UAE hosts first 6G conference in the age of artificial intelligence… Arab partnership to shape standards
In the meeting hall in Abu Dhabi, the talk was not about higher speeds or lower latency. The discussion centered on who will write the next rules of the game and who will be present at the moment decisions are made that will shape the region’s communications future for decades.
The "6G MENA 2026: In the Age of Artificial Intelligence" events concluded on October 19 and 20, becoming the first conference dedicated to sixth-generation technology in the Middle East and North Africa. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) organized the event, bringing together officials from regulatory bodies, technology sector leaders, and researchers from Arab and international academic institutions.
Her Excellency Talah Belhoul, Chairperson of the Authority, said: "6G represents a strategic milestone that goes beyond network development to reshaping the future of communications and digital services. The UAE’s ambition does not stop at adopting the technology; it extends to actively contributing to its direction and strengthening Arab presence in the global dialogue on the future of communications."
This ambition rests on a tangible foundation: the region’s leadership in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks in terms of coverage, performance, and technical trials. However, the shift to sixth generation requires an early move along interlinked pathways, including spectrum frameworks, contribution to international standards, integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, including satellite technologies and direct device connectivity, and the use of artificial intelligence in network design and operation.
Engineer Majid Sultan Al-Mismar, Director General of the Authority, noted that "the UAE’s success in 5G has provided a strong basis for preparing for sixth generation. Yet our ambition goes beyond adoption to participation in shaping its future. Through cooperation among regulatory bodies, operators, universities and technology partners, we are building national readiness and enhancing the UAE’s and the region’s contributions to developing the standards, technologies and policies that will define the next generation of communications."
Engineer Mohamed Al-Ramsey, Deputy Director General of the Communications Sector, explained that "preparing for sixth generation requires an early move in several interrelated areas, including developing spectrum frameworks, contributing to international standards, strengthening the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, and leveraging artificial intelligence in network design and operations. The conference provides an important platform for exchanging expertise and coordinating regional and international efforts."
The conference programme focused on four strategic pillars: AI-native networks, the future spectrum for sixth generation, preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27), and integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. It also addressed the development of global standards, security and resilience of upcoming networks, and ways to enhance the participation of regional countries in shaping international agendas to ensure they reflect local market needs and future priorities.
The session chair oversaw an exhibition of innovations and demos, alongside scientific posters and research presentations, allowing participants to view the latest developments, research models and future applications of sixth-generation technologies.
What distinguishes this conference is not its occurrence per se, but its timing: the region is entering the race to shape standards rather than merely consume them. Decisions made in the halls of the International Telecommunication Union and at WRC-27 meetings will determine which frequencies are allocated, which technologies are adopted, and who has a voice in drafting the regulatory framework. Early participation and partnership among regulators, academia and industry give regional countries a seat at the table when the rules are written.
For the Arab engineer, the researcher at a regional university, the regulator, the message is clear: the window is open now, and it will not remain so for long. Anyone who misses the chance to contribute to foundational standards will later find themselves implementing what others have crafted for markets that are not their own.