batinah at 8.1 percent, and Dhofar at 4 percent. 

On the other hand, some governorates saw declines in residential land prices, with Al-Dhahirah down 25.8 percent, Al-Buraimi down 24.6 percent, Al-Wusta down 13.3 percent, Al-Sharqiyah North down 4 percent, and Al-Sharqiyah South down 2.2 percent. 

“This increase reflects continued demand in Oman’s real estate market, with residential properties in Muscat and Musandam driving much of the growth,” the ONA report added. 

The data also show clear differences across regions, with price gains concentrated in major urban areas. Strong demand in Muscat and coastal governorates was supported by population growth, investment, and infrastructure spending, while some interior regions recorded declines as market activity softened.