PGIM and ADGM Academy establish AI innovation center in Abu Dhabi, focusing on cutting-edge tech developments
In the heart of Abu Dhabi, a new innovation centre is set to revolutionise the real asset sector. The RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre, a joint venture between PGIM Real Estate and the Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy (ADGM Academy), is poised to advance sustainable technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and deep tech within the real asset industry.
The centre's launch, announced in September, is the culmination of a strategic partnership between PGIM and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, established in December the previous year. This partnership aims to bring together global expertise to tackle challenges and opportunities in real estate, infrastructure, smart cities, and related sectors.
Launched in 2023, RealAssetX was conceived by PGIM Real Estate to drive sustainable growth, unlock new value, and position the region at the forefront of deep tech and AI-driven transformation. The centre's primary focus is on three key areas: climate technologies, AI-driven decision-making for asset management, and breakthrough applications such as blockchain, smart infrastructure systems, and advanced materials.
The centre's commitment to climate technologies is evident in its goal to advance decarbonisation and enhance environmental resilience. By improving asset management and investment strategies through advanced analytics, the centre aims to contribute to the UAE's vision of leveraging AI for economic growth, innovation, and sustainability.
The RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre is also aligned with the UAE's National AI Strategy 2031, which aims to position the country among the world's top AI nations. The strategy fosters public-private collaboration, develops local expertise, and upgrades infrastructure across key sectors such as education, health care, transportation, and energy.
Mohammed Abdulmalek, head of the Middle East at PGIM, expressed his enthusiasm for the centre, stating, "We believe that the RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre will play a pivotal role in driving sustainable growth and positioning the region at the forefront of deep tech and AI-driven transformation."
The centre, set to open in September at the ADGM Academy offices, will operate through research labs, ideation programmes, hackathons, pitch competitions, and accelerator initiatives designed to nurture early-stage ideas and scale high-impact ventures. This creates a dynamic ecosystem bridging academia, entrepreneurship, and industry.
Mansoor Jaffar, chief executive of ADGM Academy and Research Centre, echoed this sentiment, stating, "This partnership will support innovation and position Abu Dhabi as a hub for smart infrastructure."
The UAE, a pioneer in AI integration, was the first country in the world to have a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017. In May, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the National Artificial Intelligence System will be an advisory member of the UAE Cabinet, the Ministerial Development Council, and the boards of government firms and federal bodies, from January.
The UAE's broader efforts include developing future-ready talent and integrating AI across strategic industries, including real estate, infrastructure, and smart cities. The UAE-US AI Campus, unveiled in May, provides a regional platform for US hyperscalers to offer latency-friendly services to nearly half of the global population, with 5GW of capacity for AI data centres in Abu Dhabi.
RealAssetX uses proprietary data and partnerships with global universities and technology companies to develop tools for asset owners, operators, and managers. The centre's launch underscores the UAE's commitment to driving innovation and positioning Abu Dhabi as a hub for deep tech solutions delivering large-scale value, directly contributing to goals outlined in the National AI Strategy 2031.
- The RealAssetX Abu Dhabi Innovation Centre, set to open in September, will be located at the ADGM Academy offices.
- The centre's primary focus includes climate technologies, AI-driven decision-making for asset management, and breakthrough applications such as blockchain, smart infrastructure systems, and advanced materials.
- The UAE's commitment to climate technologies is evident in the centre's goal to advance decarbonisation and enhance environmental resilience.
- Launched in 2023, RealAssetX was conceived by PGIM Real Estate to drive sustainable growth and unlock new value in the real asset industry.
- The centre's operations include research labs, ideation programmes, hackathons, pitch competitions, and accelerator initiatives designed to nurture early-stage ideas and scale high-impact ventures.
- The centre is aligned with the UAE's National AI Strategy 2031, which aims to position the country among the world's top AI nations.
- The centre's launch is a culmination of a strategic partnership between PGIM and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, established in December the previous year.
- The UAE is a pioneer in AI integration, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announcing in May that the National Artificial Intelligence System will be an advisory member of the UAE Cabinet, the Ministerial Development Council, and the boards of government firms and federal bodies, from January.
