Dubai AI Festival 2025: Global AI Innovation Takes Center Stage in Dubai
The Dubai AI Festival 2025 showcased the emirate’s growing influence in artificial intelligence and fintech, combining high-profile announcements with insightful discussions. Held at Madinat Jumeirah as part of Dubai AI Week 2025, the two-day festival drew over 5,000 business leaders, 500 investors, and 100 exhibitors from 100 countries. Organized by the Dubai AI & Web3 Campus in partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the event provided a lively arena for networking, partnerships, and high-impact AI initiatives. Beyond the official agenda, headline-making news – including PayPal’s decision to establish its Middle East headquarters in Dubai – underscored the city’s emergence as a global hub for technology and finance.
PayPal Selects Dubai as Middle East Hub
One of the festival’s biggest news moments came as PayPal announced it has chosen Dubai for its first-ever Middle East and Africa regional headquarters. Speaking during a fireside chat at the event, Suzan Kereere, President of Global Markets at PayPal, confirmed the launch of a new Dubai hub that will serve as the company’s main operational center for 80 countries across the Middle East and Africa. The office, located in Dubai Internet City, marks a major expansion for the digital payments giant in the region.
Dubai’s leadership hailed the move as a vote of confidence in the city’s fintech ecosystem. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance, met with PayPal executives during the festival and congratulated PayPal on opening its new regional hub. He noted that PayPal’s choice “shows how the city is becoming a top spot for future financial services,” aligning with Dubai’s D33 economic agenda to rank among the world’s top four financial centers.
Kereere’s key takeaway: PayPal’s expansion is aimed at leveraging Dubai’s supportive environment to better serve customers across MEA. With over 430 million users in 200+ countries and nearly $1.7 trillion in payment volume processed in 2024, PayPal is positioning itself to tap the region’s booming digital economy. Kereere praised Dubai’s push for technological innovation, suggesting that a strong regulatory framework and digital infrastructure in the UAE were decisive factors in PayPal’s regional strategy.
Major Speakers and Key Insights
Dubai AI Festival 2025 attracted an impressive roster of over 100 speakers from top global organizations, including government leaders, fintech executives, and AI pioneers. Across keynotes and panels, these speakers provided industry insight and human-centric perspectives on AI’s future. Notable speakers included:
- H.E. Essa Kazim – Governor, DIFC: In his opening remarks, Kazim highlighted Dubai’s vision of becoming a global nexus for fintech and AI. He emphasized how innovations in AI are transforming financial services and reinforced Dubai’s commitment to a business environment that encourages new ideas and builds trust.
- H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama – Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy & Remote Work: Al Olama underscored the importance of talent and ethics in AI development, advocating for responsible AI governance to ensure technology benefits society.
- Suzan Kereere – President of Global Markets, PayPal: Kereere noted that fintech and AI are increasingly intertwined, from AI-driven fraud detection to personalized customer experiences. She emphasized Dubai’s unique role as a launchpad for fintech innovation.
- Prof. Yoav Shoham – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, AI21 Labs: Shoham shared insights on generative AI and large language models, urging businesses to embrace AI’s potential while investing in transparency and bias mitigation.
- Gareema Kaaushik – Chief Digital Officer, Al Fardan Exchange: Kaaushik discussed leveraging AI for customer engagement and fraud prevention, highlighting the human impact of AI in banking and payments.
“Helping people learn and grow in AI will help everyone… we want to give people the tools and support they need to use AI in a way that helps the world.” – Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai
Day 1 Highlights – Fintech Focus and Industry Announcements
Day 1 launched Dubai AI Festival 2025 with a focus on fintech innovation and strategic initiatives. Official welcomes by Essa Kazim and Omar Al Olama framed the event’s significance: Dubai is poised to leverage AI across sectors, especially in finance.
A centerpiece of Day 1 was the fireside chat with PayPal’s Suzan Kereere, where she formally announced PayPal’s new Middle East and Africa headquarters in Dubai. Beyond PayPal, Day 1 featured panels on AI in banking, regulatory sandboxes, and venture investment. The evening was marked by high-profile networking events, with attendees noting the vibrant tech scene and forming new partnerships.
Day 2 Highlights – Innovation, Talent and Future Roadmaps
Day 2 shifted into future-forward gear, highlighting cutting-edge innovation and the importance of talent development. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum visited the exhibition, engaging with innovators and reinforcing leadership support.
Prof. Yoav Shoham’s keynote on generative AI captivated the audience, while panels of GCC fintech CEOs discussed how AI is reshaping customer experience in banking. The Global Prompt Engineering Championship 2025 crowned four champions, celebrating the next generation of AI talent.
Final sessions addressed AI roadmaps and governance, with announcements of sandbox regulations and plans to launch a Dubai AI Partnership Network.
Conclusion: Dubai Cements Its Role as an AI & Fintech Hub
Dubai AI Festival 2025 succeeded in being more than just a conference – it was a springboard for tangible progress in AI and fintech. Over two days, it combined industry relevance with human insight. Global companies publicly affirmed Dubai as their Middle East innovation base, and policymakers outlined frameworks to steer the AI revolution responsibly.
In the words of one speaker, “Dubai has always been quick to embrace the future.” The Dubai AI Festival 2025 showed that this ethos is stronger than ever. Dubai’s blend of vision, innovation, and inclusive growth is driving it to the forefront of the AI and fintech world – and the journey has only just begun.
