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UAE Sets Plan to Introduce Agentic AI in Half of Government Operations

At a glance

  • UAE Cabinet announced agentic AI deployment on 23 April 2026
  • Plan targets 50% of government sectors and services within two years
  • All federal employees will receive ongoing AI training

The UAE government has outlined a new framework to integrate agentic artificial intelligence into half of its federal sectors and services over the next two years. This initiative was announced by the UAE Cabinet, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, under directives from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Agentic AI systems are defined as autonomous technologies that can monitor changes, analyse information, make decisions, and carry out tasks with minimal or no human involvement. The government stated that these systems will be used to enhance efficiency and accelerate decision-making across various operations.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said that AI will serve as an “executive partner” in government, supporting improved service delivery and operational speed. The implementation of the AI framework will be managed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with a taskforce led by Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi responsible for coordinating efforts among federal entities.

All employees in federal government roles are scheduled to participate in continuous specialised training focused on AI technologies. The government has indicated that this training will support the adoption and application of agentic AI throughout its departments.

What the numbers show

  • Framework announced on 23 April 2026
  • Target: 50% of government sectors and services to use agentic AI within two years
  • All federal employees included in ongoing AI training

Performance evaluations for ministers, directors-general, and federal entities will be based on the speed of AI adoption, the quality of implementation, and the ability to restructure workflows to leverage AI capabilities. These criteria are intended to guide the transition and measure progress across government bodies.

The agentic AI initiative builds on over twenty years of digital government development in the UAE. Previous advancements have included the introduction of eGovernment platforms, mobile services, and national digital identification systems such as UAE Pass.

The government said that the new framework aims to further modernise public administration by embedding autonomous technologies into core operations. The approach is designed to continue the UAE’s ongoing digital transformation in public services.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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