Jakarta, INTI – Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is set to become the birthplace of a futuristic city powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Announced as part of the UAE’s national strategy to become a global leader in AI, the city is targeted to be fully operational by 2027.
This is more than just another smart city Abu Dhabi’s AI city will operate through a fully integrated AI platform that seamlessly manages both public and private services, from transportation to healthcare.
Aion Sentia: The Integrated System Behind the City
The AI city project will be supported by a massive $2.5 billion USD investment (around IDR 40.7 trillion). At its core will be Aion Sentia, a centralized platform designed to unite various systems such as automated public transport, smart home integration, AI-based healthcare services, and intelligent infrastructure management.
This cutting-edge technology is being developed by Italian tech firm Synapsia in collaboration with UAE’s Bold Technologies, both of which officially signed an agreement with the UAE government in March 2025.
MAIA: The Intelligent Brain Behind City Management
As part of the project, Synapsia will deploy its AI engine, MAIA, which will autonomously manage traffic, public lighting, transport systems, and urban security aiming to improve efficiency while reducing energy consumption.
Daniele Marinelli, CEO of My Aion Inc., illustrated MAIA’s capabilities by saying: “Imagine an AI that knows you so well, it can recommend the perfect restaurant for your birthday dinner and book it for you without you lifting a finger. That’s the power of MAIA.”
AI as a Path Toward a Post-Energy Future
This project marks a bold shift among Gulf nations like the UAE, from energy-export-driven economies toward innovation-based futures. While the global AI race heats up between the US and China, the UAE is carving its own path using AI not just to optimize services but as a foundation for long-term national development.
UAE National Security Advisor, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has actively sought international partnerships, including with the US. These efforts led to a major deal to establish the largest AI campus outside the US, along with lifting previous restrictions on advanced US chip exports to the UAE.
Moving Toward Cognitive Cities
The project is part of a broader vision to develop Cognitive Cities a next-generation urban model that goes beyond traditional smart cities. These cities are envisioned to manage themselves autonomously using generative AI that continuously learns from citizen behavior and real-time data.
The UAE has also expressed its intention to expand the Aion Sentia platform globally after the trial phase in Abu Dhabi. While further details on future target cities remain undisclosed, the world is now watching closely as a new era of AI-powered urban evolution begins.
Conclusion
With its AI city project in Abu Dhabi, the UAE is proving itself not just a spectator in the global tech revolution but a major player. Through massive investment, cross-border collaboration, and integration of advanced AI technologies, this project becomes a real step toward building autonomous cities governed by intelligent systems. A bold futuristic vision now in the making.
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