AI news ·
Qualcomm expands UAE footprint with AI, IoT and edge innovation hub in Abu Dhabi
Qualcomm partners with UAE operator e& and opens an engineering centre in Abu Dhabi to boost AI, IIoT, and 5G edge computing. This supports smart industries and local talent growth.
Qualcomm Expands AI and IoT Development in the UAE
Qualcomm is intensifying its efforts in artificial intelligence (AI), industrial internet of things (IIoT), and edge computing by partnering with UAE operator e& and opening a new global engineering centre in Abu Dhabi. This move aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced connectivity technologies like 5G and edge AI across key sectors in the UAE.
Strategic Collaboration with e&
The partnership with e& focuses on driving digital transformation for government, enterprise, and industrial sectors. Central to this collaboration are industrial and enterprise 5G edge AI gateways that allow vertical industries to deploy AI and other technologies closer to the data source, improving efficiency, connectivity, and system responsiveness.
Work will also target edge AI devices, including PCs and extended reality tools built on Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. These devices will integrate large language models to support generative AI on-device, enabling secure AI inference from edge to cloud for enterprise and government applications. Smart mobility and safety services are additional focus areas to enhance user experience and operational safety.
Hatem Dowidar, CEO of e& group, emphasized the impact of this collaboration: “Together, we’re bringing powerful AI to the edge – from smart industrial gateways and wearables to mobility and infrastructure – enabling faster, more reliable and secure experiences across sectors like manufacturing, transport and government.”
Abu Dhabi Engineering Centre: Driving Innovation Locally and Globally
The new Qualcomm engineering centre in Abu Dhabi will play a key role in testing and developing use cases that promote 5G and edge AI adoption in industries such as energy, manufacturing, logistics, retail, and smart mobility. This hub will complement Qualcomm's global engineering network, focusing on high-performance connectivity, power-efficient computing, and intelligent systems.
The centre will collaborate with both UAE-based and international companies to support strategic initiatives, fostering technological advancements in AI, IIoT, and data centre services. It also aims to cultivate local talent and create job opportunities, strengthening the region’s technology ecosystem.
Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm’s president and CEO, stated, “This new engineering hub will focus on developing best-in-class AI and industrial IoT solutions while also cultivating local talent and fostering job creation.”
Badr Al-Olama, director general at Abu Dhabi Investment Office, added that the centre is set to contribute significantly to Abu Dhabi’s ambitions in technology, research, and infrastructure, unlocking complex solutions for critical sectors at scale.
Why This Matters for IT and Development Professionals
- Enhanced edge AI and 5G capabilities will lead to more responsive, secure, and efficient industrial and enterprise applications.
- Developers and engineers can expect new opportunities to work on AI and IoT solutions that impact sectors like manufacturing, energy, and smart mobility.
- Local engineering centres provide a platform for collaboration with global technology leaders, accelerating innovation cycles.
- Focus on on-device generative AI opens new avenues for secure and performant AI model deployment in edge environments.
For professionals interested in expanding their AI and IoT skills aligned with such industry developments, exploring practical training on edge AI and 5G technologies can be valuable. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses offer targeted learning paths in these areas.