The UAE used the global stage of the UN Summit of the Future in New York to make a forceful case for deploying artificial intelligence in humanitarian action — arguing that AI can anticipate crises before they erupt rather than simply responding to their aftermath.
UAE Calls for AI-Driven Humanitarian Early Warning
Omran Sharaf, UAE Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, outlined the country's commitment at the summit. "The use of AI for humanitarian action provides an anticipatory approach to predict and prepare for outbursts of violence, climate change, and displacement," Sharaf said, adding that the UAE would "continue to work with all partners and stakeholders to ensure that our global community benefits from these technologies."
The statement marks a significant step in the UAE's broader push to position artificial intelligence as a tool for global public good, not merely an engine of economic growth.
The Pact for the Future: 56 Steps Toward Sustainable Progress
The summit represented the culmination of nine months of negotiations among heads of state and government, resulting in the adoption of the Pact for the Future. UN Secretary-General António Guterres framed the agreement as an effort "to revive the spirit of multilateralism" at a moment when international relations are under strain — citing challenges posed by states including Russia, Iran, Sudan, and Syria.
The Pact for the Future encompasses 56 concrete action steps aimed at accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across peace, security, climate, and humanitarian imperatives. It also includes the Global Digital Compact, which establishes frameworks for international cooperation on AI governance and digital inclusion.
UAE Development Minister Ohoud Al-Roumi welcomed the agreement's adoption, reinforcing the UAE's active role in shaping global policy.
Climate and Financial Architecture on the Agenda
Among the pact's key commitments are reforms to the global financial architecture to better serve emerging economies, and a reaffirmed pledge to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Achieving that goal requires phasing out fossil fuels and reaching a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.
The urgency is underscored by sobering data: according to the UN's 2024 SDG Report, only approximately 17 percent of SDG targets are currently on track, highlighting the critical need for coordinated international action — and, the UAE argues, smarter use of AI to close the gap.
