When the UK hosts its first global AI summit on Wednesday, observers will be watching closely for the coup of getting China and the US around the same table after months of schism at the leading edge of technological progress.
As a select handful of Silicon Valley executives descend on Bletchley Park, the birthplace of modern computing, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be hoping the home of codebreaking will help to cement the UK’s status as a leading world player in cutting-edge technology.
But experts believe the real feat is getting two of the world's major players – China and the US – together to join in the conversation.
Experts told The National that the summit, which is set to focus on AI safety, is unlikely to have ground-breaking consequences but will be the start of an important discussion.
The summit has been criticised as some key world leaders have stepped back from attending.
China is expected to send Wu Zhaohui, a vice minister of science and technology, alongside representatives from its Foreign Ministry, companies and academic bodies, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Alibaba and Tencent.
The White House has confirmed US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend in place of President Joe Biden, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are not expected to show.
Alex Krasodomski, senior research associate with Chatham House's Digital Society Initiative, told The National it will still be a coup for Mr Sunak to host China and the US in the same room.
“This is a passion project for the Prime Minister,” said Mr Krasodomski. "He cares a lot about AI and sees it for what it is – a transformative technology, for better or for worse. He is worried about the risks of AI and, very specifically, the frontier risks of the most powerful AI models."
“The summit will focus on frontier existential risks, such as the threat of AI not playing ball, not being able to turn it off and the difficulties in controlling it."
There will be discussions over the existential risks of AI models falling into the hands of terrorists and hostile states, as well as the risks of it creating AI bioweapons, he said.
“If they can keep the discussions really narrow and focused on existential threats, they might be able to get something out of it that will help,” said Mr Krasodomski.
“If they can, ultimately, agree that they do not want AI that is not controllable by humans or falling into the hands of the Russian state for developing bioweapons, if they said 'let's set up an international body for AI safety', that would be a pretty positive outcome.
“But the question will be whether the UK is able to facilitate those kinds of agreements between the US and China.
“I think they will be hoping for an international agreement on AI safety but I do not think any binding commitments will come out of the summit. But I think an image of Rishi with the US and Chinese delegation will be quite a pivotal moment.
Summit organiser Matt Clifford said the two-day event would focus on managing the risks AI poses.
“We’ve chosen to have a very small, very focused summit, which aims to get to substantive outcomes and where every attendee is an active participant,” he said.
“It’s not a huge conference like WebSummit or Cop. Bletchley Park is a brilliant but very small venue – perfect for a focused discussion in small groups.”
There will be about 100 attendees, including ministers from around the world, chief executives of companies “building AI at the frontier”, academics and representatives of international civil society organisations, he said.
“This summit, though, is narrowly focused on frontier risk, so it’s appropriate that the company attendees are those building the most powerful models, but this isn’t so they can pull up the drawbridge,” he said.
“We’re acutely aware of that risk. We want the opposite: companies building systems with potentially dangerous capabilities should be subject to greater scrutiny."
Bletchley Park - in pictures
“AI companies are working hard on their approaches to safety, but it won't be sufficient for them to mark their own homework.”
Mr Clifford said the summit would primarily focus on how to make frontier AI safe.
“In some areas this requires conversations about specific applications, but I'd emphasise that the summit is the start of a conversation and can't hope to resolve all the open questions in two days. It’s important that we have some alignment between both companies and countries on frontier risk,” he said.
Representatives from the world’s three major AI labs – OpenAI, Google DeepMind and Anthropic – are expected to attend, along with British technology entrepreneur Mustafa Suleyman and executives from Google, Microsoft and Meta.
The UK has insisted it is taking the lead on AI at the behest of US President Joe Biden and because the two countries have some of the leading companies in the sector.
But it has reportedly been forced to scale back its ambitions around certain ideas, such as launching a new regulatory body, amid a perceived lack of enthusiasm.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the only world leaders flying in for the conference, which starts on Wednesday.
More than 100 UK and international organisations, experts and campaigners published an open letter on Monday to Mr Sunak, branding the summit a “missed opportunity”, too tailored towards “big tech” firms.
The coalition – which includes unions, rights groups such as Amnesty International and tech community voices – warned “communities and workers most affected by AI have been marginalised,” with invitations “selective and limited”.
But the Prime Minister's spokeswoman said he was confident the right people were attending.
“We remain confident that we have brought together the right group of world experts in the AI space, leading businesses and, indeed, world leaders and representatives who will be able to take on this vital issue,” she said.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was confident that using the historic location of Bletchley Park would help in leading changes.
“No country will be untouched by AI and no country alone will solve the challenges posed by this technology. In our interconnected world, we must have an international approach,” he said.
“The origins of modern AI can be traced back to Bletchley Park. Now, it will also be home to the global effort to shape the responsible use of AI.”
The roots of AI can be linked to the leading minds who worked at Bletchley during the Second World War, with codebreakers Jack Good and Donald Michie among those who went on to write extensive works on the technology.
It was the covert team at Bletchley Park that cracked the enemy's secret encrypted messages and their work is believed to have shortened the war by two years.
“It is fitting that the very spot where leading minds harnessed emerging technologies to influence the successful outcome of the Second World War will once again be the crucible for international co-ordinated action,” said Iain Standen, chief executive of the Bletchley Park Trust.
“We are incredibly excited to be providing the stage for discussions on global safety standards, which will help everyone manage and monitor the risks of artificial intelligence.”
Mr Krasodomski said the choice of location would definitely help the UK's bid to attract more AI businesses.
“Britain will use the summit as a sales pitch to businesses to come and start their AI business in the UK,” he said.
“The big question is whether it will be successful. There are a lot of people who should be in the room who aren’t.”
Company%20profile
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Poacher
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
More on animal trafficking
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
RESULTS
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
