Dubai Holding, a diversified global investment company, and Palantir Technologies, an operational artificial intelligence platform leader, have formed a strategic joint venture named Aither, Palantir’s inaugural partnership in the UAE, aimed at scaling AI capabilities across key commercial sectors. The formation of Aither formalizes an 18-month operational collaboration that has already demonstrated significant transformation within Dubai Holding’s diverse portfolio. The signing ceremony, held on October 31 in Dubai, was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Holding, and His Excellency Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs. Amit Kaushal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding, and Noam Perski, Executive Vice President at Palantir, signed the agreement. Since early 2024, Dubai Holding has implemented Palantir’s AI and data integration platforms across its operations, leading to improved efficiency, quicker decision-making, and enhanced data visibility. This collaboration has positively impacted sectors such as real estate, hospitality, finance, and infrastructure, supporting entities including Nakheel, Meraas, and Jumeirah. Aither is established as a national platform designed to accelerate AI adoption across Dubai’s priority industries, facilitating large-scale transformation for both government and private-sector organizations. By combining Dubai Holding’s market expertise with Palantir’s software and engineering capabilities, the joint venture aims to institutionalize enterprise-grade AI locally. This initiative is expected to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen competitiveness, and unlock new avenues for value creation. The joint venture is set to contribute directly to the UAE’s national digital ecosystem and support the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which targets generating AED 100 billion annually through digital transformation initiatives. By offering local businesses access to AI solutions that have shown measurable impact, Aither intends to advance the nation’s goal of achieving global leadership in applied AI. Furthermore, Aither will localize the economic value of Palantir’s technologies by transferring knowledge, developing national talent, and establishing governance frameworks for AI implementation across the commercial landscape. Amit Kaushal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding, stated, “This strategic joint venture with Palantir represents a transformative catalyst in Dubai’s AI evolution and a significant milestone in Dubai Holding’s own digital transformation journey. It underscores our commitment to harnessing the power of AI to drive operational excellence, unlock new avenues of growth and ensure the long-term resilience of our businesses. As one of the region’s most diversified investment groups, AI plays an increasingly central role across our portfolio, enabling meaningful efficiencies and smarter, faster decision-making.” He added, “Through Aither, we are establishing a platform to extend these capabilities to the wider market – enabling businesses to access world-class AI solutions made in Dubai. This will help advance Dubai’s digital ambitions, equipping the emirate with cutting-edge tools and capabilities to accelerate economic diversification, fuel innovation across priority sectors and strengthen the UAE’s position as a leader in the global digital economy.” Alex Karp, co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, commented, “Palantir’s mission is to equip our friends and allies with the tools they need to win. We are proud to partner with Dubai Holding to deploy Palantir’s world-class AI capabilities and further bolster Dubai’s position as a global innovation hub.”