The UAE Cabinet has approved a landmark UAE AI policy that positions the Emirates as a principal architect of global artificial intelligence governance — a move that signals the country's ambition to shape the frameworks that will govern AI for decades to come.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the Cabinet meeting at which the policy was adopted. Implementation falls under the joint mandate of the Ministry of Advanced Industry for Science and Technology and the Ministry of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Six Principles at the Core of the UAE's AI Policy
The policy is built on six foundational principles: advancement, cooperation, community, ethics, sustainability, and security. Together, they reflect the UAE's commitment to ensuring AI technology benefits society while remaining aligned with environmental and moral values.
On the economic side, the policy charts a clear path toward diversification and technological advancement driven by artificial intelligence — reinforcing the UAE's broader vision of reducing oil dependency through innovation.
UAE Positions Itself as a Global AI Governance Leader
Minister of State for AI Omar Sultan Al Olama underlined the scope of the UAE's ambitions in international AI regulation. "The UAE has become a significant player in the global governance of artificial intelligence, actively contributing to international policy discussions and helping define the standards and frameworks that will shape the future of AI," he said.
Al Olama added that the UAE AI policy is designed to ensure that emerging technologies work in people's best interests — not against them.
Transparency, Accountability, and International Alliances
Among the policy's major objectives are strengthening transparency and accountability across AI technologies, and forging international alliances to keep AI development secure and responsible.
The UAE will participate actively in global AI forums, advocate for built-in accountability checkpoints within AI tools, and support the implementation of regulations that hold countries responsible for any AI tools that cause harm or destabilisation.
Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, noted that the policy will help the UAE build trust with strategic partners and enable local enterprises and research institutions to pursue international cooperation — integrating AI into a framework of responsible and sustainable global use.
A Systematic Approach to AI Governance
The UAE's international AI policy represents a systematic, principles-led approach to advancing the nation's standing in AI governance. By establishing clear rules for transparency, security, privacy protection, and cross-border cooperation, the Emirates is laying the groundwork for a global alliance around ethical and efficient AI consumption.
With AI regulation emerging as one of the defining geopolitical questions of the decade, the UAE's move to formalise its international stance puts the country at the forefront of a conversation that will shape economies, societies, and security frameworks worldwide.
