Reported by Gold 101.3 FM – UAE’s No.1 Malayalam Radio Station
The United Arab Emirates has achieved 15th place in the latest Global AI Competitiveness Index, according to a comprehensive study conducted by Deep Knowledge Group. The ranking highlights the UAE’s growing strength in artificial intelligence across the biotechnology, healthcare, and longevity sectors.
The UAE outperformed several major nations, including India, Australia, Spain, Belgium, and Finland, reflecting the country’s rapid progress in AI-driven healthcare innovation and digital transformation.
The global survey assessed more than 8,000 companies, 4,200 investors, and 240 innovation hubs involved in advancing AI technologies in healthcare and biotechnology. The committee behind the index included prominent international figures such as Jennifer Shipley, King Au, and Rudolf Scharping.
In the city rankings, Abu Dhabi secured 17th position globally, ranking ahead of established smart cities such as Seoul and Toronto. The report credited Abu Dhabi for its strong advancements in healthcare digitisation, AI-enabled clinical services, preventive healthcare solutions, and investment in life sciences.
The report also recognised the contribution of Dubai through initiatives including NABIDH, Dubai Healthcare City, and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences. These initiatives have helped strengthen AI-powered healthcare services, medical tourism, preventive medicine, and digital healthcare platforms in the emirate.
Unlike broader AI rankings, this edition focused specifically on biomedical AI deployment readiness. The study evaluated whether countries possess the infrastructure, digital healthcare systems, regulatory frameworks, talent, and investment capabilities needed to successfully implement AI in real-world healthcare environments.
The UAE was categorised as one of the world’s leading “non-traditional leaders” in AI. According to the report, the country’s success is driven by state-backed healthcare modernisation, strong digital-health infrastructure, supportive regulations, capital investment, and practical implementation strategies.
Speaking about the findings, Dmitry Kaminskiy said Abu Dhabi is increasingly positioning itself as a major hub for AI-enabled biomedicine. He highlighted the role of M42 in areas such as genomics, precision medicine, and AI-driven healthcare, along with Malaffi, which supports connected healthcare systems through data-sharing platforms.
Kaminskiy also noted that Dubai plays a complementary role by supporting commercial healthcare ecosystems, private healthcare innovation, and AI-based preventive care services.
The report concluded that the next phase of global AI leadership will depend not only on research capabilities but also on the ability to create safe, regulated, and scalable biomedical AI systems. In this transition, the UAE stands out for successfully combining healthcare digitisation, infrastructure development, investment, and innovation into a unified national strategy.
The study further identified the Middle East as one of the fastest-growing regions for AI in healthcare and biotechnology, driven by strong government support and strategic investments. However, challenges related to interoperability and data-sharing still remain across the region.
