The UAE Government has announced a major shift in its governance model, aiming to transition half of its government operations to Agentic AI within two years, marking one of the most ambitious public-sector AI transformations globally. Under the directives of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, the new model was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
As part of the initiative, 50 per cent of government sectors, services, and operations will be transitioned to AI-driven autonomous systems within the next two years. The move is expected to position the UAE among the first countries globally to implement governance at this scale through AI.
Highlighting the evolving role of artificial intelligence, Sheikh Mohammed stated that AI has moved beyond being just a tool and now has the capability to analyse, make decisions, execute tasks, and continuously improve in real time. He described AI as an “executive partner” that will enhance service delivery, accelerate decision-making, and improve operational efficiency across government.
The transformation will follow a defined two-year timeline, with government performance assessed based on the speed of adoption, quality of implementation, and the ability to redesign workflows around AI capabilities.
The initiative also places strong emphasis on workforce development. All federal government employees will undergo training to build expertise in AI, with the aim of creating one of the world’s most capable AI-enabled public sector workforces.
Implementation of the programme will be overseen by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while a dedicated taskforce led by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi will drive execution.
Reaffirming the broader vision, Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that despite rapid technological advancement, the UAE’s governance approach will remain centred on people, with the goal of delivering faster, more responsive, and more impactful public services.
