The United Arab Emirates is set to transform half of its government sectors, services, and operations into autonomous artificial intelligence systems within two years, following directives from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The major policy shift was announced Thursday by Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who said the country aims to become the first in the world to adopt “agentic AI” models capable of independently executing tasks, managing processes, and supporting decision-making.
In a post on X, Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE will transition 50 percent of government services to autonomous AI, describing the move as part of a new government system where advanced technologies can monitor developments, analyze data, issue recommendations, and carry out actions without human intervention.
He said AI will act as an “executive partner” to government, helping improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and enable real-time evaluation and optimization of operations.
Over the next two years, ministers and heads of federal entities will be assessed based on how quickly they adopt AI tools and implement new standards. All federal employees will also undergo specialized training to build expertise in artificial intelligence, as part of what officials describe as one of the largest government transformation initiatives.
Implementation of the initiative will be overseen by Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with a task force led by Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammad Al Gergawi monitoring execution.
The project will be rolled out in phases across ministries and federal entities, with continuous performance assessments guiding wider adoption. Officials said the initiative is expected to reduce operational costs, boost productivity, and deliver faster and more efficient public services.
The plan builds on more than two decades of digital transformation in the UAE, including early e-government programs, mobile services, and integrated systems such as UAE Pass. The country also appointed the world’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and launched its AI Strategy 2031.
Alongside the AI initiative, the UAE Cabinet approved several policies to enhance government services, including unified standards to reduce bureaucracy, frameworks for digital records and data sharing, and guidelines to align digital projects with national priorities.
Additional measures include initiatives to strengthen economic competitiveness, sustainability efforts such as biofuel production projects, and expanded international cooperation through new agreements and global events.
Officials said the shift reflects rapid global technological change, with the goal of improving public services while keeping people at the center of governance and development.
