Abu Dhabi AI pioneer G42 Group gets $1.5b investment from Microsoft

Microsoft is making a substantial investment of $1.5 billion in G42, an AI-focused tech entity based in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. This move aims to bolster collaboration between the two companies in deploying cutting-edge Microsoft AI technologies and educational initiatives in the UAE and beyond.

Brad Smith, Vice-Chair and President of Microsoft, will also join G42’s Board of Directors as part of this expanded partnership. The joint efforts will enable businesses of all scales in new markets to leverage AI and cloud solutions effectively, as stated by G42 in a recent announcement.

Additionally, the alliance intends to nurture a skilled and diverse AI workforce in the region, with a significant portion of the investment, $1 billion, dedicated to supporting tech developers through a dedicated fund.

According to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of G42, Microsoft’s investment signifies a strategic alignment in vision and execution, reflecting shared values and a commitment to progress and cooperation on a global scale.

The partnership is underpinned by a commitment to adhere to US and UAE government regulations concerning AI development and deployment, ensuring adherence to world-class best practices for security, trust, and responsible use of AI technologies.

G42 and Microsoft have already collaborated on various projects, including joint initiatives to develop AI solutions tailored for the public sector and industry. They have also worked on introducing sovereign cloud offerings and advancing advanced AI capabilities on the Azure public cloud platform.

Looking ahead, both companies aim to extend their collaboration beyond the UAE, working together to bring AI, digital infrastructure, and services to underserved regions while maintaining the highest standards for safe, trusted, and responsible AI deployment in coordination with relevant governments.