Microsoft to train over 300,000 in UAE with AI skills

Microsoft has expanded its global skilling initiative - Elevate - to equip more than 250,000 students, staff and faculty and more than 55,000 government employees in the UAE with AI skills.

The Microsoft Elevate UAE programme will use sustained programmes and partnerships and cutting-edge AI tools, it was announced on Thursday as the firm hosted the Dubai edition of its global AI Tour.

It will build on the company’s existing commitment in the region to skill one million people by the end of 2027.

The firm will offer programmes to all education institutions in the UAE including 10,000 teachers and 150,000 students in GEMS private schools, embedding AI literacy and hands-on skills across all levels of learning.

“For more than three decades, Microsoft has partnered with the UAE to expand opportunity through technology,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President. “Today’s investment strengthens that partnership by building the talent that makes AI transformative, empowering people with skills to unlock possibilities and enabling industries to innovate and improve lives.”

At AI Tour Dubai, Smith delivered the opening keynote and joined Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, and Samer Abu-Ltaif as the President of Microsoft EMEA for a fireside chat exploring the next phase of the companies’ partnership and Microsoft’s recently announced $15.2 billion investment in the UAE.

He highlighted how the investment brings together technology, talent and trust to strengthen the nation’s AI infrastructure, develop local capability, and expand opportunities across every sector of the economy. 

Building on this momentum, Microsoft also announced the next phase of its collaboration with G42 and the JAHIZ platform to train and credential 55,000 UAE federal government employees in AI over the next 12 months. The programme combines foundational skills with practical applications to help public-sector professionals harness AI for improved service delivery and innovation. In addition, Microsoft continues to deliver leadership development programmes focused on responsible AI adoption and digital transformation for senior government executives.