The United Arab Emirates will convert 50 percent of federal government operations, procedures, and services to Agentic AI models within two years, a target that marks a new phase of government development built on autonomous AI systems. The announcement was made during a workshop in Dubai organized by the Presidential Court and the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, attended by 600 employees from both entities.
A strategic shift in government design
Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee for the Agentic AI Project, said the directive is a defining step in redesigning how government works. "The world is going through a fundamental shift driven by artificial intelligence, and the UAE, thanks to its forward-thinking vision and early investments, has positioned itself at the forefront of nations ready to embrace and capitalize on this transformation," he said. Al Gergawi added that Agentic AI does not replace people. "Agentic AI does not replace people, it makes them more capable, and opens wider possibilities for creativity, innovation and impact."
The ministry also launched the "Top 3 AI Agents Award" to drive innovation and reward the development of AI agents that deliver measurable impact across government work areas.
Four-stage implementation plan for ministries
Haitham Al Rais, Secretary-General of the National Committee for the Agentic AI Project, presented the ministry's plan to shift 75 percent of its operations, services, and specialized functions to Agentic AI models. The work focuses on improving operational efficiency, raising output quality, and enabling employees to concentrate on higher-value tasks. Implementation runs across four stages: assessment and readiness, capability building, pilot deployment, and the launch of specialized AI agents, through to full-scale rollout. Targets include accelerating task completion, strengthening information reliability, and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
Presidential Court launches sovereign AI infrastructure
Shamsa Jaber Al Falasi, Executive Director of Transformation and Development at the Presidential Court, detailed a series of initiatives underway, including a sovereign AI technical infrastructure and the Diwan GPT platform as a secure AI environment. She said the Presidential Court will convert 75 percent of its services to Agentic AI-powered models within two years, following directives from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The Court also introduced its own Top 3 AI Agents Award to incentivize employees.
Al Falasi argued that real change goes beyond adopting new tools. It starts with changing how people think and expanding their capacity to see further and decide better. She described the shift of government employees from tool users to system drivers, enabling institutions to develop smarter solutions using the data and knowledge they already hold.
Upskilling 80,000 federal employees for AI collaboration
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, said the government will upskill 80,000 federal employees on Agentic AI tools and solutions. She described new working models where human employees and AI agents collaborate as one team, driving productivity and improving service quality. The government has committed to training 80,000 federal employees on Agentic AI tools, and targeted programs like AI for Government Courses can help professionals build the necessary skills.
The workshop concluded with seven specialized sessions on Agentic AI, delivered in partnership with leading global technology companies and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. The tracks covered accelerating AI adoption, designing AI agents tailored to real government needs, and building practical employee skills.
Why this matters for government employees
The UAE's shift to Agentic AI will redefine government roles, requiring employees to work alongside AI agents on higher-value tasks. For those in public service, building AI literacy now is not optional - it is the foundation for career relevance in the next two years. The conversion of 50 percent of federal operations to AI models means that employees who know how to direct and collaborate with these systems will be the ones driving outcomes, not watching from the sidelines.
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