Dubai launches AI Sandbox to move AI solutions from pilots to real-world use

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) launched an AI Sandbox on 28 October through Sandbox Dubai, to help local and international technology companies overcome regulatory and policy barriers that can keep promising artificial intelligence solutions stuck at the experimentation stage.

How the sandbox works

The initiative brings together startups, SMEs, established technology companies and relevant government entities, including the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), to test AI-native solutions in real-world environments. Participating companies will receive technical, policy and commercial expertise, plus tailored regulatory guidance; depending on the use case and applicable requirements, regulatory exemptions may be explored, subject to approval by the relevant authorities.

Why a sandbox is needed

Despite growing investment and adoption, research cited by the World Economic Forum says 74 percent of companies have yet to move their AI initiatives beyond experimentation. Beyond technological readiness, companies face regulatory requirements, data access, and questions about how existing policies apply to emerging technologies. The sandbox lets innovators and regulators test applications in practice, assess risks, and gather evidence to inform future policy.

Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Research, Development and Innovation at Dubai Future Foundation, said the UAE has made significant progress in AI adoption, but the next priority is ensuring promising technologies move beyond testing into practical use, with policy development keeping pace with innovation.

Who can apply

Applications are welcome from companies developing AI-native solutions in education, healthcare, transport and mobility, logistics, tourism, media and government services, among other sectors. Eligible solutions must be at minimum viable product (MVP) stage or beyond, demonstrate readiness for commercialisation, and have the potential to generate evidence that can inform policy and regulatory development. Applications close on 18 December 2026.

Organisers also cite Microsoft's Global AI Diffusion Report, which ranks the UAE first globally, with 73.3 percent of its working-age population using AI, compared with 18.8 percent globally. The AI Sandbox builds on Sandbox Dubai's wider approach, previously applied in areas including the gig economy, healthcare and real estate, and forms part of the first package of 100 transformative projects under the D33 Agenda, which aims to double Dubai's economy over the next decade and position it among the world's top three city economies.