Blab AI
UAE Forms Unified AI and Data Authority to Drive Digital Transformation
On 14 June 2026, Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, approved the creation of the United Arab Emirates’ Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority. The new federal body will merge public data, artificial intelligence and digital government functions under a single national framework, according to reports. The authority will report directly to the Cabinet and will be headed by Omar Sultan Al Olama.
The authority’s mandate is to align national priorities with a unified digital‑government system powered by agentic AI, to craft public policies, legislation and strategies, and to ensure coordination and integration of digital projects across federal and local levels. According to the announcement, the organization will oversee the design and delivery of integrated, proactive digital services centred on individual needs, and will operate AI‑powered national data platforms to support evidence‑based decision making.
The UAE has long pursued a digital‑government agenda. The new authority consolidates the functions of three previously separate bodies: the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; the Digital Government Sector within the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and the UAE Data Office. By unifying these roles, the government aims to create a more efficient, agile, and forward‑looking public sector that uses data and AI to improve services and living standards, thereby boosting the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the authority will serve as the sole national entity overseeing data, AI and digital government. He said the organisation would help the UAE become a “government of the future” that operates on data and agentic AI, makes swifter decisions, delivers superior outcomes, continuously evolves, and remains people‑centred rather than bureaucratic. The authority will also work to increase the digital economy’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP and to manage government data quality, availability and sharing across federal entities.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, appointed as the authority’s head, will lead the development of a national AI strategy. The strategy is expected to guide the deployment of AI across public services, support the creation of new digital products, and ensure that AI systems meet ethical and regulatory standards set by the UAE government.
The creation of the authority follows the UAE’s National Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to provide fast, secure digital infrastructure and to deliver digital services to citizens by 2025. The new body will build on that strategy by integrating AI more deeply into public decision making and service delivery.
The UAE’s move to centralise AI and data governance reflects a broader trend among governments to harness AI for public benefit while maintaining oversight. By establishing a single authority that reports to the Cabinet, the UAE seeks to streamline policy development, reduce duplication, and accelerate the rollout of AI‑enabled services.
As the authority begins operations, it will likely engage with existing government agencies, private sector partners, and academic institutions to develop AI solutions that address national priorities such as healthcare, transportation, and sustainability. The authority will also monitor the quality of data used by AI systems, ensuring that data is accurate, secure and shared responsibly.
The announcement marks a significant step in the UAE’s digital‑government roadmap. The authority’s success will depend on its ability to coordinate across ministries, manage data governance, and deploy agentic AI in a way that enhances citizen services while safeguarding privacy and security.
In the coming months, the authority is expected to release its first national AI strategy, outline data‑management standards, and launch pilot projects that demonstrate the benefits of AI‑driven public services. The UAE’s initiative may serve as a model for other countries seeking to consolidate AI and data governance under a single, accountable framework.
The authority’s mandate is to align national priorities with a unified digital‑government system powered by agentic AI, to craft public policies, legislation and strategies, and to ensure coordination and integration of digital projects across federal and local levels. According to the announcement, the organization will oversee the design and delivery of integrated, proactive digital services centred on individual needs, and will operate AI‑powered national data platforms to support evidence‑based decision making.
The UAE has long pursued a digital‑government agenda. The new authority consolidates the functions of three previously separate bodies: the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; the Digital Government Sector within the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and the UAE Data Office. By unifying these roles, the government aims to create a more efficient, agile, and forward‑looking public sector that uses data and AI to improve services and living standards, thereby boosting the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the authority will serve as the sole national entity overseeing data, AI and digital government. He said the organisation would help the UAE become a “government of the future” that operates on data and agentic AI, makes swifter decisions, delivers superior outcomes, continuously evolves, and remains people‑centred rather than bureaucratic. The authority will also work to increase the digital economy’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP and to manage government data quality, availability and sharing across federal entities.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, appointed as the authority’s head, will lead the development of a national AI strategy. The strategy is expected to guide the deployment of AI across public services, support the creation of new digital products, and ensure that AI systems meet ethical and regulatory standards set by the UAE government.
The creation of the authority follows the UAE’s National Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to provide fast, secure digital infrastructure and to deliver digital services to citizens by 2025. The new body will build on that strategy by integrating AI more deeply into public decision making and service delivery.
The UAE’s move to centralise AI and data governance reflects a broader trend among governments to harness AI for public benefit while maintaining oversight. By establishing a single authority that reports to the Cabinet, the UAE seeks to streamline policy development, reduce duplication, and accelerate the rollout of AI‑enabled services.
As the authority begins operations, it will likely engage with existing government agencies, private sector partners, and academic institutions to develop AI solutions that address national priorities such as healthcare, transportation, and sustainability. The authority will also monitor the quality of data used by AI systems, ensuring that data is accurate, secure and shared responsibly.
The announcement marks a significant step in the UAE’s digital‑government roadmap. The authority’s success will depend on its ability to coordinate across ministries, manage data governance, and deploy agentic AI in a way that enhances citizen services while safeguarding privacy and security.
In the coming months, the authority is expected to release its first national AI strategy, outline data‑management standards, and launch pilot projects that demonstrate the benefits of AI‑driven public services. The UAE’s initiative may serve as a model for other countries seeking to consolidate AI and data governance under a single, accountable framework.
