UAE to Embed AI in Cabinet for Real‑Time Governance

A bold step in modernising government has been unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, as the UAE will integrate its National Artificial Intelligence System as an official advisory member in the Federal Cabinet from January 2026. The AI system will also participate in the Ministerial Development Council and federal board meetings, offering real‑time analysis to enhance decision‑making and policy efficiency.

Sheikh Mohammed underscored the ambition behind the move, stating that “the world is undergoing a comprehensive transformation, scientifically, economically and socially,” and emphasised the UAE’s drive to prepare “today for the coming decades” and secure lasting prosperity.

Designed to complement human expertise, the AI will provide instantaneous technical insights across sectors during high‑level meetings. The expansion of its role builds on a trial phase conducted within Cabinet sessions earlier this year, which demonstrated accelerated legislative processing and improved policy formulation.

This announcement accompanies a wider governmental reshuffle that includes the establishment of a Ministry of Foreign Trade, headed by Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, and the rebranding of the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, under Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri. These structural reforms aim to streamline trade and tourism strategies while injecting cutting‑edge technology into governance mechanisms.

The UAE’s commitment to AI is longstanding. It appointed the world’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017, adopted a National AI Strategy targeting 2031, and launched the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. Abu Dhabi has simultaneously pursued a full‑government AI transformation, with the Digital Strategy aiming for a government powered entirely by AI by 2027.

A notable precursor to today’s declaration came with April’s launch of the Regulatory Intelligence Office, which initially embedded the AI system into the Cabinet cycle. Reports indicate that legislative workflows accelerated by up to 70 per cent and decision‑making benefited from live policy analysis. Commentators in the UAE label this approach “world‑first”, expanding AI advisory roles from singular councils to all federal entities and state‑owned enterprises.

Despite its visionary potential, experts remain cautious about risks such as algorithmic bias, interpretability lapses and overreliance on machine‑generated outputs. Scholars from Oxford warn that AI systems can “hallucinate” or misinterpret complex human contexts, and stress the need for rigorous oversight and transparent validation.