The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled an ambitious new government transformation model that will see artificial intelligence deployed at an unprecedented scale across public service operations. The initiative, announced on Thursday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum via his official X account, follows directives from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Agentic AI to Power Half of Government Operations
Under the new framework, the UAE plans to have 50 percent of government sectors, services, and operations run on agentic AI within the next two years. This positions the country as a global pioneer in large-scale autonomous government systems. According to Sheikh Mohammed, the shift reflects a fundamental redefinition of how government work will be executed.
AI is no longer a tool. It analyzes, decides, executes, and improves in real time. It will become our executive partner to enhance services, accelerate decisions, and raise efficiency, he stated. He added that the transformation is anchored on a strict performance timeline, with progress measured by the speed of adoption, quality of implementation, and integration of AI into government workflow.
Nationwide AI Training for Federal Employees
The initiative also includes a nationwide capacity-building programme. Sheikh Mohammed said every federal government employee will undergo AI training to strengthen national capability in AI-driven governance. Oversight of the programme will be led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while execution will be coordinated by a dedicated taskforce chaired by Mohammad Al Gergawi.
Despite the scale of automation planned, officials stressed that the guiding principle remains people-centred governance. The world is changing. Technology is accelerating. Our principle remains constant: people come first. Our goal is a government that is faster, more responsive, and more impactful, Sheikh Mohammed said.
The UAE's latest move further consolidates its ambition to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital government innovation. By integrating agentic AI across half of its government operations, the country aims to set a new standard for efficiency and responsiveness in public service delivery.
