BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
As the UAE outpaces many nations in advancing artificial intelligence, the focus is not only on speed and scale but on guiding that growth in a measured, responsible manner. An expert in the field emphasised that, for the UAE, innovation and accountability must move forward together.
Speaking to Aletihad, Khaled Alnuaimi, an expert at the National Experts Programme (NEP) representing the AI sector, said the UAE has adopted a structured, layered model to govern the development and use of AI.
Alnuaimi pointed to the UAE Charter for the Development and Use of AI, issued in June 2024, which outlines 12 guiding principles addressing human oversight, safety, privacy, transparency and governance.
"While non-binding, the charter serves as a national ethical reference point for AI regulation across both government and private sectors,” he said.
Supporting the charter is the UAE AI Ethics Guide, which provides practical guidance for organisations developing or deploying AI systems, setting standards on fairness, accountability, transparency, privacy, and safety, according to Alnuaimi.
Globally, the UAE has formalised its position through the International Stance on Artificial Intelligence Policy, approved by Cabinet in October 2024. Built around six principles —advancement, collaboration, community, ethics, sustainability, and safety, known collectively as the ACCESS framework — the policy defines the country’s approach to contributing to global AI governance.
“This includes participating in international standards forums, advocating transparency and accountability in AI systems, and supporting global alliances aimed at regulating AI development,” Alnuaimi said.
Responsibility for applying these principles extends beyond institutions, he added: “Individuals are expected to apply them in their own engagement with AI, particularly in how they share and interact with digital content.”
Safeguarding Information Integrity
With AI now increasingly used in daily life, the country is also focusing on protecting the integrity of digital information.
Alnuaimi said that one of the priorities of the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence is strengthening governance and regulation through guidelines that address areas such as deepfakes and cybersecurity.
The manipulation of digital content is not a new phenomenon. However, Alnuaimi said recent advances in technology and the commercial availability of software tools have made such fabrications significantly easier to create and deploy.
“When used irresponsibly, these tools can amplify the spread of misinformation, manipulate public opinion, damage reputations, and undermine trust in digital media,” the expert said.
Existing UAE legislation already addresses some of these risks, Alnuaimi said, as national laws prohibit cyberbullying, identity impersonation, and malicious online behaviour.
“Regulations also define criteria governing the production and distribution of media content, including rules against publishing fake news or content that violates privacy or social and cultural norms,” he added.
Building Sovereign AI Capacity
Beyond governance and regulation, the UAE is also investing in what experts describe as sovereign AI capabilities.
“Sovereign AI is no longer a strategic aspiration. It is a national necessity,” Alnuaimi said.
The concept refers to a country’s ability to develop, deploy and govern AI using its own infrastructure, data, talent and research institutions, rather than relying entirely on foreign providers.
From a security perspective, sovereign AI reduces exposure to supply-chain vulnerabilities and ensures that systems supporting critical national infrastructure remain under domestic oversight, according to Alnuaimi.
Economically, the stakes are equally significant. According to the UAE National AI Strategy 2031, full adoption of artificial intelligence across industries could generate up to Dh335 billion in additional national economic output.
Research from TRENDS Research and Advisory also estimates that the UAE’s AI market could reach Dh170 billion by 2030.
The UAE has backed these projections with concrete sovereign investment, Alnuami said.
In March 2024, MGX, an investment platform backed by Mubadala and G42, was launched with a mandate to develop more than $100 billion in AI assets. Meanwhile, the Stargate UAE project in Abu Dhabi, a one-gigawatt AI computing cluster backed by G42, OpenAI and NVIDIA, represents one of the largest concentrations of AI infrastructure globally.
“These investments are not incidental. Countries that fail to build sovereign AI capacity risk structural dependence on external providers, with limited ability to adapt systems to national contexts, languages or governance requirements,” Alnuaimi said.
Developing AI Talent and Research Capacity
The UAE’s broader AI development strategy is anchored in the National AI Strategy 2031, which sets out objectives across infrastructure, research, governance and talent development with the goal of positioning the country as a global AI leader.
“Building a strong domestic ecosystem requires a combination of targeted funding, knowledge exchange and sustained strategic support. Access to local data infrastructure and investment in projects capable of leveraging that data are key elements of the strategy,” Alnuaimi said.
The UAE continues to invest in advanced digital infrastructure and training programmes to strengthen national expertise in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, he added.
“This approach not only accelerates innovation but also creates tangible opportunities for the establishment and growth of new companies within the UAE,” Alnuami said.
Initiatives such as NEP-AI, part of the National Experts Programme, play a central role in this effort, he said. The programme focuses on practical leadership and real-world application, ensuring that Emirati professionals are not only users of AI but also architects of how they are deployed across sectors.
As AI capabilities expand, demand for specialised AI talent is becoming increasingly concentrated in sectors critical to national resilience.
According to Alnuaimi, the most urgent demand is emerging in areas such as cybersecurity, defence, national security, logistics and energy.
“These sectors operate in complex environments where speed, predictive capability and data analysis are critical,” he said.
The nature of expertise required is also changing: “It is no longer sufficient to understand AI at a conceptual level, there is a growing need for professionals who can apply AI directly within operational systems,” Alnuaimi said.
This includes monitoring critical infrastructure, analysing large-scale data flows, and supporting faster decision-making during emergencies.
AI in Real-time Crisis Response
The UAE has made significant investments in data infrastructure to support real-time decision-making during emergencies, recognising that effective crisis response depends on rapidly processing vast amounts of information, Alnuaimi said.
“AI integration into crisis management is no longer experimental. It is becoming a core component of how governments prepare for and respond to emergencies,” he added.
For example, AI systems now combine inputs from sensors, surveillance feeds and emergency communications, enabling live simulations of risks — such as flash floods or sandstorms — by cross-referencing satellite imagery with real-time data. This allows authorities to predict impact zones and strengthen vulnerable areas before conditions worsen.
At the same time, impact-based early warning systems are evolving, with AI delivering personalised alerts to residents’ phones based on their location and proximity to a developing risk.
Beyond crisis response, the UAE is also advancing AI and robotics to strengthen next-generation defence capabilities.
As systems become more data-driven and autonomous, AI is playing a growing role in how threats are detected, analysed and intercepted.
“The integration of artificial intelligence into defence technologies is fundamentally changing how security operations are conducted. Developing national expertise in these technologies is no longer optional, it is essential to maintaining both operational effectiveness and long-term strategic readiness,” Alnuaimi said.