Abu Dhabi is set to host a premier gathering of global artificial intelligence experts at the Machines Can Think Summit, scheduled for January 26-27, 2026. The flagship executive event will take place at the Park Hyatt Saadiyat and will bring together innovators, government decision-makers, and researchers to explore the practical implementation of AI in enterprise environments.
The summit is designed for senior business leaders, startup founders, and technology professionals, focusing on deploying AI in real-world production scenarios rather than theoretical discussions. It aims to connect the architects of AI with the enterprises scaling these technologies.
A Convergence of Global and Local AI Leadership
The event will feature over 20 world-renowned AI scientists and business leaders, with a speaker lineup that bridges global tech giants with the UAE’s strategic leadership. Confirmed speakers include H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for AI, and H.H. Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
They will be joined by international pioneers such as Manohar Paluri, VP of AI at Meta, and Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI. The summit also highlights key figures from the local ecosystem, including Faris Al Mazrui, Head of Technology at Mubadala, underscoring the collaboration between global innovators from companies like NVIDIA and Google and the UAE’s leading institutions.
From Theory to Real-World Application
The Machines Can Think Summit distinguishes itself with a focus on practical application. The agenda includes over 20 keynotes and plenary sessions where leaders will share direct experience from building and deploying AI at scale.
Attendees will also have access to more than 10 hands-on workshops focused on the operational aspects of AI systems. The program features deep-dive tracks covering the full AI stack, from infrastructure and compute to governance, safety, and enterprise scaling, complete with practical case studies from various industries.
Aligning with the UAE’s National AI Vision
The summit is strategically aligned with the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. It aims to support the nation’s ambition to become a global leader in AI and build the world’s first AI-native government.
By bringing together global innovators and key UAE stakeholders, the event serves as a platform to explore frontier science and scalable AI adoption that can directly contribute to the country’s economic and technological goals.
About Machines Can Think Summit
The Machines Can Think Summit is an executive-level AI conference focused on enterprise AI strategy, Generative AI, and the large-scale, real-world adoption of intelligent technologies. The event connects global innovators, leading UAE institutions, and government decision-makers to share insights on implementing, governing, and scaling AI responsibly.
Source: Machines Can Think
