The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority has organised the 6G MENA Summit set to begin on October 19 at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. The two-day gathering represents the first event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa dedicated exclusively to sixth-generation wireless technology. Participants will examine the convergence of artificial intelligence with next-generation networks according to details released by the authority this week.
TDRA has partnered with Forum Global and Khalifa University to bring together senior figures from across government regulatory agencies the telecoms industry academic institutions and global bodies. The summit will facilitate discussions on how AI capabilities can influence the development of future connectivity standards and applications. This initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to establish itself as a leader in advanced digital infrastructure.
The event’s agenda spans eight distinct themes that integrate AI throughout the programme. These include advancing 6G leadership in the region developing AI-native networks and intelligent infrastructure and leveraging satellite systems alongside non-terrestrial networks. Further sessions will address spectrum management policy frameworks security challenges sustainability considerations and innovative 6G applications the organiser reported.
This gathering comes as the UAE advances practical 6G implementation through targeted research initiatives. Field trials conducted by du and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi demonstrated outdoor coverage reaching 500 metres with downlink speeds up to 1.5 gigabits per second according to a study published in The National. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority allocated spectrum in the 600 megahertz and 6 gigahertz bands during 2024 to underpin these efforts.
International standards organisations have confirmed their engagement with the regional summit. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute will contribute through a session featuring its director general on global alignment and standards on October 20. GSMA Intelligence has positioned the event as a key platform for shaping the technologies that will power 6G networks across the MENA region.
The summit also reflects growing momentum in AI integration within telecommunications. A recent white paper from one6G emphasised the shift toward agentic AI and foundation models that could enable cognitive communication systems. Such insights are anticipated to enrich conversations among the assembled experts from multiple sectors.
