AI to draft and amend UAE laws
Legal scholars warn AI may misinterpret texts, but experts say the UAE’s centralised model enables rapid adoption of cutting‑edge tech.
The United Arab Emirates has announced a pioneering scheme to employ AI in drafting, amending and reviewing its laws. Launched by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the new Regulatory Intelligence Office will steer what the ruler describes as a world‑first legislative overhaul.
Expected to accelerate lawmaking by up to 70 per cent, the system will analyse vast government and legal datasets rather than merely summarise documents. Ministers hope that AI will enhance precision and allow active review of existing statutes alongside drafting new provisions.
Legal experts caution that AI models may misinterpret complex texts or produce proposals at odds with human norms.
Nevertheless, observers such as Oxford Internet Institute’s Keegan McBride argue that the centralised governance of the UAE can adapt to emerging technologies faster than more fragmented democracies.
Building on its 2017 appointment of the world’s first minister for AI and its national AI strategy, the Gulf state has also backed innovation through the MGX fund, which includes support for BlackRock’s $30 billion AI‑infrastructure venture.
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