The United Arab Emirates has unveiled an ambitious two-year plan to embed agentic artificial intelligence into 50% of its government operations.
Summary
The UAE aims to integrate agentic AI into half of all government services within two years, positioning itself as a global leader in AI-driven governance.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said AI will function as an “executive partner,” with success measured by adoption speed, implementation quality, and overall impact.
The rollout will take place in phases across ministries, alongside workforce training in generative AI, building on existing digital systems like eGovernment platforms and UAE Pass.
According to local reports, the initiative is designed to transition nearly half of all public services, sectors, and routine government processes toward autonomous AI systems. Officials believe this could make the UAE the first country to operate government functions at such scale using AI-led execution.
“AI is no longer just a tool. It can analyze, make decisions, execute tasks, and continuously improve in real time. It will serve as an executive partner to enhance services, speed up decisions, and boost efficiency,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a post.
He emphasized that the transformation will follow a strict timeline. “This shift has a clear deadline of two years. Government performance will be evaluated based on how quickly AI is adopted, how effectively it is implemented, and how well it reshapes workflows,” he added.
Training government workforce
The programme will be introduced in stages across federal entities, with ongoing evaluations to assess effectiveness and guide further expansion. This phased approach is intended to ensure stable adoption before scaling across departments.
A key focus will be on building internal expertise. Government employees will receive training in generative AI tools and their practical applications, enabling them to effectively deploy and manage these technologies.
Rather than a sudden overhaul, this initiative represents the next phase of the UAE’s long-term digital transformation. The country has already established a strong foundation through eGovernment services and digital identity systems such as UAE Pass.
By adopting autonomous AI systems, the UAE aims to transform public services from reactive models to proactive ones—where systems can anticipate needs and respond before issues arise.
