UAE unifies AI and data under Cabinet authority

Dubai has created a federal authority to steer artificial intelligence, public data and digital government policy under one national framework, marking a new phase in the country’s plan to embed autonomous systems across state services.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority on June 14, placing it directly under the Cabinet and giving it responsibility for coordinating national priorities, legislation and strategies in a field central to administration and economic competitiveness.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, has been named chairman of the authority. His appointment gives the new body a leadership link to the UAE’s earlier push to create a ministerial portfolio for artificial intelligence in 2017, when the country sought to position itself ahead of other governments in adopting emerging technologies.

The authority will combine functions that had been handled by three separate structures: the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; the Digital Government Sector at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and the UAE Data Office. The consolidation is intended to reduce overlap, strengthen accountability and establish a unified operating model for AI, data sharing, cybersecurity, digital services and platforms.

The move follows an April Cabinet framework that set a target of shifting 50 per cent of federal government sectors, services and operations to Agentic AI within two years. Agentic AI refers to systems capable of analysing information, making recommendations and carrying out multi-step tasks with limited human intervention. For public administration, that shift could reshape licensing, permitting, customer service, procurement and internal workflows.

Sheikh Mohammed said the goal was a government that is “faster, smarter and always one step ahead”, while stressing that the model should be built around people rather than paperwork. The authority’s mandate reflects that balance, combining service acceleration with requirements for data quality, responsible sharing and information security across federal entities.

A central task will be the development and leadership of the national AI strategy, alongside efforts to raise the contribution of the digital economy to gross domestic product. The authority is also expected to operate AI-powered national data platforms to support evidence-based decision-making and proactive services that anticipate the needs of residents, citizens and businesses before they approach counters or online portals.

The creation of the body comes as Dubai and Abu Dhabi accelerate their own digital government programmes. Dubai has directed entities to integrate individual and business services into a unified digital platform within a year, while Abu Dhabi’s 2025–2027 digital strategy is backed by AED13 billion in planned investment and seeks to build an AI-powered government model through cloud adoption, automation and public service delivery.

The federal authority may serve as the coordination layer between national policy and emirate-level execution. Its role in aligning federal and local initiatives will be critical because the UAE’s digital government ecosystem includes multiple regulators, service platforms and data custodians. Without consistent standards, AI projects can produce fragmented datasets, uneven user experiences and security gaps.

The policy challenge is not limited to technology deployment. Governments worldwide are facing scrutiny over how AI systems handle personal data, explain decisions and preserve human accountability, particularly when automated tools influence public services. The authority will need to set clear rules for model governance, data access, audit trails, bias testing, procurement and escalation to officials in high-impact cases.

For businesses, the authority’s creation signals a more centralised route for engagement with public-sector AI and data initiatives. Technology companies, cloud providers, cybersecurity firms, universities and AI start-ups are likely to watch closely for standards that shape procurement, compliance and partnerships. Its international coordination mandate also opens room for bilateral projects, regulatory dialogue and talent development.