Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As the UAE embarks on a mission to become the world's first AI-native government by 2027, sovereign AI, homegrown talent, and a strong organisational culture will play a crucial role in driving this digital transformation, said Faisal Al Hawi, Director of AI Factory at the Department of Government Enablement (DGE).
In an interview with Aletihad, Al Hawi stressed that developing sovereign AI capabilities is a strategic priority for the UAE, tied directly to the country’s long-term economic growth, global competitiveness and national resilience.
“The UAE is a regional leader in AI, and a global pioneer in shaping how governments and economies adopt and govern advanced technologies," he said.
Al Hawi is one of five Emiratis selected as National Expert Program (NEP) 4.0 Fellows, representing the technology and innovation sector. The NEP is a launchpad for Emirati experts to play a leading role in the transformation of future-growth sectors aligned with the UAE's national priorities.
Working at the intersection of government, technology and national ambition, Al Hawi is helping shape a new operating model that moves government beyond automation towards a fully AI-native governance future.
According to Al Hawi, sovereign AI enables countries to build, manage and govern their own AI systems using local infrastructure, data, talent and regulations, ensuring greater national control over critical technologies and sensitive public data.
"It ensures that critical technologies and sensitive public data remain under national control, rather than relying entirely on external platforms or providers. This essentially means, we are keeping our most valuable assets secure and governed, and build national competitive advantage around it," he said.
He said this approach allows governments to deliver faster, more personalised and secure public services while safeguarding critical digital infrastructure and national data.
"The premise of sovereign AI is building trust through national AI capabilities locally, including infrastructure, governance models talent."
This creates, according to Al Hawi, a trusted and secure foundation for AI adoption.
Al Hawi added that the UAE is investing in AI infrastructure and research through organisations such as G42 and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), while also prioritising local AI talent and strategic global partnerships.
Faster, Seamless and Personalised Services
Further elaborating, Al Hawi said an AI-native government is designed around AI from the outset rather than incorporating it later, making government services simpler, faster and more personalised for citizens.
He explained that AI-native government would provide citizens with faster, seamless and personalised services across healthcare, visas, licensing and education, while helping public institutions improve decision-making, emergency response and resource planning.
"We are not thinking about this from the technology lens only. In fact, we view technology as one layer only, with data, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, responsible AI and governance being other important layers."
While the UAE continues to collaborate with global AI leaders, he stressed that relying solely on external technologies can create dependencies around data, infrastructure and decision-making.
"Sovereign AI allows the UAE to shape how these technologies are developed and applied in ways that align with its national priorities, cultural values, and future vision."
He added that sovereign AI will enable AI systems tailored to the UAE's needs across sectors such as healthcare, education and government services, while strengthening national control over sensitive data, public trust and the country's ability to govern AI independently.
"As AI becomes increasingly tied to economic performance and national security, developing local capabilities also helps the UAE reduce overreliance on foreign technologies and build long-term resilience."
National Experts Programme
Al Hawi also highlighted NEP-AI, the AI track of the UAE National Experts Program, as a key initiative that is preparing future AI leaders to drive responsible innovation across sectors.
"The key is to leverage AI to improve citizen experiences with the government, that’s the goal," he said.
Al Hawi also pointed out that governments must integrate AI in ways that balance innovation with transparency, fairness and public trust.
He added that strong governance and transparency are essential to building public confidence, while AI should enhance service delivery, improve accessibility and support policymaking.
"The UAE has already demonstrated this balance through its AI initiatives and investments in future-focused capabilities, showing that innovation and responsible governance can advance together."
Reflecting on his NEP experience, Al Hawi said the programme strengthened his expertise in AI governance while supporting the responsible adoption of AI across government.
"One of my key goals was to support the responsible adoption of AI in government, reimagining how we operate and how we design and deliver services by improving efficiency and decision-making while maintaining transparency, security and public trust. I am determined to continue my mission of serving the UAE in achieving its ambitions to becoming a global leader in AI transformation."
