UAE consolidates AI and data governance under new national authority

The UAE has established a new Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority, consolidating functions previously held by three separate bodies: the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; the Digital Government Sector within the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and the UAE Data Office. The Authority, chaired by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, reports directly to Cabinet and is responsible for developing the national AI strategy, managing government data, setting standards for data management and AI deployment, ensuring compliance across federal entities, and supporting cybersecurity. The Authority's stated mandate is currently focused on federal government operations, and the legal instruments through which it will exercise its mandate—including whether it will have direct enforcement powers over the private sector—have not yet been formally defined. The UAE does not currently have a comprehensive horizontal AI law. Sector-specific regulatory requirements in finance, healthcare, and telecommunications continue to apply. Private-sector organisations supplying AI systems or data platforms to government should anticipate new procurement standards and certification requirements.