Dubai Holding and Palantir Form Aither — UAE’s First Operational AI Joint Venture

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Dubai Holding, a major global investment group, has teamed up with Palantir Technologies to establish Aither, identified as the first operational artificial intelligence joint venture in the UAE. The move follows an 18-month collaborative phase that yielded demonstrable improvements across Dubai Holding’s businesses.

The agreement signing in Dubai was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and His Excellency Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, and was formalised by Amit Kaushal, Group CEO of Dubai Holding, alongside Noam Perski, Executive VP at Palantir.

Proven Results Over 18 Months

Beginning in early 2024, Dubai Holding implemented Palantir’s data and AI platforms across its portfolio, improving operational workflows, speeding decision cycles and increasing transparency across real estate, hospitality, finance and infrastructure operations. Prominent entities such as Nakheel, Meraas, and Jumeirah have already experienced measurable benefits from these deployments.

Scaling AI Across the UAE

Aither is designed to institutionalise AI practices in Dubai and provide a scalable platform for both public and private organisations to adopt advanced analytics and machine learning. By combining Dubai Holding’s market knowledge with Palantir’s engineering and software capabilities, the venture intends to bolster competitiveness, streamline operations and surface new value opportunities.

In line with the UAE’s Digital Transformation Agenda D33, Aither is projected to contribute towards an estimated AED100 billion in digitally driven economic value annually. The joint venture will also prioritise workforce upskilling, transfer of local AI expertise and the establishment of governance standards to ensure responsible, sustainable deployment.

Driving Economic Diversification

Providing access to proven AI tools and practices, Aither reinforces Dubai’s position as a technology and innovation hub and supports broader economic diversification objectives. Its focus on strategic commercial sectors seeks to advance the UAE’s leadership in applied AI on the global stage.

Through this strategic partnership, Dubai Holding and Palantir are not only launching a new company but also advancing a framework intended to deliver measurable digital transformation and lasting economic impact across the nation.