- Aims to create a unified platform capable of delivering faster and more impactful innovation to government entities and private sector organisations.
9YardsX, the artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation arm of 9Yards Holding, announced today that it has acquired Labib AI in a strategic move designed to deepen its footprint in the artificial intelligence sector and accelerate the development of cutting-edge technology solutions.
The acquisition represents a significant milestone in 9YardsX’s trajectory as one of the region’s fastest-growing AI and digital transformation entities, firmly aligned with the UAE leadership’s national vision to position the country at the forefront of artificial intelligence and technology-driven innovation.
Founded in 2022, Labib AI holds the distinction of being the first startup to emerge from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate-level, research-focused university dedicated entirely to AI.
The company has since assembled a highly credentialed team of academic and scientific experts who have developed a suite of proprietary technologies spanning healthcare, smart cities, computer vision, large language models, and enterprise automation.
By bringing Labib AI into its fold, 9YardsX is effectively bridging the gap between world-class academic research and large-scale commercial deployment — creating a unified platform capable of delivering faster, more impactful innovation to government entities and private sector organisations alike.
Executive perspective
Hussam Al Melhem, Group CEO of 9Yards Holding and Managing Director of 9YardsX, described the transaction as a forward-looking bet on the UAE’s technology future.
“The acquisition of Labib AI by 9YardsX represents a strategic investment in the future of technology developed right here in the UAE,” Al Melhem said.
“We are immensely proud to welcome this exceptional local talent on board, along with the intellectual property and research-driven innovations they bring to the table.”
Dr. Mohammad Yaqub, Founder of Labib AI, has been named Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer at 9YardsX. Dr. Yaqub, who also serves as Associate Professor of Computer Vision at MBZUAI, emphasised that the acquisition unlocks new avenues for translating research into measurable outcomes.
“Labib AI was built on the firm conviction that advanced research must be translated into tangible impact,” Dr. Yaqub said. “Joining 9YardsX gives us the capabilities, resources, and commercial reach needed to accelerate the deployment of our technologies and extend the benefits of UAE-developed innovations to a far broader range of beneficiaries — across the region and beyond.”
Integration and growth strategy
Under the terms of the acquisition, Labib AI’s full roster of talent, intellectual property, and proprietary technologies will be integrated into 9YardsX.
The combined organisation will focus on advancing AI solutions across several strategic verticals, including:
- Smart cities — leveraging computer vision and IoT-integrated intelligence for urban management
- Government — deploying automation and analytics platforms to enhance public service delivery
- Healthcare — building diagnostic and predictive models powered by deep learning
- Finance — enabling intelligent automation, fraud detection, and risk modelling
- Media and communications — applying generative AI and natural language processing to content and audience engagement
9YardsX delivers its AI capabilities through a scalable technology platform that unifies advanced data infrastructure, large language models, computer vision, and intelligent automation — all tailored for government and enterprise-grade applications.
The integration of Labib AI’s assets is expected to substantially strengthen that platform, broaden the company’s generative AI portfolio, and accelerate innovation cycles across priority sectors.
