UAE Government Moves Toward Agentic AI in Major Public Sector Shift

The UAE is moving from digital government to AI-assisted government at a much larger scale.

The UAE Cabinet has announced a new operating model that aims to make 50% of government sectors, services, and operations run on Agentic AI within two years. The plan was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, following directives from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Agentic AI is different from basic automation. Instead of simply following fixed instructions, AI agents can analyse information, make decisions, carry out tasks, and improve processes with limited human supervision. In government, that could mean faster service handling, smarter internal workflows, and more proactive support for residents and businesses.

The practical point is not just that the UAE wants to “use AI.” Many governments already do. The bigger shift is the target: applying autonomous AI systems across a large part of public-sector work, including policies, procedures, and daily operations. The rollout is expected to be phased across ministries and federal entities, with performance measured by speed of adoption, quality of implementation, and how well AI is used to redesign government work.

This also raises an important watch point: trust. As AI becomes more involved in public services, people will expect clear accountability, strong cybersecurity, privacy protection, and human oversight where decisions affect rights, documents, payments, or access to services.

The UAE has been building toward this direction for years, from early digital government services to AI strategy, UAE Pass, and wider public-sector digital transformation. The next two years will show how quickly Agentic AI can move from policy announcement to practical, reliable service delivery.

Key Takeaways

• The UAE aims to run 50% of government sectors, services, and operations on Agentic AI within two years.
• Agentic AI can analyse, decide, execute, and improve tasks with limited supervision.
• The biggest benefits could be faster services, lower operational pressure, and more proactive government support.
• The key risks to watch are privacy, cybersecurity, accountability, and human oversight.
• This is a major step in the UAE’s wider AI and digital government strategy.

Sources: National Media Office, Khaleej Times, The National.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, cybersecurity, or professional advice. Readers should verify important information through official sources before taking action.