Programme Objectives and Scope
The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 was first announced in October 2017, establishing the UAE as the first country globally to adopt a comprehensive national AI strategy and the first to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. The strategy targets the integration of AI across government services and key economic sectors to improve efficiency, drive innovation, and create new sources of economic value. Nine priority sectors were identified for AI transformation: transport, health, space, renewable energy, water, technology, education, environment, and traffic. The strategy has since been expanded to encompass broader digital economy objectives, generative AI frameworks, and AI governance standards.
Key Targets and KPIs
The strategy targets positioning the UAE among the top global leaders in AI adoption and innovation by 2031. Specific KPIs include the percentage of government services enhanced by AI, the volume of AI-related research output from UAE institutions, the number of AI companies operating in the UAE, the contribution of AI to GDP growth, and the development of a skilled AI workforce. The strategy also tracks the deployment of AI applications across the nine priority sectors, measuring adoption rates, efficiency gains, and cost reductions attributable to AI integration. More recent updates have added targets around responsible AI governance and the development of Arabic-language AI capabilities.
Implementation Status and Progress
Implementation has advanced significantly since launch. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), established in 2019, operates as the world’s first graduate-level AI research university. G42, the Abu Dhabi-based AI and cloud computing group, has emerged as a globally significant AI company with partnerships including Microsoft. The UAE Government has deployed AI across multiple federal services, including immigration processing, healthcare diagnostics, and smart traffic management. The AI Office, operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, has published AI ethics guidelines and governance frameworks. Dubai’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution has piloted AI applications in smart city management and regulatory technology.
Lead and Supporting Institutions
The UAE AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, coordinates the strategy at the federal level. Key institutional partners include MBZUAI for research and talent development, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) for digital infrastructure, G42 and its subsidiaries for enterprise and sovereign AI, and the individual emirate-level smart government authorities. The Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation and the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority support implementation across their respective jurisdictions.
Relationship to We the UAE 2031 Pillars
The AI Strategy is central to the Economy Pillar of We the UAE 2031, directly supporting the digital economy’s target contribution of 20 percent of GDP. It intersects with the sustainability pillar through AI applications in energy optimisation, water management, and environmental monitoring. The society pillar benefits from AI-driven improvements in healthcare, education, and public services. The global engagement pillar is supported by the UAE’s positioning as a destination for global AI talent and a testbed for AI governance standards that could serve as models for other nations.
Funding and Resource Allocation
Investment in the AI strategy spans sovereign, institutional, and private sector capital. MBZUAI receives substantial funding from the Abu Dhabi government. G42’s capitalisation and investment programme — including the Microsoft partnership — represents billions of dollars in private and sovereign AI investment. Federal budget allocations for digital transformation and AI deployment across government entities are embedded within ministerial budgets. Abu Dhabi’s commitment to AI infrastructure, including data centre expansion and compute capacity through Core42, represents the largest single concentration of AI-related capital expenditure in the region.