UAE Launches Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index to Strengthen Governmental AI Leadership
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, has announced the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index, a pioneering initiative designed to evaluate the preparedness of federal entities to lead and excel in the era of artificial intelligence.
The minister highlighted that, under the vision and guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE has achieved a record 97 percent utilisation rate of AI tools across government entities.
Al Olama emphasized that this achievement reflects the UAE’s proactive approach and agility in adopting advanced technologies, consolidating its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
The announcement was made during a special session on national experiences in artificial intelligence, held as part of the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 in Abu Dhabi. The session brought together chief AI officers from various federal entities to share insights and review national strategies for future AI advancement.
Speaking at the event, Al Olama noted that technology, like every innovation in history, requires both developers and adopters, stressing that these roles are complementary and equally vital to sustaining innovation.
He observed that the world is undergoing a comprehensive digital transformation, with many nations achieving remarkable success in implementing advanced technologies—even when such innovations were not developed domestically—thus positioning themselves as leaders in technological adoption and application.
The minister reaffirmed that the UAE’s AI vision is grounded in the belief that artificial intelligence empowers rather than replaces humans. He underlined that the primary purpose of AI is to enhance human capability and efficiency, not to diminish human roles.
“With the advent of AI, competition is now determined by intelligence rather than size, and by speed rather than age,” Al Olama stated, adding that artificial intelligence increases the productivity of every Emirati by one hundredfold, effectively equating the UAE’s productive capacity to that of 100 million people.
The launch of the Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index marks another milestone in the UAE’s pursuit of global leadership in AI governance, innovation, and human-centered digital transformation.
