As the third edition of ALL IN, Canada’s largest AI event, approaches, the gathering — taking place in Montréal on September 24–25, 2025 — has reaffirmed its undeniable role as a global business hub for new technologies and as a testament to Canada’s determination to diversify its economic partnerships.
Following France’s recognition as Country of Honour in 2024, ALL IN is proud to announce that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hold this distinction in 2025, highlighting the UAE’s ambition to build its global reputation as a leading AI destination.
One year after the 50th anniversary of Canada–UAE diplomatic relations, and following the visit to Canada earlier this summer by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, ALL IN will serve as another milestone to discuss key areas of cooperation and to reinforce the strong ties between both countries.
With foreign direct investments from the United Arab Emirates in Canada reaching $8.8 billion in 2024, ALL IN will provide a unique opportunity to explore how the two countries can collaborate on AI — from research and development to commercialisation and capital investments.
The UAE delegation will be led by H.E. Mohamed Bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services, responsible for optimising public services. His presence comes as the country accelerates the large-scale integration of artificial intelligence, notably through flagship initiatives such as Abu Dhabi’s AI-powered cloud platform for public services. These efforts aim to create a fully AI-driven, paperless government that streamlines operations, enhances the citizen experience, and fosters innovation. He will be joined by governmental officials and business leaders, including representatives from the Canada-UAE Business Council. In addition to several on-stage addresses, the program will feature bilateral meetings and business sessions designed to advance AI trade and investment opportunities between Canada and the UAE.
In 2017, the UAE made history as the first country in the world to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. That milestone coincided with Canada becoming the first country to launch a national AI strategy. Since then, the UAE has advanced its own AI agenda through the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to position the country as a global leader in AI by 2031. As part of this effort, UAE firms are partnering with global AI companies to integrate into international value chains and benefit from technology transfer. This creates significant opportunities for private-sector collaboration and investment between Canada and the UAE.
The UAE government is already actively working with leading global companies and foreign governments. Earlier this year, for example, the UAE signed a framework agreement with France — last year’s ALL IN Country of Honour — to develop a 1-gigawatt AI-dedicated data centre in France. Representing investments of between US$30 and US$50 billion, the project also includes commitments to support semiconductor development and talent training as part of efforts to advance AI technology and cloud infrastructure.
