The United Arab Emirates has announced an ambitious plan to transform its public sector by shifting 50% of government services, sectors, and operations to artificial intelligence within the next two years. The initiative was unveiled by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a cabinet meeting, marking a major step toward building one of the world’s most advanced AI-driven governments.
The strategy focuses on deploying “agentic AI,” a form of artificial intelligence capable of independently analyzing data, making decisions, and executing tasks without continuous human intervention. This transformation aims to redesign government processes, policies, and services to become more proactive, efficient, and responsive. Officials emphasize that AI systems will act as an “executive partner,” helping manage operations, provide real-time insights, and improve service delivery across departments.
A key objective of the initiative is to enhance productivity, reduce operational costs, and significantly speed up government services. The UAE also plans to invest heavily in workforce development, ensuring that all federal employees are trained in AI tools and technologies. A dedicated task force, overseen by senior leadership, will monitor implementation and ensure that the transition is completed within the defined two-year timeline.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could position the UAE as the first country to operate a government at such a large scale using autonomous AI systems. This move reflects a broader shift from traditional digital transformation toward fully intelligent, self-operating governance models, potentially setting a global benchmark for how governments integrate AI into public administration.
