In a ground-breaking development, the UAE is establishing a government reform to place artificial intelligence as part of national decision-making at the highest levels. Transformation was approved by the UAE President. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and confirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. The reform fundamentally integrates the National Artificial Intelligence System into federal councils, which embeds AI Governance into the UAE Cabinet’s operational structure. This reform creates a faster, smarter, and more innovative way of governing for the future.
AI Joins the UAE Cabinet as a Decision-Making Member
Starting January 2026, the National Artificial Intelligence System will be an advisory member to the UAE Cabinet. The Ministerial Development Council, all federal boards, and government companies. This AI system will advise when reviewing decisions, analyze in real time, offer technical advice, and measure the long-term impact of adopted policies. This AI system will enable the Cabinet to have a system of record to optimize performance, shorten the lag associated with decisions, and insert data-driven foresight into the current and emerging national planning agenda.
The legacy of governance in the UAE will continue, but the reliance will switch from human input to a hybrid. The identified and approved body of work provides a tradition of robust policy-making. Now, through the marriage of strategy and computing power in intelligent systems. The UAE becomes one of the first countries in the world to formalize AI Governance at such a high level. The integration signals trust in machine intelligence as a reliable co-pilot in public administration.
Ministry of Foreign Trade to Lead AI-Driven Global Ties
As part of the restructuring, Sheikh Mohammed also announced the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Trade as a new standalone entity. Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi will be the minister in charge of the new ministry, which will now oversee all trade negotiations, agreements, and relationships economically with the world. The creation of the ministry separates trade from the broader economic portfolio and will enable the UAE government to have a stricter focus on international trade issues.
With AI now settled within the Cabinet, the ministry will be looking into using as much artificial intelligence as possible in evaluating risk. The modeling of trade scenarios and the anticipation of shifting global market conditions. By creating a ministry out of foreign trade, with AI involvement immediately at the top of the decision-making chain, and executed through new systems being developed. The UAE is creating a pathway to connect data-driven strategy to international economic engagement.
Economy and Tourism Ministry Enters AI Transition
The Ministry of Economy will now be known as the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, retaining Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri. The ministry will now use AI support to guide tourism forecasts, track global demand patterns, and make faster economic decisions. From policy rollout to long-term sector planning, AI-generated insights will enable smarter, more adaptive responses to changing market conditions. This shift reinforces the government’s intention to adopt intelligent frameworks across every high-impact department. This ensures that growth is both measurable and sustainable.
A Vision Anchored in Future-First AI Governance
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasized that the world is experiencing massive scientific, economic, and social transformation. “Our goal is to prepare today for the coming decades. We aim to ensure continued prosperity and a dignified life for future generations,” he said. This restructuring is more than administrative—it reflects a bold national direction where AI becomes an institutional partner.
The UAE is not adopting AI in isolation. It’s embedding it in governance to sharpen foresight, drive results, and ensure long-term adaptability. However, including AI in the UAE Cabinet sets a new precedent for how nations can govern in an increasingly complex world.
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