UAE sets ambitious target to power half of government operations with Agentic AI by 2028
The Emirates aims to transform 50% of government services and operations using autonomous AI systems within two years, marking the world's first comprehensive government-wide Agentic AI initiative.
UAE sets ambitious target to power half of government operations with Agentic AI by 2028
The United Arab Emirates has announced plans to transform half of its government sectors, services and operations into models powered by Agentic AI within the next two years, as part of what officials describe as the world's first comprehensive government-wide initiative of its kind.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems that can independently pursue complex goals, make decisions, and take actions with minimal human oversight. Unlike traditional AI that requires prompts for each task, these systems are characterized by goal complexity, environmental complexity, adaptability, and autonomy, operating through a continuous cycle of perceiving, analyzing, acting, and learning.
The Higher Committee for Agentic AI organized the Agentic AI and Data Technology Track workshop, bringing together government leaders, Chief AI Officers and representatives from government entities to strengthen coordination and prepare the infrastructure needed for this transformation.
Building on a decade of AI leadership
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of the Agentic AI and Data Technology Track, said the initiative represents a shift towards a proactive government model. Al Olama, who was appointed as the world's first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and saw his role expanded in 2020, emphasized that the project aims to improve efficiency and readiness across government operations.
The initiative builds on the UAE's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence launched in October 2017, making it one of the first countries globally to adopt a comprehensive national AI strategy. According to the 2025 AI Adoption Index, the UAE now ranks third globally in AI adoption with 56% of the population using AI tools, trailing only Singapore at 66% and Chile at 60%.
The country's ambitious AI agenda includes targets set in its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which aims to have AI contribute 20% of non-oil GDP by 2031, projected to equal $91 billion.
Unified platform and training programme
During the workshop, officials reviewed the Agentic AI Project's five main tracks and introduced the Federal Agentic AI Technology Platform, known as FedAI. The platform will provide federal government entities with common technology infrastructure to develop and adopt Agentic AI solutions.
Through the National AI Gateway, entities will access various AI platforms through a single secure access point. The system will support both commercial AI models and open-source models hosted within sovereign infrastructure, with the ability to add new models in the future.
Supporting this technological transformation, the UAE Government 4.0 initiative includes the largest government training programme in UAE history, targeting 80,000 federal employees to receive training in Agentic AI technologies.
Governance and safety measures
The workshop addressed how Agentic AI systems will be classified and assessed through a self-assessment mechanism based on technical and operational criteria. Officials said this approach will help standardize implementation across government while strengthening governance and supporting safe and responsible AI use.
More than 10 technology companies and vendors supporting the transition to Agentic AI applications were showcased during the event. The choice of technology aligns with global industry trends, as Gartner identified Agentic AI as the top strategic technology trend for 2025.
The Agentic AI Project forms part of the UAE Government 4.0 journey and covers five tracks focusing on operations and institutional support, strategic government work, government services, technology and data, and capacity building and training. The initiative seeks to improve government performance, accelerate decision-making and deliver more efficient services while strengthening the UAE's position in AI-powered government development.
