Sharjah: Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) has signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Global Centre for AI Excellence (GCAIE), a leading entity headquartered in the UK specializing in AI Excellence, governance, institutional readiness, and value-driven AI adoption. The agreement was signed at SPARK's headquarters in Sharjah, with senior officials and executives from both sides present, emphasizing the partnership's significance and its role in enhancing Sharjah's position on the global AI map.
According to Emirates News Agency, the partnership aims to deploy the Global AI Excellence Model (GAIEM), an internationally recognized framework that assists governments, enterprises, and innovation ecosystems in implementing AI in a secure, ethical, and economically measurable way. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SPARK, remarked that the partnership underscores Sharjah's commitment to advancing artificial intelligence as a strategic driver of sustainable economic growth. Collaborating with the Global Centre for AI Excellence allows Sharjah to adopt international best practices in AI governance, leadership development, and value creation, positioning it as a globally competitive hub for trusted and impactful AI.
The collaboration between SPARK and GCAIE will focus on several key areas: developing AI leadership, professional capacity, and certified assessors; supporting AI governance, safety, and trust frameworks; accelerating AI commercialization and applied use cases; enabling measurable ROI, productivity gains, and operational efficiency; establishing AI innovation programs, sector-focused pilots, and capability-building initiatives; and supporting economic diversification aligned with future-ready industries.
International forecasts predict that artificial intelligence will contribute over US$15 trillion to the global economy by 2030, while increasing productivity in some sectors by up to 40%. Despite this potential, many organizations worldwide face challenges in moving beyond experimentation due to governance, trust, and ROI issues. This partnership positions Sharjah as a proactive global player addressing these challenges through structured, responsible, and results-oriented AI deployment, an approach increasingly sought by governments, investors, and international institutions.
The agreement also strengthens the growing collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in advanced technologies, innovation governance, and digital transformation. Headquartered in the UK, GCAIE engages with public and private institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, supporting national AI strategies and institutional AI maturity. Its partnership with SPARK signifies a significant expansion of its engagement in the UAE and the wider region.
The agreement aligns with Sharjah's long-term strategy to become a regional and global hub for research, advanced technologies, and innovation, with artificial intelligence as a core pillar. Through SPARK, Sharjah continues to attract international partners, global expertise, and high-value innovation initiatives that translate ambition into tangible outcomes.