UAE launches advanced Arabic AI model to reinforce regional tech leadership

The United Arab Emirates is stepping up its artificial intelligence ambitions with the launch of a new Arabic-language AI model aimed at outpacing regional competitors, Bloomberg reported.

Developed by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, the model -- named Falcon Arabic -- has been trained on a broad dataset that includes both Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects, making it one of the most comprehensive tools of its kind.

TII says Falcon Arabic delivers performance on par with AI models many times its size, reaffirming the UAE’s determination to remain a leading force in AI innovation.

Alongside it, the institute also unveiled Falcon H1, a compact model that reportedly outperforms similar offerings from global tech giants Meta and Alibaba.

Across the Middle East, tech firms are increasingly weighing the high costs of AI development against the benefits of building bespoke systems. The UAE’s latest AI rollouts underscore its intent to stay competitive in a fast-moving global race -- even as Falcon faces mounting pressure from open-source alternatives.

While the model earned top rankings in 2023 on platforms like Hugging Face, recent reports suggest its popularity and visibility have declined.

Nevertheless, the UAE is pushing ahead with broader AI investments. G42, an Abu Dhabi-based tech group, recently unveiled plans for a massive 5-gigawatt data center complex in collaboration with several U.S. firms.

MGX, a venture backed by G42, is also investing in AI infrastructure in Europe and supporting leading U.S. AI firms, including OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI. These moves reflect the UAE’s broader strategy to cement its role as a global hub in the AI revolution.