More than a year and a half has passed since the UAE’s Emirate of Abu Dhabi began fundamentally reshaping government around artificial intelligence. By 2027, it aims to make AI the primary working tool across all digital public services — something no government in the world has yet achieved.

To meet this objective under the Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025–2027, 13 billion dirhams, approximately US$3.5 billion, is being invested. For comparison, construction of the world’s tallest building — the 828-meter Burj Khalifa, opened in Dubai in 2010 — cost US$1.5 billion.

Government will move to a fully digital model

The strategy’s main objective is to fully digitalize government operations and introduce artificial intelligence at every level of public administration.

All administrative processes in government agencies will therefore be digitalized and automated. The plan also envisages full adoption of sovereign cloud computing, enabling government data to be stored within digital infrastructure controlled by the country.

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform is also being introduced to bring government organizations’ financial, human resources and management processes into a single system. This will strengthen cooperation between agencies, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and accelerate decision-making.

Artificial intelligence will power public services

The strategy will introduce more than 200 AI solutions into public services.

The AI for All program will also focus on improving residents’ and civil servants’ knowledge and skills in using AI technologies. Its initiators believe the quality of digital public services depends closely on people’s ability to use them, as well as on the technology itself.

“The Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025–2027 reflects the full substance of our digitalization strategy. Artificial intelligence will be seamlessly integrated across government, creating a proactive, responsive and fully technology-enabled future. By making AI, cloud technologies and data-driven analytics an integral part of government, we will fundamentally improve public service quality, increase the efficiency of government agencies and ensure sustainable economic growth,” said Ahmad Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement (DGE).

The new strategy goes beyond developing digital infrastructure.

It also provides for stronger cybersecurity, improved digital standards and regulatory frameworks, and new approaches to identifying potential cyber threats in advance.

These measures are intended to ensure uninterrupted public services and reliable protection of citizens’ data.

The social and economic benefits of digital transformation

Official estimates indicate that implementation will create more than 5,000 jobs and generate over 24 billion dirhams in additional income for Abu Dhabi’s economy by 2027.

The country’s leading scientific and technology organizations are participating in this ambitious project. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) will train AI specialists, the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) is responsible for developing large language models, and G42 is involved in expanding AI infrastructure.

Joint projects with several international technology partners are also planned.

Why does Abu Dhabi’s experience matter?

In recent years, many countries have actively begun introducing AI into public services. Abu Dhabi stands out because it aims to rebuild the entire architecture of government around AI, rather than confining the transformation to individual services.

If the strategy is implemented fully and on schedule, Abu Dhabi’s experience could become a practical guide not only for other UAE emirates but also for many countries seeking to reshape government through artificial intelligence.

Source: egov.uz