China AI firm Sensetime, Adio to open EMEA HQ in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Investment Office partners with Chinese firm in the presence of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

The UAE's Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) has agreed a partnership – in the presence of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces – with Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company Sensetime to establish a research and development Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi, marking the Chinese firm's first presence in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region that will create hundreds of engineering jobs in Abu Dhabi over the next five years.
The regional centre will focus on developing AI capabilities across seven different industries, including healthcare, remote sensing, and education.
Commenting on the facility in a statement, Adio’s chief executive officer, Elham Al Qasim, said Sensetime’s AI developments would be of “great value” to businesses across the region.
He added: “Adio is working to create a comprehensive ecosystem of tech companies at different stages of development, across a variety of industries,” said Al Qasim.
“[Sensetime] will not only provide large companies across the region with AI technologies, but will also benefit from partnerships and collaborations with early-stage tech start-ups that are being established out of Abu Dhabi’s Hub 71.”