The inaugural Dubai AI Week, held from April 21 to 25, 2025, brought together more than 30,000 participants and experts from over 100 countries, featuring technology showcases, panel discussions, and agreements between public and private sector stakeholders. Among the many companies present, Pakistani-founded startups played an active role, contributing to the discussions and technological advancements highlighted during the event.
Dubai-based The Game Company (TGC), founded by Pakistani entrepreneur Osman Masud, launched its AI-powered cloud gaming platform during the event. The platform offers high-performance gaming that is device-agnostic and does not require a dedicated console or large download sizes, allowing users to enjoy a vast collection of over 1,300 AAA titles directly from cloud servers.
Gaming was introduced during the inauguration by Osman Masud, who graduated from LUMS and subsequently attended Harvard Business School. The business environment of Dubai facilitated the establishment of TGC’s platform, as per Masud.
Faisal Kazim, the leader of Dubai’s Gaming 2033 initiative, stated that the introduction exemplified the continued industrial transformation of AI and the emergence of new economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, online classifieds platform Dubizzle, founded by Pakistani entrepreneurs, introduced a new AI feature titled “Sell with AI.” The AI system automatically generates category information, prices, and characteristics to facilitate the creation of advertisements, thereby simplifying the process of item listing. Users are able to upload photos to the tool.
The tool is designed to improve the user experience by incorporating intuitive technological solutions, according to Haider Khan, the CEO of Dubizzle and Dubizzle Group MENA. The company’s leadership is comprised of Pakistani founders and administrators Imran Ali Khan and Zeeshan Ali Khan and Areeb Pasha.
In addition to exclusive corporate presentations, Dubai AI Week featured discussions regarding the impact of AI on organizational strategic planning. Based on preliminary findings from IBM and the Dubai Future Foundation study, organizations that appoint a chief AI officer for the organization experience up to 10% higher returns on their AI investments, according to Shukri Eid of IBM Gulf Levant and Pakistan.
The University of Birmingham Dubai established its inaugural Artificial Intelligence PhD program in Dubai during the event. The program is focused on smart cities, healthcare, sustainability, and future mobility initiatives. In partnership with Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, Udacity, and other educational institutions, the Dubai AI Academy commenced operations to provide training to 10,000 emergent and experienced leaders.
The Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, expressed plans to expand Dubai AI Week significantly in 2026, aiming to double the number of events and attract even broader international participation.
Pakistani-founded startups’ active participation in Dubai AI Week 2025 reflects a growing presence in the global AI and tech ecosystem, with contributions focused on practical applications across gaming, e-commerce, and innovation-driven sectors.