ADU DHABI (December 17, 2025) – ADQ, a sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, and the Gates Foundation have announced a landmark partnership aimed at accelerating the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and education technology (EdTech) to improve learning outcomes for children across sub-Saharan Africa. The announcement coincided with Abu Dhabi Finance Week during Bill Gates’ visit to the UAE, highlighting the shared commitment to strengthening education systems through innovative technology.
As education systems evolve, digital learning platforms, data technologies, and AI-enabled solutions are increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure. Similar to transport, energy, and logistics networks that drive economic activity, these tools build human capital and technological readiness critical for long-term competitiveness. By supporting this emerging dimension of educational infrastructure, ADQ complements its investments in physical and digital assets, shaping future economies while enhancing foundational learning.
Africa is projected to host one in every three of the world’s young people by 2050, yet today nine in ten children in the region cannot read or perform basic math by age 10. This partnership aims to address these challenges by empowering teachers, supporting students, and directing resources toward contextually relevant solutions that strengthen early-grade literacy and numeracy, which are essential for sustained educational progress and regional growth.
The four-year collaboration will deploy USD 40 million, with ADQ contributing up to USD 20 million, to expand ethical AI use through two flagship programs. The AI-for-Education initiative develops practical AI-enabled learning models and provides expert guidance to governments in the Global South. Meanwhile, the EdTech and AI Fund, a new multi-investor vehicle launching next year, will scale proven AI and EdTech solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, representing the first fund dedicated to national-level expansion of interventions shown to improve foundational learning.
Despite the potential of generative AI, evidence on effective approaches remains scarce, and the sector is underfunded. More than 93% of EdTech products in low- and middle-income countries lack proof-of-learning impact, only 2% of global EdTech venture capital targets sub-Saharan Africa, and just 4% of children consistently use EdTech. This partnership seeks to address these gaps by scaling solutions that have demonstrated impact, complementing the Gates Foundation’s ongoing USD 240 million Global Education Program expansion to improve learning outcomes for 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa and India.
His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADQ, emphasized that the partnership reflects the UAE’s commitment to advancing AI and technology-enabled solutions, creating pathways for inclusive growth, and equipping millions of young people with the skills needed to thrive in a digital world. Bill Gates highlighted the potential of AI to transform learning and expand opportunities, stressing the importance of responsible application and scaling of approaches that show results.
With growing momentum for education reform in Africa, including commitments at the 2025 African Union Summit to end learning poverty by 2035, the partnership leverages technology, local expertise, and collaboration to accelerate learning gains. By supporting AI and EdTech interventions that meet the needs of teachers and students, the initiative aims to contribute to a more prosperous and inclusive future for the continent’s youth.
ADQ, established in 2018, is a sovereign investor with total assets of USD 263 billion as of June 30, 2025, investing across sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, financial services, infrastructure, and sustainable manufacturing. The Gates Foundation works globally to ensure equitable opportunities for education, health, and economic empowerment, led by CEO Mark Suzman under the direction of Bill Gates.
