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 K2 Horizon: How the UAE Is Transforming Open AI Models The global artificial intelligence landscape is witnessing a pivotal strategic shift as the United Arab Emirates advances an alternative model for technological development . Through the launch of K2 Horizon by the Institute of Foundation Models (IFM)—an entity operating under the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi—the region is challenging the industry trend toward proprietary and closed systems . By openly sharing weights, code, training data, and methodologies, K2 Horizon positions the Middle East not merely as a consumer of advanced technologies, but as an influential center for open innovation and governance . Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), national strategies are increasingly prioritizing technological sovereign capabilities and digital transformation . While computing infrastructure investments continue to grow across regional markets, the launch of K2 Horizon dem...