To assist nations in achieving their national development goals, the United Arab Emirates said on Saturday that it will invest $1 billion to extend AI infrastructure and AI-enabled services throughout Africa.
At the G20 leaders’ conference in Johannesburg, UAE Minister of State Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri introduced the “AI for development initiative,” promising to apply AI technology to fields including healthcare, education, and climate adaptation.
In a statement, he said, “We consider AI not just as a future industry but as a cornerstone of humanity’s future.”
“Therefore, my country is actively accelerating innovation to enhance productivity and drive significant advancements in the global economy, with a strong commitment to developing responsible and inclusive AI for the benefit of everyone.”
One of Africa’s largest investors is the United Arab Emirates; it invested more than $118 billion in Africa between 2020 and 2024, and its bilateral trade reached around $107 billion in 2024, a 28% rise from the year before.
Abu Dhabi is making significant investments in AI and intends to use American technology to construct one of the biggest data centers in the world.
The Group of 20, which unites the largest economies in the world, does not include the United Arab Emirates. However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is hosting the G20 leaders’ summit for the first time in Africa, asked the UAE to attend.
