9YardsX Acquires Labeb AI to Accelerate UAE's Enterprise AI Expansion

UAE-based AI and technology company 9YardsX, a subsidiary of 9Yards Holding, has acquired Labeb AI in a strategic move to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities and strengthen its position in enterprise AI solutions.

The acquisition reflects growing investment in UAE-developed AI technologies as governments and enterprises accelerate digital transformation initiatives. According to PwC, artificial intelligence is projected to contribute US$96 billion to the UAE economy by 2030, accounting for nearly 14% of the country's GDP, making the UAE one of the world's leading AI adopters.

For 9YardsX, the transaction represents more than an acquisition—it is a strategic investment in local intellectual property, research excellence, and commercially deployable AI platforms.

What Does Labeb AI Bring to 9YardsX?

Founded in 2022, Labeb AI has developed proprietary technologies spanning multiple AI disciplines, including:

• Healthcare AI
• Smart city technologies
• Computer vision
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Enterprise automation

Its research team includes leading academics and scientists, notably Dr. Mohammad Yaqub, Associate Professor of Computer Vision at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), one of the world's first graduate universities dedicated exclusively to artificial intelligence.

The acquisition enables 9YardsX to combine cutting-edge academic research with enterprise-scale deployment capabilities, allowing faster commercialization of AI innovations across both public and private sectors.

Which Industries Will Benefit from the Acquisition?

Labeb AI's technologies will be integrated into 9YardsX's enterprise AI platform, expanding solutions across multiple strategic industries.

Sector	AI Applications
Government	Digital services, citizen engagement, workflow automation
Healthcare	Medical imaging, diagnostics, clinical decision support
Smart Cities	Computer vision, traffic management, urban analytics
Finance	Intelligent automation, risk analysis, AI assistants
Media & Communications	Content intelligence, multilingual AI, workflow optimization

The combined portfolio will focus on scalable Generative AI, computer vision, intelligent automation, and enterprise-grade AI infrastructure designed for both government agencies and large enterprises.

How Does This Acquisition Support the UAE's AI Strategy?

The acquisition closely aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to position the country as a global leader in AI innovation, research, and commercialization.

It also complements the broader ecosystem being developed across the UAE, where organizations such as Hub71, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and initiatives including Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence continue to attract AI startups, researchers, and global technology investment.

As regional competition intensifies—with projects such as NEOM in Saudi Arabia investing heavily in AI-powered cities and digital infrastructure—the UAE continues to emphasize homegrown innovation alongside international partnerships.

What Did Company Leaders Say About the Deal?

Hussam Al Melhem, Group CEO of 9Yards Holding and Managing Director of 9YardsX, described the acquisition as an investment in technology developed within the UAE.

He emphasized that integrating Labeb AI's local talent, intellectual property, and research capabilities strengthens the company's ability to build enterprise-ready AI products while supporting the country's ambition to become a global AI leader.

Dr. Mohammad Yaqub, Founder of Labeb AI and newly appointed Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer of 9YardsX, said the acquisition provides the resources and commercial platform needed to transform advanced academic research into practical solutions with regional and global impact.

What Does the Deal Mean for the UAE's AI Ecosystem?

The acquisition reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the UAE's rapidly expanding AI ecosystem, where research-driven startups are increasingly partnering with enterprise technology companies to accelerate commercialization.

Rather than building capabilities entirely in-house, organizations are acquiring specialized AI companies with proprietary intellectual property and experienced research teams to shorten development cycles and bring production-ready AI solutions to market faster.

This strategy supports the UAE's long-term objective of developing a knowledge-based economy while increasing the global competitiveness of locally developed artificial intelligence technologies.

For 9YardsX, integrating Labeb AI's talent, research, and proprietary technologies strengthens its ability to deliver enterprise AI platforms across government, healthcare, finance, smart cities, media, and communications—positioning the company to capitalize on growing demand for generative AI and intelligent automation across the Middle East.

 

 

FAQs

1. What is 9YardsX?
9YardsX is the artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation subsidiary of 9Yards Holding that develops enterprise AI solutions for government and commercial organizations using large language models, computer vision, and intelligent automation.

2. What does Labeb AI specialize in?
Labeb AI develops proprietary AI technologies focused on healthcare, smart cities, computer vision, large language models (LLMs), and enterprise automation, combining academic research with commercial AI applications.

3. Why did 9YardsX acquire Labeb AI?
The acquisition expands 9YardsX's AI capabilities, strengthens its intellectual property portfolio, accelerates enterprise AI deployment, and supports the UAE's strategy to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.

4. Which industries will benefit from the acquisition?
The combined company will deliver AI solutions across government, healthcare, finance, smart cities, media, and communications through generative AI, computer vision, and intelligent automation platforms.

5. How does this acquisition support the UAE's AI ambitions?
The acquisition aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 by strengthening local AI innovation, commercializing academic research, and expanding enterprise AI adoption across strategic sectors.