The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031
October 2017
Strategies and Action Plans
The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 outlines an ambitious vision to establish the country as a global leader in AI by 2031, aligning this goal with the broader UAE Centennial 2071 vision of becoming the best country in the world. This strategy focuses on creating a strong foundation for economic, educational, and governmental transformation through AI, with the aim of generating AED 335 billion in economic growth.
There are eight strategic objectives outlined in the AI Strategy, namely:
- Build a reputation as an AI destination.
- Increase the UAE competitive assets in priority sectors through deployment of AI.
- Develop a fertile ecosystem for AI.
- Adopt AI across customer services to improve lives and government.
- Attract and train talent for future jobs enabled by AI.
- Bring world-leading research capability to work with target industries.
- Provide the data and supporting infrastructure essential to become a test bed for AI.
- Ensure strong governance and effective regulation.
The UAE has a strong foundation consisting of cohesive and diversified multinational community that is a fast adapter to new and emerging technologies. Therefore, it acts as a magnet that attracts the best talents from the globe to conduct their experiments on AI solutions in the UAE and open the doors to practical implementations in different sectors.
The strategy emphasises building a global reputation as a hub for AI. The ‘UAI’ brand will play a critical role in attracting international talent and businesses to the UAE. By hosting global conferences and awarding a ‘UAI Seal of Approval’ to ethical and high-quality AI technologies, the UAE aims to create a magnet for innovation and excellence.
Priority sectors for AI deployment have been identified to maximise economic and social impact. These include energy, logistics, tourism, healthcare, and cybersecurity. The UAE plans to develop proof-of-concept projects within these industries, such as predictive systems for tourism and advanced diagnostic tools in healthcare, to demonstrate the transformative potential of AI.
Creating a fertile ecosystem for AI development is another cornerstone of the strategy. This involves fostering local startups through funding, mentoring, and partnerships, while simultaneously attracting international firms with incentives and collaboration opportunities. A nationwide AI network connecting researchers, industry experts, and policymakers will serve as a platform to drive innovation.
The strategy also emphasises the importance of integrating AI into government services to improve efficiency and citizen experiences. AI technologies will be used to tackle key societal challenges, such as healthcare improvements and traffic safety, through initiatives like national AI challenges.
Developing AI talent is central to the strategy’s success. The UAE is committed to providing widespread training opportunities, from public AI awareness programs to specialised upskilling for STEM graduates and government employees. Partnerships with global experts and institutions will support the creation of a highly skilled workforce capable of driving the AI agenda forward.
To strengthen research capabilities, the UAE plans to establish a National Virtual AI Institute that will pool global and local expertise. This will be complemented by initiatives like the Key Thinkers Program, which invites leading researchers to collaborate with UAE institutions, and the development of an open-access AI library to share knowledge broadly.
Data infrastructure and governance are critical components of the strategy. The UAE aims to create a robust, secure data-sharing framework, enabling the development of AI-ready datasets while addressing privacy and security concerns. This will ensure that AI innovations are built on reliable and standardised data.
Finally, the strategy places a strong emphasis on governance and regulation to ensure the responsible development of AI. The UAE seeks to lead global discussions on AI governance, with initiatives such as the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence Roundtable.