Abu Dhabi Aims To Become The First Fully AI-Native Government By 2027 With AED 13 Billion Investment

The Abu Dhabi Government has unveiled the "Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027," aiming to transform the emirate into an AI-powered government. This initiative, led by the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE) and in collaboration with local government entities, seeks to establish Abu Dhabi as a global leader in AI-driven governance. A budget of AED13 billion is allocated for innovation and technology adoption from 2025 to 2027.

Central to this strategy is the creation of a robust digital infrastructure. The plan includes achieving 100% adoption of sovereign cloud computing for government operations and fully digitising and automating processes. Additionally, a unified digital enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform will be developed to streamline processes, enhancing productivity and efficiency across various sectors.

Under the AI for All programme, the Abu Dhabi government is committed to training its citizens in AI applications. More than 200 innovative AI solutions will be integrated into government services, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's status as a hub for AI-driven innovation. This initiative also emphasises developing strong digital guidelines and frameworks to uphold high cybersecurity standards, addressing future challenges effectively.

Ahmed Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of the DGE, stated, "The Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027 reflects our leadership's vision of being an AI-native government, seamlessly integrating AI across all government systems for a future that is proactive, agile and fully technology-enabled. By incorporating AI, cloud technologies, and data-driven insights into our government's DNA, we will transform public service delivery, optimise government operations, and drive sustainable economic growth."

This strategic plan builds on over ten years of digital progress in Abu Dhabi. It marks a shift from e-government to smart services and now towards AI-powered solutions for citizens and businesses alike. Recent developments like TAMM 3.0 and the Abu Dhabi Program for Effortless Customer Experience are paving the way for next-generation digital solutions rooted in AI, sustainability, cloud computing, and data analytics.

The strategy is projected to contribute over AED24 billion to Abu Dhabi's GDP by 2027 while creating more than 5,000 jobs. These efforts support Emiratisation initiatives by providing employment opportunities within the emirate.

Key initiatives include partnerships with institutions such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence for upskilling programs. Collaborations with the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) focus on large language models development. Additionally, G42 is involved in developing AI infrastructure alongside other global partners. These collaborations aim to cement Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for digital governance and sustainable development.

The comprehensive approach outlined in this strategy highlights Abu Dhabi's commitment to leveraging advanced technologies like AI and cloud computing. By doing so, it aims not only at improving public service delivery but also at driving economic growth sustainably while ensuring high cybersecurity standards are maintained throughout its implementation process.

With inputs from WAM