Global AI Governance Law and Policy: United Arab Emirates

This article is part of a series on global AI governance law and policy.

The United Arab Emirates has steadily built a national framework for artificial intelligence over the past decade with a focus on integrating AI into government services, economic planning, and infrastructure. In 2017, the UAE launched its first AI strategy and appointed a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, initiating a government-led effort to explore how AI could be applied across public services and national development.

Since then, the UAE has expanded its efforts through the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which outlines goals for integrating AI into sectors such as health care, education, and transportation. It is supported by initiatives that build technical capacity, attract investment, and promote responsible innovation.

The UAE's level of investment — both internally and via strategic bilateral agreements with global players and governments, such as the U.S.-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership — demonstrates the government's commitment to AI. It positions AI not merely as a computing resource but as a critical national asset.