A delegation of 16 Emirati experts from the National Experts Programme (NEP-AI) has commenced a five-day study visit to Beijing and Shanghai. The mission focuses on AI governance and digital government systems, featuring engagements with leading Chinese tech entities including ByteDance, Zhipu.ai, and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. The visit aims to bridge the gap between advanced research and commercial deployment.
Taking place from October 12 to 16, the five-day international study visit forms part of the National Experts Program’s Artificial Intelligence track.
Held under the theme “AI Governance, Smart Nation Systems and Digital Government,” the visit will explore how AI policy, advanced technologies and digital systems can support national priorities and the delivery of government services.
The delegation includes Shaher Tayfour in Intelligent Devices; Mohammed Alketbi in Agentic AI; Hessa Al Kaabi in Storage and Data Infrastructure; Eng. Sultan AlRaeesi in AI Policy, Regulation and Diplomacy; Eng. Mohammed Alameri and Wijdan Alantali in AI for National Competitiveness and Geopolitics; Col. Dr. Eng. Nasser AlSaedi in Systems Thinking and AI Foresight; Eng. Ahmed Al Ameri in Arabic-Centric LLMs and Localization; Azza Aljuwaied in Data Sovereignty and Governance Frameworks; Capt. Hamdan Al Ali in Technical and Practical Applications; Eng. Ahmed Hamarain, Eng. Suhail Al Marzooqi in AI Cybersecurity and Model Protection, Capt. Eng. Saif Alhaj in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Eng. Abdulaziz Nabeel in Enterprise Applications and Automation, Anood Alkatheeri in Computing and Processing and Hamdan Alameri in AI for People, Society and National Capability.
In Beijing and Shanghai, the program will include engagements with Zhipu.ai, a prominent Chinese artificial intelligence company and research lab; China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT); ByteDance, a multinational internet technology company; AgiBot, an artificial intelligence and robotics company; and Agentrix, an enterprise AI operating system.
Visiting these organizations gives the delegation exposure to different layers of China’s AI ecosystem:
- Zhipu.ai: Understanding how China develops large AI models and turns advanced research into commercial products. It is the world’s first large language model company to list on a stock exchange.
- CAICT: Examining the role of national research, standards and policy institutions in guiding AI development, governance and government adoption. It is the government agency writes the rulebook for China’s digital ambitions, from 5G and cloud computing to artificial intelligence.
- ByteDance: Examining how one of the world’s most influential technology companies deploys AI across global digital platforms, including TikTok, turning advanced models and agentic workflows into products and services reaching billions of users worldwide.
- AgiBot: Exploring embodied intelligence: AI that operates through robots and interacts with the physical world.
- Agentrix: Understanding how established organizations can integrate AI agents into internal systems, workflows and decision-making. It is the world’s biggest seller of humanoid robots. Together, the visits cover the journey from AI research and governance to large-scale deployment, robotics and enterprise transformation.
The China visit is one of three international study visits within NEP-AI, alongside programs in Canada and Silicon Valley. Together, the visits expose participants to different approaches to AI research, policy, commercialization and deployment across leading global technology ecosystems.
The visit forms part of NEP-AI’s eight-month learning journey, which brings together 32 Emirati experts from government, industry and academia to support the UAE’s national AI priorities.
The 16 NEP-AI participants will be accompanied by six NEP alumni and Fellows: Meera AlMheiri, Sumaya Al Hajeri, Saood Al Noori, Prof. Hoda Alkhzaimi, Major Eng. Mohamed Zainal, and Hassan Alnoon. They will contribute their experience from previous NEP cohorts and take part in discussions and knowledge exchange throughout the visit.
