AI policies in United Arab Emirates

UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence

UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (UAE National Strategy for AI 2031)

Launched in October 2017, the strategy aims to embed AI across government services and priority sectors such as health, education, transport, energy and space, and to make the UAE a leading AI destination by 2031. Its objectives include AI-friendly legislation, talent development, research capability, data infrastructure and strong governance. The UAE Council for AI was created to drive implementation.

UAE AI Strategy 2031

UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031

The UAE National Strategy for AI 2031 aims to position the UAE as a global leader in AI by 2031. It sets objectives across priority sectors, AI talent and research, data and infrastructure, government adoption and governance, including a commitment to AI ethics and to developing appropriate regulation. It is a strategy document that guides government programmes and does not itself impose obligations on private organisations.

UAE PDPL

Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL)

The UAE Personal Data Protection Law is the federal data-protection law applying outside the DIFC and ADGM free zones. It sets principles for lawful processing, consent and its exceptions, data-subject rights (including the right to object to automated decision-making without human intervention), controller and processor duties, security and breach notification to the UAE Data Office, cross-border transfer rules, and data protection impact assessments for high-risk processing including new technologies.

The UAE Charter for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence

A twelve-principle charter approved by the UAE Cabinet setting expectations for AI development and use, including safety, algorithmic bias, data privacy, transparency, human oversight, governance and accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and treaties. It is a guiding framework rather than binding legislation and supports the objectives of the UAE Strategy for AI.