The UAE isn’t just dreaming of a prophetic future. It is building an ecosystem where policy, capital, talent, and moon-shot science, all propel in the same direction to attain dizzying heights
When GenAI was getting ready to become a buzzword, the UAE was launching the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. It was a futuristically crafted platform to align public services, education and the economy with AI.
“The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it,” His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid famously said. And that line is etched into Dubai’s Museum of the Future and, more importantly, into the country’s operating philosophy.
At the heart of this vision is the
Ministry of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, led by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama—the world’s first AI minister when appointed in 2017.
The ministry is the governance engine behind the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, covering eight strategic objectives—from building a global AI reputation to deploying AI across priority sectors, nurturing talent, establishing data infrastructure, and ensuring responsible governance. The strategy ties directly to UAE Centennial 2071 and spells out a goal to make the country “the world’s most prepared” for AI across sectors. This is how national intent becomes administrative muscle.
Aligned with Vision 2031 and Centennial 2071, the strategy envisions 100% reliance on AI for government services and data analysis by 2031. A recent federal planning cycle now extends this ambition by embedding AI in a streamlined, three-year planning process—ushering in agile governance and resource optimization across 38 federal entities. Some of the notable initiatives include:
- Dubai Future Foundation: Making the future tangible
- Startups Empowerment: Building the AI talent pipeline
- Spacefront: Mars, moon and asteroids belt exploration
- Institutional Confidence: Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute developed the open-weight Falcon and Falcon 2 models; MBZUAI, in collaboration with G42, released Jais, a leading Arabic LLM .
- AI as Governance: Co-Legislator and Digital Backbone
The upcoming GITEX Global (13–17 October 2025) and Expand North Star are more than conferences. They broadcast the UAE’s vision that AI innovation is not future talk. It is here and now.
Incredible futures are carved by extraordinary personalities who can envision a world yet unborn.
The UAE’s vision wouldn’t be credible without the visionary figures of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Omar Sultan Al Olama.
It is the governance. operational leadership, and institutions like the Ministry of AI, MBZUAI, Technology Innovation Institute, Dubai Future Foundation, and MGX/G42 that are building today the scaffolding of a spectacular tomorrow.
By: abuShan
