Arabic language AI model launched in United Arab Emirates

DUBAI,— The United Arab Emirates announced the release of a new artificial intelligence system designed for the Arabic language on Wednesday, intensifying the Gulf’s fast-moving effort to lead in advanced digital technologies.

The model, named Falcon Arabic, was developed by Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC).

According to a press release from ATRC, the system is based on a high-quality, native Arabic dataset that reflects the diversity of dialects and expressions across the Arab world. The model is designed to compete with larger platforms in terms of performance and usability.

“AI leadership today depends on making advanced tools accessible and practical—not just building massive systems,” said Faisal Al Bannai, secretary general of ATRC.

The UAE, one of the region’s major oil producers, has committed billions of dollars toward positioning itself as a major global AI center. Emirati officials see their close relationship with the United States as a key part of gaining access to advanced computing technologies.

During a recent visit to the region, U.S. President Donald Trump said a new AI partnership with the UAE would pave the way for the Gulf country to obtain advanced semiconductors from U.S. manufacturers.

That agreement is seen as a significant step for the UAE’s technological ambitions.

Alongside Falcon Arabic, ATRC introduced Falcon H1, a system that reportedly requires less computing capacity while outperforming competing models by Meta and China’s Alibaba, the council stated.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is also expanding its AI efforts. Officials there recently formed a new company tasked with managing artificial intelligence development and infrastructure. The company plans to release a powerful Arabic-language model of its own, according to an official announcement.

(With files from Reuters)