AIImpactSummit – Burj Khalifa Lights Up for India’s AI Gathering
AIImpactSummit – Dubai’s skyline turned into a symbol of international tech collaboration as the Burj Khalifa illuminated its facade to mark India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The gesture highlighted the strengthening partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates in the fields of artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation.
Burj Khalifa Marks India’s Global AI Moment
The display on the world’s tallest tower drew attention on social media after the Indian Embassy in the UAE shared a video of the illuminated skyscraper. In its message, the embassy described the tribute as a celebration of India’s leadership in hosting the international AI summit. The lighting ceremony was widely seen as a diplomatic and technological gesture underscoring expanding cooperation between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
The tribute coincided with heightened global interest in the summit, which has positioned India as a major voice in discussions surrounding artificial intelligence governance and innovation.
Summit Draws Global Leaders and Tech Giants
Held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 21, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has brought together policymakers, technology executives, researchers, and civil society representatives from more than 110 countries. Around 30 international organizations participated, along with approximately 20 heads of state or government and 45 ministers.
Among the prominent attendees was French President Emmanuel Macron, who emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between France and India on responsible AI development. With India holding the BRICS presidency under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Macron noted that both nations have an opportunity to align their global platforms to shape international standards for artificial intelligence.
The summit has also drawn significant commitments from leading technology companies. Major players including Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia announced large-scale investments aimed at strengthening India’s AI ecosystem and expanding infrastructure across the Global South.
Major Investment Announcements
Google revealed plans to establish a USD 15 billion artificial intelligence hub in Visakhapatnam, while Microsoft outlined a broader USD 50 billion investment strategy through 2030 focused on AI expansion in emerging economies, including India. Nvidia confirmed collaboration to deploy its advanced Blackwell GPUs to support sovereign AI capabilities.
In another significant development, the Tata Group announced a partnership with OpenAI to develop 100 megawatts of AI infrastructure in India, with scalability plans extending up to 1 gigawatt. The move signals a push toward strengthening domestic computing capacity to meet growing demand.
Focus on Governance and Inclusive Growth
The summit is the first global AI conference to be hosted in the Global South, following earlier editions in the United Kingdom, South Korea, and France. It reflects India’s ambition to shape international conversations on ethical standards, safety frameworks, and equitable access to AI technologies.
Organizers structured the discussions around three guiding pillars — People, Planet, and Progress — aimed at promoting human-centric innovation, environmentally sustainable AI deployment, and inclusive economic development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the MANAV Vision framework, which emphasizes moral and ethical systems, accountable governance, national sovereignty, accessibility, and legitimacy in artificial intelligence systems.
Several product and research initiatives were unveiled during the event, including BharatGen Param2, a 17-billion-parameter language model supporting 22 Indian languages, along with new large language models developed by Sarvam AI. Due to strong public engagement, the India AI Impact Expo was extended by an additional day, closing on February 21.
The illumination of the Burj Khalifa served as a visual reminder of the growing technological bridge between India and the UAE, as well as India’s expanding influence in global AI policymaking and innovation.