In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool—it is a defining driver of economic growth, global competitiveness, and strategic partnerships. Recognizing this, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, through Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru, are poised to pioneer a transformative collaboration in AI and deep-tech innovation. This vision is captured in the concept of "Bengaluru Antenna"™, a term coined by me to symbolize a strategic signal tower that channels the UAE’s ambitious AI agenda into Karnataka’s innovation-rich ecosystem.

Much like an antenna amplifies and directs signals, the Bengaluru Antenna™ ensures that the UAE’s trillion-dollar AI ambitions reach Bengaluru’s cost-effective, technologically advanced ecosystem efficiently, securely, and on time. Its significance lies in emphasizing co-sourced innovation, where both partners contribute actively, creating mutual benefits rather than one-way outsourcing.

UAE’s Bold AI Roadmap

The UAE has committed itself to becoming a global AI leader by 2031. Its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 outlines a comprehensive approach to integrating AI across government, industry, and society, backed by robust funding and infrastructure.

AI is projected to contribute $96–100 billion to UAE GDP by 2030, or roughly 13–14% of the economy.

By 2031, AI could drive 20% of non-oil GDP, signaling strategic economic diversification.

The UAE’s AI market is expected to grow from $3.5 billion in 2023 to nearly $46 billion by 2030.

The government’s AED 900 billion (~$245 billion) budget cycle prioritizes AI, education, and sustainable infrastructure. Mega-projects such as Stargate UAE, a 10 sq. km AI campus scaling to 5 GW of power with 100,000 Nvidia GPUs, showcase the country’s unparalleled ambition. Partnerships with G42, MGX, Mubadala, Microsoft, BlackRock, and OpenAI further fast-track cutting-edge innovation.

The UAE has also positioned itself as a global policy leader in AI ethics and governance, appointing the world’s first AI Minister in 2017 and nurturing talent through institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). Open-source initiatives like Falcon LLM underline its commitment to global collaboration.

Bengaluru: India’s Deep-Tech Nucleus

On the Indian side, Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley can offer unmatched capabilities in AI, chip design, and deep-tech software development. Ranked 5th among the world’s top 50 AI cities, Bengaluru accounts for 57% of India’s AI adaptability, providing a rich ecosystem for collaboration.

85+ fabless chip design firms and 400+ global R&D centers operate here.

A workforce of 600,000+ AI/ML professionals is supported by advanced hubs like ARTPARK at IISc.

Per data available, 25% of India’s Global Capability Centers (GCCs) are in Karnataka, employing 1.3 million professionals and contributing $33.8 billion to GDP.

Investments such as Applied Materials’ $400 million semiconductor R&D hub in Bengaluru are attracting follow-on investments exceeding $2 billion, cementing the city’s position as a global deep-tech hub.

Bengaluru Antenna™: A Strategic Signal Tower

The Bengaluru Antenna™ serves as a practical framework for the UAE–India AI partnership. It provides identity and direction to bilateral engagement, ensuring secure IP, rapid scaling, and cost-effective development for the UAE, while facilitating technology transfer, skill acceleration, and global recognition for Bengaluru.

For the UAE, it offers:

Rapid AI development at lower cost.

Secure intellectual property frameworks.

Access to globally competitive talent.

Reliable, time-bound execution.

For Bengaluru and Karnataka, it brings:

Fresh foreign investment.

Technology transfer and skill development.

Deeper integration with Middle Eastern innovation hubs.

Recognition as the preferred partner for high-end innovation.

Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2025: Operationalizing the Antenna

The upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2025, a three-day flagship event in November, exemplifies how the Bengaluru Antenna™ with the UAE can be operationalized. This annual summit attracts leading global innovators, investors, and policymakers to showcase emerging technologies, AI solutions, and deep-tech ventures.

A large UAE technology delegation visiting BTS 2025 could explore investment opportunities, forge partnerships, and co-develop AI and semiconductor solutions with Bengaluru-based startups, scale-ups, and research institutions. The summit offers a unique platform for live demonstrations, pitching sessions, and bilateral collaboration meetings—effectively acting as a live antenna connecting UAE ambitions with Bengaluru’s innovation ecosystem. Initiatives initiated here could lead to concrete joint projects, co-developed AI platforms, and integrated research programs with measurable outcomes.

A Future of Co-Sourced Innovation

The Bengaluru Antenna™ is not outsourcing, it is co-sourcing innovation. UAE provides capital, vision, and global AI leadership; Bengaluru provides the engine room of deep-tech expertise, talent, and execution. Together, they can create a trust-based, time-sensitive, and high-impact partnership that spans AI, semiconductors, fintech, biotech, cloud, and sustainable energy technology.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

India and the UAE already enjoy strong strategic ties. Bilateral trade reached $100.05 billion in FY 2024–25, supported by a diaspora of 4.3 million Indians in the UAE. Regular high-level visits, sectoral dialogues, and people-to-people exchanges underpin this comprehensive partnership, making AI and deep-tech collaboration a natural next step.

Through initiatives like BTS 2025 and the broader Bengaluru Antenna™ framework, UAE–India partnerships can establish a new axis of innovation connecting the Middle East and South Asia, driving global leadership while nurturing local talent and infrastructure.

A Defining Framework

The Bengaluru Antenna™, coined by me to define this strategic engagement, is both a metaphor and a practical roadmap. By leveraging Bengaluru’s deep-tech ecosystem and the UAE’s AI ambition, it transforms opportunity into action. The Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 provides the perfect platform to bring this vision to life, allowing UAE delegations to directly engage, invest, and co-create with Bengaluru innovators.

As the AI revolution unfolds, the Bengaluru Antenna™ could become the defining framework for India–UAE technology collaboration—a signal tower of trust, talent, and transformative innovation.

(The author holds a dual masters degree from Europe and the US and is an ex-international corporate banker currently serving as Visiting Professor in international marketing at a university in Bengaluru, India. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at rameshkumarn180@gmail.com )