His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, National Security Adviser, and Chairman of G42, has been named to the TIME100 AI 2025 list, joining the ranks of the world’s most influential figures shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Recognized in the “Shapers” category, Sheikh Tahnoon is celebrated for his pivotal role in positioning the United Arab Emirates as a global hub for AI innovation, strategic infrastructure development, and international technological collaboration.
The annual TIME100 AI list, now in its third edition, honors individuals who are driving transformation across the AI landscape. TIME highlighted Sheikh Tahnoon’s leadership at G42, the UAE’s flagship technology company, which has established a growing network of AI supercomputers through high-impact partnerships with global leaders such as Microsoft and Cerebras Systems. These collaborations have accelerated the nation’s capacity to develop sovereign AI capabilities and support large-scale machine learning applications across healthcare, energy, and national security.
TIME’s citation also spotlighted recent landmark developments linked to Sheikh Tahnoon’s vision. In March 2025, following a meeting between the UAE leader and U.S. President Donald Trump, the White House announced a historic $1.4 trillion commitment from the UAE to invest in American AI infrastructure and related technologies over the next decade. Subsequently, in May, the Trump administration lifted key trade restrictions on technology exports to the Middle East—a move widely interpreted as a strategic alignment between the two nations on digital economy priorities.
Central to the UAE’s ambition is the planned 5-gigawatt (GW) data centre campus in Abu Dhabi, set to become the largest AI infrastructure project outside the United States. Spearheaded under Sheikh Tahnoon’s guidance, the initiative underscores the UAE’s intent not only to participate in the global AI race but to help define its trajectory—balancing innovation with ethical governance, energy efficiency, and regional empowerment.
The 2025 TIME100 AI list features a diverse array of global pioneers. In the Leaders category are figures like Sam Altman (OpenAI), Jensen Huang (NVIDIA), and Elon Musk (xAI), while Innovators include Refik Anadol, Natasha Lyonne, and Mike Krieger. Shapers alongside Sheikh Tahnoon include renowned AI researchers Stuart Russell and Fei-Fei Li, EU Digital Chief Henna Virkkunen, VC David Sacks, and Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani. Thinkers featured include Yoshua Bengio, Jeffrey Dean, and even Pope Leo XIV, reflecting the broad societal implications of AI advancement.
To compile the list, TIME’s editorial team conducted months of research, consulting industry experts, analyzing impact, and soliciting nominations from leading voices in technology, policy, and academia. Being included in the Shapers category acknowledges those who are not just building AI systems, but influencing how they are governed, deployed, and integrated into society.
Sheikh Tahnoon’s recognition reflects a broader shift in the global AI landscape—one where emerging economies are no longer passive adopters but active architects of technological ecosystems. Under his stewardship, the UAE has moved swiftly to attract top talent, forge cross-border alliances, and build resilient digital infrastructure capable of supporting next-generation AI workloads.
As nations compete to harness AI for economic growth and national competitiveness, the inclusion of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed AI TIME100 affirms that influence in this domain is no longer confined to Silicon Valley. It signals that leadership can emerge from strategic visionaries who understand that artificial intelligence is not just about algorithms—but about infrastructure, investment, and international cooperation.
With the UAE deepening its footprint in cloud computing, generative AI, and smart governance, Sheikh Tahnoon’s presence on the list marks a milestone in the country’s digital ascent—and a signal to the world that the future of AI is being shaped in more places than one.
Follow us on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/businessnewsng?igsh=ZXpweTdjOGF1ZXdu
