The UAE government has officially placed artificial intelligence at the core of its national strategy, renaming its Ministerial Development Council to the Ministerial Council for Artificial Intelligence and Development. The move, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, signals a structural shift to embed AI into the highest levels of federal policy and execution.
Quick Facts
- Council renamed to focus on AI and Development.
- Chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- Part of a plan for 50% agentic AI adoption.
From Development to AI: A Strategic Pivot
This restructuring is more than a name change; it represents a fundamental pivot in governance. Chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the council now has the formal authority and accountability for the UAE’s ambitious AI implementation goals.
The council’s expanded mandate includes overseeing federal performance, reviewing all policies and legislation submitted by federal entities, and supervising the deployment of AI across all government operations. This provides the nation’s AI transformation with direct executive authority, a ministerial architecture reportedly not seen in any other country.
Powering an Autonomous Government
The decision follows the recent announcement of a new framework to deploy agentic AI across 50% of government sectors and operations within just two years. This initiative aims to build autonomous systems capable of monitoring changes, managing operations, and executing decisions with minimal human intervention.
The council will have direct oversight of this two-year program, ensuring AI is used to optimize processes, improve public spending efficiency, and enhance service quality in sectors from healthcare and education to transport and energy. The performance of ministers and directors general will be assessed directly on the speed and quality of their AI adoption.
Integrating AI at Every Level
This move aligns with a clear pattern of embedding AI into the UAE’s governance framework. Sheikh Mansour also oversees the dedicated agentic AI transformation taskforce, ensuring tight coordination between strategy and execution.
The council’s work connects directly to existing AI systems already integrated into federal decision-making. This includes the National Artificial Intelligence System, which has served as an advisory member on federal entity boards since January 2026, and an AI-powered regulatory ecosystem designed to accelerate law-making by up to 70 percent.
About The Ministerial Council for Artificial Intelligence and Development
The Ministerial Council for Artificial Intelligence and Development is a UAE federal body responsible for overseeing the nation’s performance in delivering government policies and national priorities. It reviews legislation and strategies submitted by all federal entities and supervises the integration and expansion of artificial intelligence across all government operations to enhance efficiency and public services.
Source: Middle East AI News
