Abu Dhabi to host new World Economic Forum centre for frontier technologies

Abu Dhabi will become home to a new Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution following the announcement of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and the World Economic Forum.

The new centre will join the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Global Network and will focus on advancing research, policy and real-world deployment across frontier technologies including quantum computing, robotics, propulsion and space systems, and related artificial intelligence applications.

The collaboration was formalised during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, marking a further step in strengthening international cooperation on emerging technologies.

Driving frontier research and technology adoption

The Centre has been established with a mandate to drive breakthroughs in frontier research and development, contribute to global policy frameworks for emerging technologies, and support international collaboration that accelerates the transition of innovation from laboratory research to real-world implementation.

It builds on the UAE’s positioning as a testbed for innovation, supported by an agile regulatory environment and close alignment between research, policy and execution.

By joining the C4IR Global Network, Abu Dhabi becomes part of a global ecosystem of centres spanning countries including the United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan and India. The new Centre is expected to enhance the network’s collective capacity to shape global technology agendas and promote responsible adoption of advanced technologies.

Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said: “As frontier technologies accelerate, there is a growing imperative and opportunity to guide their responsible and impactful adoption. This Centre brings together research excellence, policy leadership and global collaboration in one platform, pushing the boundaries of frontier R&D while enabling breakthrough science to move beyond the lab into real-world application.”

She added that translating innovation into responsibly governed, scalable solutions would reinforce Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub for science, innovation and impact.

Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said the addition of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies would strengthen the C4IR Global Network’s ability to influence the global technology agenda. “By bringing world-class research capabilities into the Network, this Centre will support industries in translating innovation into practical, responsible solutions that advance inclusion, sustainability and trust in technology,” he said.

The Centre aims to advance research and development in critical frontier technologies while showcasing Abu Dhabi’s leadership through proof-of-concept pilots, regulatory sandboxes and global convenings.

It is expected to function both as an innovation engine and as a strategic platform to support responsible technology adoption, further strengthening the UAE’s international standing in science and advanced technology.