The delegation forms part of the UAE National Experts Programme in Artificial Intelligence, known as NEP-AI, which has enrolled 32 specialists drawn from government bodies, industry and academic institutions for an eight-month capacity-building initiative. According to a WAM dispatch published on October 10, the China segment runs from October 12 to 16 and constitutes one of three scheduled international study tours, the others targeting Canada and California’s Silicon Valley. Programme coordinators designed the visit to equip participants with comparative perspectives on global AI development pathways that can inform UAE policy and implementation efforts.
In the Chinese capital and in Shanghai the group will hold discussions with Zhipu AI, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, ByteDance, Zhiyuan Robotics and Aihuashen among other entities. The Emirates News Agency said the schedule encompasses reviews of large-model research, commercialisation routes, regulatory standards and embodied-intelligence applications. Delegates will also observe how AI agents are embedded in organisational workflows, business processes and decision-support systems at scale.
China’s core AI industries exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan, roughly $176.6 billion, in 2025 while more than 6,200 dedicated enterprises operated nationwide, President Xi Jinping told the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai. The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, first issued several years ago, similarly identifies AI as a cornerstone for economic diversification and public-sector modernisation, Central Statistical Bureau data on national development plans show. The NEP-AI curriculum therefore aligns domestic talent development with both Emirati strategic goals and selected international benchmarks.
A parallel track of UAE-China technology cooperation has expanded in recent years through agreements on digital-economy research, data infrastructure and cross-border innovation hubs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade has noted in official statements. One such memorandum facilitates joint projects in artificial intelligence and smart infrastructure, complementing the practical exposure the current delegation will receive. These ties sit alongside broader Gulf engagement in which the UAE has emerged as a focal point for Chinese AI-related investment and knowledge exchange, industry assessments from regional economic bodies indicate.
The visit agenda places particular weight on policy frameworks that guide AI deployment in public administration and on mechanisms for translating laboratory breakthroughs into deployable products and services. WAM reporting on the programme underlined that participants will evaluate national-level standards for technology governance and examine how leading firms integrate AI into global platforms. Such insights are intended to strengthen the experts’ ability to contribute to UAE initiatives that blend regulatory oversight with rapid innovation.
Upon completion of the China tour the NEP-AI cohort will continue its structured training, culminating in projects that support the UAE’s broader ambition to become a hub for responsible and competitive artificial intelligence development. The Emirates News Agency indicated the full programme includes certification components, leadership modules and opportunities to build international professional networks. Organisers expect the combined international exposure to accelerate the transfer of best practices into Emirati government and commercial settings.
