Dubai has made history by appointing 22 Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) across its government entities — a landmark move that embeds artificial intelligence leadership at every level of public administration. The announcement was made by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, via a post on X.
Dubai's Chief AI Officers: What the Appointments Mean
The appointments are part of the Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI), a comprehensive strategy designed to integrate AI into government operations to improve efficiency and drive innovation. Sheikh Hamdan underscored that expanding AI capacity is a core pillar of the broader vision set by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to position Dubai as the world's leading city for AI innovation.
Each of the 22 newly appointed Chief AI Officers will be embedded within a specific government organisation, reporting to their respective entities and tasked with developing specialised AI programmes aligned with Dubai's strategic goals.
Full List of Government Entities with Chief AI Officers
The 22 entities now represented by a dedicated Chief AI Officer are:
- Community Development Authority in Dubai - Dubai Government Human Resources Department - Dubai Customs - Dubai Police - The Judicial Council - Dubai Civil Aviation Authority - Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) - Dubai Digital Authority - General Directorate of Dubai Civil Defence - Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment - Dubai Health Authority (DHA) - Public Prosecution - Protocol Department in Dubai - Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) - Dubai Culture & Arts Authority - Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University - Department of Economy and Tourism - Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services - Department of Finance - Endowments and Minors' Trust Foundation (Awqaf Dubai) - Dubai Municipality
Phase One: Data Centres and a New AI Company Licence
The appointments follow the formal launch of Dubai's Artificial Intelligence Strategy earlier in 2024. In the first phase, the government will roll out a programme to attract and empower data centres, alongside the introduction of a new dedicated AI company licence.
Setting a Global Benchmark for Government AI
Dubai's AI governance push — led by Sheikh Hamdan — is designed to set a global benchmark for how governments adopt artificial intelligence. Placing dedicated Chief AI Officers inside 22 public bodies marks a structural shift: AI is no longer a peripheral project but a core function of each organisation, with senior leadership to match.
