Dubai, November 18-19, 2025 - After the immense success in May 2025, /function1 comes back with the newer and bigger edition of its prime AI Conference & Exhibition. With the previous event, the mission was stated clearly: to establish a physical platform for AI founders around the world to exchange the most groundbreaking and forward-thinking ideas in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The debut event, which has brought together 600+ curated attendees (out of 4,000+ signups), has featured 40+ top-tier speakers, 10+ hours of discussions and insights, as well as the UAE’s first major hackathon. This Fall, /function1 takes its nascent legacy to a new frontier, establishing its status as the largest year-end AI conference of 2025 and the major place where the AI world gathers.
Here’s What’s Coming
- 2 days of selective agenda, designed to highlight the hottest AI trends and address the most pressing industry issues. Across 3 stages, /function1 will explore how Artificial Intelligence changes the rules in Big Tech, Aviation, Media & Art, Finance, Telecom, Education, and more. What’s more, a part of the conference programme will explore tough philosophical and futuristic topics to see if the future promised by sci-fi novels is as close as we think.
- 10,000+ attendees, reflecting the wide diversity of the AI-native community: developers and founders, investors and scientists, students and regulators.
- Founders Program, a special part of /function1 that will bring together the 5,000 most promising AI-based founders and startups. Through workshops, live pitching sessions, and investors’ Q&As, we will provide visibility, valuable connections, and strategic opportunities - all in one of the most dynamic global innovation hubs.
- The Largest Hackathon in the Middle East: joining forces with LabLab and NativelyAI, /function1 returns with the next edition of AI Genesis, a worldwide hybrid hackathon. This time, we’re bringing together 4000+ talented developers for a week-long online challenge, culminating in an exciting on-stage finale at /function1 in November.
- AI Future Labs: driven by a goal of shaping the global future of the next-gen AI, we’re uniting students from the top UAE universities in a multi-stage competition. Guided by top-notch mentors from industry and academia, young talents will be able to create ambitious AI solutions for global challenges and showcase them in front of 10,000+ conference attendees, with media coverage and prizes.
Growing in Ambition, Growing in Size
Moving forward with the mission of becoming the major platform to promote, boost, and celebrate the global AI transformation, /function1 is going to take place on November 18-19, 2025, at Festival Arena - one of the largest conference venues located in Dubai. Located near the picturesque Dubai Creek, this spot is perfectly designed to accommodate a conference as extensive and vibrant as the upcoming /function1.
Title Sponsor’s Epic Comeback
This November, /function1 is proud to welcome back its title sponsor, AI/ML API, a platform providing access to 200 AI models with low latency and high scalability for advanced machine learning. With their valuable expertise and continuous support, there is no doubt /function1 will fulfill its current mission and many milestones ahead.
Introducing the Speakers
In 4 months, /function1 will feature the world-class lineup of 150+ handpicked voices from the leading AI companies, Academia, Government, and Corporations - and we’re proud to announce the first batch:
- Ron Levin – Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures
- Yuki Shirato, Managing Director at Techstars
- Donghao Huang, Vice President, R&D at Mastercard
- Maciej Mazur – ex. CTO, AI at Dell
- Bimal Mehta – Head of AI/ML Engineering at Vanguard
- Jeanie Fang – Director, Data & AI Management at Crunchbase
- Faisal Iqbal – Head of Innovation Programs, Public Sector, Middle East and Africa at Amazon Web Services
- Azamat Zhamangulov – Minister of Digital Development, Kyrgyzstan
- Tudor Coman – Machine Learning Engineer at Adobe
- Daniel Heywood – Project Director at Circles, ex. Technical Director - Digital JV at e&
- Hamad Odhabi – Vice Chancellor at Abu Dhabi University
- Peter Zemsky – Professor of Strategy and Innovation at INSEAD
- Will Hayes – Commercial Director at Oxford Insights
About /function1
/function1 is one of the fastest-growing AI conferences in the world. Based in Dubai, the global frontier of AI innovation, /function1 is on a mission to build a one-stop global platform for AI founders and industry communities, featuring a unique blend of the leading companies from the Middle East and all over the world. Witness the place where the AI world gathers!
Date: November 18-19, 2025
Location: Festival Arena, Dubai, UAE
For more information and updates, as well as registration, visit our website: https://fnctn1.com/