News
Apr 22, 2026
News
Government
Artificial Intelligence
Middle East & Africa
NewDecoded
3 min read

Image by Dell
The Sharjah Digital Department has formed a strategic alliance with Dell Technologies to launch a program dedicated to building institutional artificial intelligence capabilities. Signed by H.E. Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi and Walid Yehia, the Memorandum of Understanding sets a roadmap for AI-driven operations. This collaboration is designed to enhance the readiness of government entities to adopt advanced technologies that improve citizen services.
The program includes specialized training and knowledge transfer for various levels of government personnel. Workshops will target developers and executives in sectors such as agriculture and culture to identify specific AI applications. By focusing on practical use cases, Sharjah aims to transform AI from a conceptual tool into an everyday operational asset.
Sharjah’s decision to partner with Dell Technologies rather than a niche AI software firm reflects a priority on digital infrastructure. While AI-specific companies focus on algorithms, Dell provides the necessary cloud computing and data management foundations for reliable scale. This approach ensures that the Emirate’s AI tools are built on a secure and high-performance technical backbone.
Integrating systems through a hardware leader allows for superior data governance and more cohesive cybersecurity measures. By establishing this solid foundation, Sharjah avoids the common pitfall of creating fragmented digital silos. This strategy aligns perfectly with the Sharjah Digital Transformation Strategy 2026-2028 which emphasizes a smartly interconnected government. H.E. Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi highlighted that AI should be viewed as a driver for redesigning government operations entirely. The partnership leverages global best practices to accelerate the transition toward a human-centric digital ecosystem. This long-term vision aims to ensure that technology serves as a sustainable engine for innovation and economic growth in the Emirate.
The partnership between Sharjah and Dell underscores a shift toward infrastructure-led AI development in the Middle East. By choosing a legacy hardware and cloud provider, Sharjah is prioritizing the digital sovereignty and reliability required for public sector trust. This moves the industry conversation from purely generative software to the physical and organizational requirements of AI at scale. It suggests that the next phase of regional digital growth will be defined by those who control the data processing power rather than those who simply provide the algorithms.
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