SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As AI moves from answering questions to taking action, strong governance and institutional readiness will be critical to ensuring innovation develops responsibly, according to a fellow from the National Experts Programme (NEP) of the UAE.
In an interview with Aletihad, Sumaya Al Hajeri, NEP Fellow in Public Policy and Governance, said governance should enable responsible innovation rather than restrict it.
“Governance frameworks should not be viewed as a constraint on AI innovation, but as an enabler that creates the conditions for innovation to develop responsibly and sustainably."
She said governments must build institutional readiness alongside technological capabilities. This requires investment in talent, regulatory expertise, data infrastructure, continuous monitoring, and policy adaptation.
"It is about equipping people and institutions with the capabilities to understand emerging technologies, assess their implications, and translate governance principles into effective practice,” Al Hajeri said.
The shift towards agentic AI is making human oversight and accountability increasingly important, she added. “Ethical and public-interest considerations are becoming more urgent than ever.”
Governments need practical frameworks for accountability and automated decision-making, she said. “Who is accountable when an AI system takes an action or produces an outcome?”
These frameworks should also address algorithmic transparency, data governance, privacy, and continuous risk assessment.
AI adoption also requires governments to strengthen institutional capabilities, redesign processes, as well as equip people with the skills to use the technology responsibly.
A People-First Approach
Digital sovereignty is central to AI transformation, Al Hajeri said. Governments should maintain control over critical data, infrastructure and AI capabilities to protect national interests.
“Together, these policy areas will determine whether AI creates sustainable public value while preserving trust, accountability, and human judgment.”
On strengthening public trust in AI, Al Hajeri said transparency, privacy, security, as well as accountability, should remain central to its deployment.
“Public trust is fundamental to the successful adoption of AI. The UAE can strengthen this trust by ensuring that AI is deployed with clear principles around transparency, privacy, security, accountability, and responsible use."
The public should understand how AI is used, how their data is protected, and how potential risks are managed, the expert said.
"A human-first approach should remain at the heart of AI adoption, with people kept meaningfully in the loop, particularly in decisions that have significant impact on individuals and communities.”
She added that AI should deliver tangible benefits while protecting people’s interests and employment opportunities.
“Trust is built when people see that AI is not only advancing services and productivity, but is being developed and deployed with people at its core.”
Al Hajeri also highlighted the importance of collaboration between policymakers, technology experts, and public institutions.
“Collaboration is fundamental to building resilient digital ecosystems.”
Policymakers set governance frameworks and standards, she noted, while technology experts and public institutions help ensure secure, effective and trusted implementation.
“By connecting these perspectives, the UAE can build digital systems that are not only innovative, but also secure, adaptable, inclusive, and resilient over the long term.”
As an NEP Fellow, Al Hajeri aims to strengthen her AI governance expertise and anticipate future policy needs.
"My goal is to deepen my expertise at the intersection of strategic foresight, technology, innovation policy, and governance, with a particular focus on anticipating how AI will shape future policy needs."
She plans to use insights gained through the programme to develop future-ready AI governance and policy frameworks.
"I will leverage the experience and insights gained through NEP in strategic foresight, data governance, cluster economics, and policy design." Her focus is on developing adaptive, evidence-based policies that address AI’s opportunities and risks.