Abu Dhabi has launched an artificial intelligence-powered policy development programme to strengthen the ability of senior government leaders to design, implement and evaluate public policy.The Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi has developed the executive initiative with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. It is aimed at executive directors and officials holding equivalent positions who have strategic or operational responsibilities for policy design, implementation and oversight.
The programme will combine artificial intelligence tools with established public policy methods, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s drive to integrate technology into government decision-making. Participants will be trained to identify policy challenges, assess available evidence, select suitable interventions and remove obstacles that can weaken implementation.
Officials will also examine methods for engaging stakeholders, communicating policy choices and measuring whether government interventions produce their intended results. International policy frameworks will be adapted to Abu Dhabi’s administrative structure, development priorities and public service objectives.
A central component will be an intensive learning module in Singapore. The module will include workshops, lectures, group projects, learning visits and sessions with policymakers and specialist speakers. Participants will study impact assessment, behavioural insights, monitoring and evaluation, policy communication and transformational governance.
Singapore’s Smart Nation programme will provide a major case study. The city-state has used digital identity systems, integrated data platforms and technology-enabled public services to improve administrative efficiency, although its approach also underlines the importance of cybersecurity, data protection and public trust.
Artificial intelligence will be examined not only as a productivity tool but also as a means of improving policy analysis. Government departments can use AI systems to process large data sets, model possible outcomes, detect service gaps and assess patterns that may be difficult to identify through conventional reviews.
The programme is intended to help officials distinguish between areas where AI can improve decision-making and those that still require direct human judgement. Policy choices involving public welfare, regulatory enforcement, rights, resource allocation and competing social interests cannot be reduced solely to automated recommendations.
Dr Yasir Al Naqbi, director-general of GovAcademy at the Department of Government Enablement, said the initiative would help leaders translate strategy into measurable outcomes while improving people-centred services and government performance.
“Our people are at the centre of government excellence,” Al Naqbi said. “This programme reflects our commitment to investing in government leaders and empowering them to develop more effective and responsive policies.”
He said the training would build the skills and systems required for a connected and future-ready public sector. The focus on implementation reflects a persistent challenge for governments worldwide, where well-designed policies can lose momentum because of fragmented responsibilities, weak coordination or limited performance monitoring.
Abu Dhabi is seeking to address that gap by promoting anticipatory governance. The approach encourages departments to identify emerging pressures before they develop into larger administrative, economic or social problems. It also requires stronger collaboration across entities whose responsibilities may overlap.
The launch forms part of a broader government digital strategy covering 2025 to 2027. Abu Dhabi plans to invest AED13 billion in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and technology adoption, with the stated goal of becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government across digital services by 2027.
The strategy targets full sovereign cloud adoption for government operations and the digitisation and automation of all eligible processes. More than 200 AI solutions are expected to be introduced across public services, alongside a unified enterprise resource planning platform.
Government projections indicate that the digital strategy could contribute more than AED24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s gross domestic product by 2027 and create over 5,000 employment opportunities. Its implementation is supported by partnerships involving Microsoft, Core42, G42, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the Advanced Technology Research Council.
Abu Dhabi has also expanded access to generative AI tools across its workforce. Microsoft 365 Copilot has been deployed to 26,000 civil servants across 27 government entities, taking the total number of government licences to 35,000.
The deployment uses advanced data residency arrangements designed to keep AI processing within the UAE. Training and certification measures have been introduced to guide employees on security, responsible use and data governance.
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