Dubai AI Seal: For companies selling artificial intelligence services in Dubai, proving that they genuinely deliver AI—not simply market themselves as an AI business—is becoming increasingly important.
The Dubai AI Seal provides an official way to make that distinction. Developed by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI), it verifies and classifies AI providers, helping businesses and government organisations identify potential technology partners.
Applications are free. For suppliers seeking Dubai Government AI-related contracts, the programme also has a direct commercial significance.
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What Is the Dubai AI Seal?
The Dubai AI Seal is a company-level verification and classification programme launched in January 2025.
Approved businesses receive a personalised seal with a tier ranking and a unique serial number. Customers can check that number through the official Dubai AI Seal website to verify the company’s status as an AI supplier.
The programme aims to strengthen trust and reduce “AI washing”—presenting products or services as AI-driven without a meaningful basis for that claim.
It is not a company formation licence, an investment guarantee or proof that every output from a supplier’s AI system will be accurate.
Who Can Apply?
AI businesses of any size that operate legally in Dubai can submit an application.
The official guidance invites technology companies licensed to operate in Dubai and providing AI-related products, services or applications.
International ownership does not automatically exclude a business. The relevant requirement is its legal operation and licensing in Dubai, rather than where its owners or parent company are based.
Companies operating only outside Dubai should not assume they qualify without meeting those requirements.
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How Are Companies Assessed?
DCAI reviews applications using its Dubai AI Business Activity Classification System.
The published assessment areas include:
- The nature of the company’s AI activities and services.
- Employees specialising in AI.
- Current and future projects.
- Public- and private-sector partnerships.
- The company’s contribution to Dubai’s AI economy.
The assessment therefore considers the business behind the technology, not simply whether “AI” appears in its marketing materials.
What Do the Six Tiers Mean?
The programme has six tiers: E, D, C, B, A and S.
According to DCAI, the tiers reflect a company’s economic contribution to Dubai’s AI sector, with S representing the highest impact.
They should not be interpreted as a simple ranking of product accuracy or technical safety. A tier does not mean that one company’s AI answers are always more reliable than another’s.
For buyers, the classification is a useful reference point—not a replacement for checking whether a supplier can meet a particular project’s requirements.
How Do You Apply, and What Does It Cost?
The official process has three stages:
- Submit the company’s information through the Dubai AI Seal portal.
- DCAI assesses the application.
- If approved, the company receives its seal, tier and unique serial number.
The service is free of charge.
Businesses should follow the current application instructions on the official portal. The public overview does not specify a standard processing deadline or a fixed validity period, so applicants should not rely on unofficial promises about either.
Why Does It Matter for Government Contracts?
In October 2025, Dubai’s Department of Finance instructed government entities to restrict AI-related service and consultancy contracts to suppliers certified with the Dubai AI Seal.
It also directed entities to inform relevant suppliers of the certification requirement.
For companies pursuing this work, the seal is therefore more than a marketing credential: it is a requirement they need to address.
However, certification does not guarantee a contract. Suppliers still need to satisfy the applicable licensing, procurement and project requirements.
This Dubai Government procurement measure should not be presented as a blanket rule covering every private AI transaction or every government contract across the UAE.
What Should Business Buyers Check?
A practical starting point is to verify the supplier’s unique serial number through the official website.
Buyers should then assess the proposed solution itself: whether it fits the task, how business data will be handled, what human oversight is available and what support the supplier will provide.
These are project-level checks. The seal helps establish a supplier’s verified status, but it does not remove the need for technical, security and commercial due diligence.
What It Means for International Businesses
For overseas companies establishing AI operations in Dubai, the programme offers a route to official recognition once they meet local eligibility requirements.
For customers, it provides a clearer way to identify verified AI suppliers in a crowded market.
Its value is straightforward: it helps businesses establish who they are dealing with. Whether a particular AI solution is right for the job still requires a separate, careful decision.
Sources: Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence
