Dubai Future Foundation has officially launched an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sandbox designed to help tech companies and enterprises navigate complex regulatory frameworks safely.
The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) operating through Sandbox Dubai has officially launched the AI Sandbox designed to help local and international tech companies overcome regulatory hurdles that often prevent artificial intelligence solutions from moving past testing and into real-world deployment.
The initiative brings together startups, small businesses, established technology firms, and key government entities including the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) to test advanced AI innovations in controlled, real-world environments while receiving tailored regulatory guidance and technical expertise.
While global interest in artificial intelligence continues to surge, studies indicate that a vast majority of corporate AI projects remain stuck in the experimentation phase. Beyond technological hurdles, innovators frequently struggle with complex compliance requirements, data access rules and outdated policies that fail to accommodate emerging technologies.
The AI Sandbox bridges this gap by allowing innovators and regulators to work hand-in-hand. Through practical testing, regulators can evaluate new applications, identify potential risks and gather valuable insights to help modernize existing legal frameworks while maintaining strict public safety and consumer safeguards.
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Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Research, Development and Innovation at the Dubai Future Foundation, stated:
“The UAE has made significant progress in AI adoption, but the next priority is ensuring that promising technologies can move beyond testing and into practical use. This requires us to look beyond the technology itself and address the regulatory challenges that companies face. Through the AI Sandbox, we are bringing innovators and regulators together to test new applications, understand where existing frameworks may need to adapt and identify practical solutions. Our aim is to create an environment where companies can develop and deploy AI technologies with greater regulatory clarity, while ensuring that policy development keeps pace with innovation.”
The AI Sandbox is open to applications from organizations developing AI-native solutions across diverse industries, including healthcare, education, transport, logistics, tourism, media and government services. Eligible participants must have products at the minimum viable product (MVP) stage or beyond demonstrating commercial readiness and the capacity to generate evidence that informs future policy-making.
This launch complements the UAE’s broader tech leadership supported by statistics showing high national AI adoption rates and builds on Sandbox Dubai’s proven regulatory testing models previously applied to the gig economy, healthcare and real estate sectors.
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