Artificial intelligence has become part of everyday life in the UAE in 2026, supporting government operations, public services, education, healthcare and transport.
Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report for the first quarter ranked the country first worldwide, with 70.1 percent of its working-age population using AI.
The UAE is the first economy to pass the 70 percent adoption mark, while large parts of the world remain below 10 percent. The report said AI is increasingly embedded in how people work and learn across the country.
At the federal level, the Agentic AI Project aims to turn 50 percent of government sectors, services and operations into autonomous, AI-driven models within two years. The UAE also announced the Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data to bring national data, AI and digital government systems together.
Abu Dhabi is working towards a fully AI-native government by 2027. Its AINative training programme, developed with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI and Microsoft, aims to equip 20,000 government employees with AI skills by the end of 2026. Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman have launched their own agentic AI programmes and frameworks for government.
Education has seen major investment. The Ministry of Education launched a National AI Upskilling Programme for Teachers, and more than 24,000 educators took part in training during the specialised week for the 2026-2027 academic year.
In healthcare, AI is being used in diagnostics, medical imaging and predicting complications. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi announced what it called the world’s first AI-powered smart surgical network.
In transport, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are applying AI to traffic management and safety. Government entities across the Emirates are also strengthening AI governance, cybersecurity and digital readiness.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
