World’s First AI City in Abu Dhabi: No Ordering Needed for Food Delivery

Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, will no longer be just a city of sand and royalty. Rather, it is going to become the world's first AI-powered capital.Announced on May 20, 2025, this $2.5 billion project, backed by the UAE’s Bold Technologies and Italy’s My Aion Inc., integrates predictive AI to anticipate needs, promising a futuristic lifestyle blending innovation with Emirati hospitality.

Predictive Food Delivery
AionSentia’s flagship feature, detailed by the Abu Dhabi Media Office, is its AI-powered food delivery system. For instance, it might dispatch a biryani dinner after detecting a late workday or suggest a healthy breakfast based on fitness goals. Autonomous robots deliver meals from local restaurants, ensuring freshness. This eliminates manual ordering, saving time and enhancing convenience, though privacy concerns linger.

How MAIA Works
The MAIA app, described by CEO Daniele Marinelli as a “personal assistant,” uses a Personal Profile Graph to learn from user interactions. It connects to smart homes, healthcare, and transport, orchestrating services like booking restaurants or optimizing energy use. For food delivery, MAIA cross-references dietary preferences, past orders, and real-time data, such as traffic or weather, to ensure timely arrivals. The system, built on Abu Dhabi’s 100% fiber-to-home broadband, supports seamless AI operations across the city’s 25-square-kilometer hub.

Broader City Features
Beyond food, AionSentia offers automated transport, AI-driven healthcare, and real-time energy management. The city’s infrastructure, powered by a $3.3 billion investment, includes 5-gigawatt data centers and partnerships with Microsoft and G42. The “AI for All” program trains residents for tech jobs, aiming to create 5,000 positions by 2027. The initiative is expected to add AED 24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP, reinforcing its status as a global AI leader.

Challenges and Vision
While AionSentia’s vision excites, data privacy and ethical AI use remain concerns. The government pledges robust cybersecurity and transparent data handling. Marinelli envisions global expansion, with Abu Dhabi as the model. As the world watches, AionSentia could redefine urban living, merging technology with human-centric design to create a city that truly anticipates its residents’ needs.