mimik, the device-first AI pioneer known for its Continuum AI and agentic software platform, is expanding into the Middle East. The company signed a strategic MOU with UAE-backed investment entities Next71 Ltd and ASK Holding LLC to establish mimik UAE, a new joint venture focused on accelerating sovereign AI innovation across the region. The announcement, made during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, aligns with the UAE’s aggressive push to become a global center for advanced technology and AI sovereignty.

The move reflects directives championed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC) to build a future defined by national capability, autonomy, and next-generation digital infrastructure.

A New Model: Moving from Cloud-First to Citizen-First AI

mimik’s platform is built around decentralization—shifting intelligence away from centralized datacenters and toward the billions of devices that already surround us. That model resonated strongly with Next71.

“Together with mimik we are reimagining what’s possible,” said Sara Dhafer Alahbabi, Director of SPV and Portfolio Relations at Next71. She noted that mimik UAE will give regional industries the “autonomy, flexibility, and security” needed to advance the Emirates’ AI ambitions.

ASK Holding echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that this joint venture isn’t about adopting the next cloud trend—it’s about redefining where intelligence lives. The group described the shift as moving the UAE “from cloud-first to citizen-first AI—private, resilient, and real-time.”

Beyond the Cloud: The Distributed Intelligence Era

The UAE’s partnership with mimik underscores a decisive pivot away from traditional cloud-centric AI. Instead, the joint venture will enable distributed intelligence across devices, vehicles, manufacturing hubs, ports, logistics networks, and entire cities. Every node—whether a robot, sensor, or mobile device—can process, communicate, and act independently.

This approach strengthens data sovereignty, reduces latency, boosts energy efficiency, and supports sustainability goals by minimizing reliance on massive cloud operations.

As the world shifts toward an agentic economy, defined by autonomous software agents and a future Knowledge-as-a-Service (KaaS) market expected to reach trillions in value, new infrastructure models are essential. That’s where mimik sees the opening.

“We are entering the age of the agentic economy,” said Fay Arjomandi, Founder and CEO of mimik. She called mimik’s distributed platform the “most valuable tech stack for the agentic-native economy,” offering control, operational autonomy, and sustainability-driven cost advantages.

Device-First Continuum AI: The Foundation of mimik UAE

At the technical level, mimik’s Continuum AI transforms any device—robotic arm, traffic sensor, industrial machine—into a self-aware, contextually intelligent node. These devices can:

• Process locally

• Act autonomously

• Collaborate with other devices

• Operate offline-first

• Seamlessly sync with cloud systems only when needed

The result is a living, adaptive intelligence mesh that supports everything from autonomous mobility systems to resilient industrial operations.

For Abu Dhabi, this architecture aligns directly with its vision of becoming the world’s premier hub for physical AI—where intelligence is woven into the infrastructure of everyday life, not restricted to remote datacenters.

Building the UAE’s Agentic Future

mimik UAE aims to serve as a catalyst for talent development, sovereign AI innovation, and new economic growth. By decentralizing intelligence at scale, the joint venture strengthens the region’s digital independence while accelerating adoption of edge-native, agent-driven technologies.

The partners share a broader ambition: to make Abu Dhabi a global leader in AI systems that are sustainable, autonomous, and deeply integrated into physical environments.

As governments and enterprises worldwide grapple with AI’s next era, the UAE is positioning itself early—and boldly—with device-first architecture at the center of its strategy.

Get in touch with our MarTech Experts.