Abu Dhabi aims to become world’s first fully AI-native government

Emirate aims to integrate artificial intelligence across all digital services by 2027

Guests entertained by a robot at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The Abu Dhabi government has launched its Digital Strategy 2025-2027, aiming to transform the emirate into the world’s first fully artificial intelligence-powered government by 2027.

Led by the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE) in collaboration with the emirate’s other government entities, the programme will allocate Dh13 billion ($3.5 billion) between 2025 and 2027 to boost digital infrastructure, automate 100 per cent of government processes, and integrate sovereign cloud computing across all operations.

The strategy is expected to contribute more than Dh24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s economy by 2027 and create more than 5,000 employment opportunities supporting Emiratisation efforts.

The strategy also emphasises citizen empowerment through AI training under the AI for All programme, while introducing more than 200 AI-driven solutions to government services. It aims to streamline operations with a unified enterprise resource planning platform and ensure robust cyber security frameworks.

“By incorporating AI, cloud technologies, and data-driven insights into our government’s DNA, we will transform public service delivery, optimise government operations, and drive sustainable economic growth,” said Ahmed Al Kuttab, chairman of DGE.

In 2019, the UAE announced the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, one of the world’s first dedicated AI educational institutes. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The UAE capital’s Government Digital Strategy builds on more than a decade of digital evolution, progressing from e-government to smart and now to AI-powered services for citizens, residents, and businesses across sectors.

Recent initiatives such as the third evolution of the TAMM platform, TAMM 3.0 and the Abu Dhabi Programme for Effortless Customer Experience, have paved the way for futuristic digital solutions and technologies rooted in AI and data analytics.

Additionally, collaborative efforts with institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence for upskilling, the Advanced Technology Research Council for large language model development, technology firm G42 for AI infrastructure, and other global partners reinforce Abu Dhabi's standing as a global leader in digital governance and innovation.

The UAE government is also intensifying its efforts to embrace latest technologies against the backdrop of rapid advancements in AI.

In November, Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute organised the inaugural open-source AI summit in the emirate.

In 2019, the country announced the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, one of the world’s first dedicated AI educational institutes.

Sam Altman, founder and chief executive of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT helped AI go mainstream, told the 2024 World Government Summit in Dubai that the UAE would be well-positioned to lead discussions about a hypothetical global AI watchdog system.

The country also recently became the first in the Arab world to join the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group, which is dedicated to AI safety and security.

According to the Stanford Institute for Human-Centred AI, among 36 countries around the world evaluated for AI competitiveness, the UAE ranked fifth, ahead of countries including France, South Korea, Germany, Japan and Singapore.