The United Arab Emirates is moving to embed autonomous decision-making systems at the core of government. In a directive announced by UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the country aims to have 50% of federal government operations powered by “agentic AI” within two years. If the timeline is met, it would position the UAE as the first state to deploy such systems at scale across public administration.

The initiative, launched under the leadership of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reflects a shift from digitization to autonomy. Where earlier waves of e-government focused on service access and efficiency, agentic AI introduces systems capable of analyzing data, making decisions, executing actions, and iterating in real time. “AI is no longer a tool,” Sheikh Mohammed said, describing it instead as an “executive partner” embedded within the machinery of governance.

The policy sets explicit performance metrics: speed of adoption, quality of implementation, and the extent to which agencies can redesign workflows around AI capabilities. Oversight will sit with UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, while execution will be coordinated by a task force chaired by Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the UAE Mohammad Al Gergawi.

At its core, the program attempts to resolve a persistent bottleneck in public-sector AI adoption: institutional capacity. Rather than treating automation as a layer atop existing bureaucracy, the UAE plans to retrain its federal workforce, positioning civil servants as operators and supervisors of AI systems. Every federal employee is expected to undergo training in generative AI tools and applications, signaling a transition toward hybrid human-machine governance.

This ambition builds on a two-decade trajectory of digital transformation. The UAE’s early investments in eGovernment infrastructure evolved into mobile-first service delivery and integrated platforms such as the UAE Pass digital identity system. More recent programs, including Government Services 2.0, introduced proactive and data-driven service models — precursors to the predictive and autonomous capabilities envisioned under agentic AI.

Institutionally, the country has already laid the groundwork for centralized AI governance. In 2017, it became the first nation to appoint a dedicated minister for artificial intelligence, followed by the launch of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 under the Centennial 2071 framework. The creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications in 2020 further consolidated this direction.

What distinguishes the current initiative is not the adoption of AI per se, but the attempt to reorganize government around it. The two-year deadline compresses what has historically been a gradual, uneven process into a bounded, performance-driven transformation.