Dubai AI Campus: 1,000 AI companies and 5,000 jobs by 2030 — and a new building in DIFC Zabeel

Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan has approved a new target for Dubai AI Campus: more than 1,000 artificial intelligence companies and more than 5,000 specialised jobs by 2030. The decision was announced on 26 October 2026 at the opening of the third Dubai AI Festival.

What is Dubai AI Campus?

It is a cluster of AI companies inside DIFC, Dubai’s financial centre. The campus launched in May 2024. It runs the festival where the new target was announced together with the office of the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence.

Why was the target doubled?

Because the first one was met early. The original plan was 500 AI companies by 2028. The campus passed that mark two years ahead of schedule.

According to DIFC, campus companies have raised more than AED 1 billion in private equity and venture capital and created more than 2,000 specialised technology jobs.

Metric	Now	Target for 2030
AI companies	more than 500	more than 1,000
Jobs	more than 2,000	more than 5,000
Investment raised	more than AED 1 billion	—

Where will the new campus building be?

In DIFC Zabeel, the new expansion of Dubai’s financial centre. A dedicated 100,000 sq ft building is planned for the campus. No completion date has been given yet.

The plans include labs where government bodies and private companies can test their solutions, secure AI development zones, GPU-ready computing infrastructure and digital twin environments. There will also be an AI Experience Centre open to visitors.

What is DIFC Zabeel?

The largest financial-centre expansion in the region: about 17.7 million sq ft of built space and a budget of more than AED 100 billion. Planned capacity is 42,000 companies and 125,000 jobs. The first visitors are expected by 2030 and the full master plan by 2040.

Beyond offices, the plan includes apartments, schools, hotels and a retail street. We covered the project in detail in DIFC Zabeel: Dubai’s AED 100bn expansion of its financial centre.

How big is this against DIFC as a whole?

At the end of the first half of 2026, DIFC had 10,018 active companies, up 30% year on year. Almost 2,000 of them work in AI, fintech and innovation. A thousand campus companies is a visible share, but not the whole of DIFC’s growth.

The AI bet is not new: in spring DIFC said it would become the first financial centre built on artificial intelligence. More in DIFC to become the world’s first AI-native financial centre.

What does it mean for offices in DIFC?

The shortage stays. Occupancy in the financial centre was close to 99.5% at the start of 2026, and there is no free land inside the current perimeter. The new campus building will absorb demand only once it is finished; until then, companies will compete for space in existing towers.

Prices and rents under that shortage are in DIFC offices at 2% vacancy: what a square foot costs.

What does it mean for housing nearby?

Rental demand close to the office. AI specialists earn well and usually live near work: in DIFC itself, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Za’abeel and City Walk.

The usual caveat for any 2030 target applies: judge it by delivery — company and job counts — not by announcements. How DIFC’s growth feeds the housing market around it is covered in DIFC passes 10,000 companies and $1.2 trillion under management.

Frequently asked questions

How many AI companies does Dubai want at Dubai AI Campus by 2030?

More than 1,000 companies and more than 5,000 specialised jobs. Sheikh Hamdan approved the new target on 26 October 2026.

How many companies are on the campus now?

More than 500. The campus launched in May 2024 and met its “500 companies by 2028” goal two years early.

Where will the new Dubai AI Campus building be?

In DIFC Zabeel, the expansion of Dubai’s financial centre. The building will have 100,000 sq ft; no completion date has been announced.

Can you buy an apartment in DIFC Zabeel?

Not yet: apartments are in the master plan, but the district expects its first visitors by 2030. Ready homes near DIFC today are in DIFC itself, Downtown and Za’abeel.