As the development of artificial intelligence becomes concentrated among a few global companies, the UAE is choosing a different path. Through the Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi, the country is backing open, efficient research to reduce reliance on closed platforms. Its Falcon AI Models signal a push to build core capabilities at home rather than import them.
Unlike labs driven mainly by commercial rollout, the Technology Innovation Institute operates as an applied research body that turns science into deployable systems. The work supports national goals around digital sovereignty, local capability building, and long-term resilience.
Falcon large language models have ranked among the top open models since 2023, positioning the UAE as a producer of foundational AI. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said the results show “advanced AI innovation is no longer confined to a small number of countries,” and reflect a vision where the UAE drives breakthroughs, not just adoption.
At a time when leading developers restrict access to their most capable models, Falcon is released openly. That choice allows researchers and institutions to test, adapt, and improve the models over time. Aaraj calls openness central to national and global value, supporting transparency and responsible use.
TII’s focus on efficiency also matters for real-world deployment. “Efficiency is critical for real-world deployment, scalability and sustainability,” she said, pointing to compact models that deliver strong performance with lower memory and energy needs. This widens access to advanced AI across government and emerging markets.
The Arabic-first models developed by Falcon solve an existing problem in international artificial intelligence. The system performs better because it was built using original Arabic training data instead of translated materials, creating less accurate results.
The research increases accessibility for Arabic speakers; this work expands access for hundreds of millions of speakers and strengthens regional relevance.
Falcon’s rise offers an alternative to closed, platform-bound AI. Open, efficient, language-native models could broaden who builds and benefits from AI, reshaping how foundational systems are developed and shared worldwide.