The United Arab Emirates has established a new Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority, a major step in its effort to build a fully AI-driven digital government. The new federal body brings together previously separate entities responsible for AI strategy, digital government, and national data management into a single centralized institution reporting directly to the UAE Cabinet.
The main purpose of the authority is to unify how the UAE develops and governs artificial intelligence across all government sectors. It will oversee national AI policies, manage public data infrastructure, and coordinate digital transformation initiatives across ministries and agencies. Officials say the goal is to make government services faster, more efficient, and more predictive by embedding AI into core decision-making systems.
A key feature of the initiative is its alignment with the UAE’s broader strategy to become a global leader in AI by 2031. The country has already introduced AI ministers, national AI strategies, and large-scale investments in data infrastructure and AI-enabled public services. The new authority is intended to act as the central “command hub” for these efforts, ensuring that AI adoption is consistent and scalable across the entire government ecosystem.
Overall, the move reflects a broader shift in governance philosophy: instead of treating AI as a supporting tool, the UAE is positioning it as a foundational layer of government operations. By consolidating control over data and AI under one authority, the country aims to accelerate innovation while maintaining tighter coordination, standardization, and oversight in its digital transformation journey.
