The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Cabinet, spearheaded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recently approved the country’s official position on the global artificial intelligence (AI) policy.
The policy—developed alongside the Office of the Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology and the Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications—denotes the UAE’s strategic move to enhance the foreign policy framework, addressing the complex risks and challenges posed by AI.
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Enabling AI Governance Frameworks
Underscoring the UAE’s significance in driving global AI governance frameworks and international policies, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, stated, “The UAE has become a significant player in the global governance of AI, actively contributing to international policy discussions and helping define the standards and frameworks that will shape the future of AI.”
He noted that the positive contribution to multilateral platforms facilitates the establishment of an effective and responsible AI sector. Additionally, he stressed that the policy is poised to reinforce the UAE’s stance on global AI leadership, ensuring a balance between technological advancement and the country’s welfare.
H.E. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology, emphasized that this policy will boost trust among its strategic partners and bolster the UAE’s leadership role in the international AI landscape.
“By aligning the country’s foreign policy with global AI standards, we enable local stakeholders, including private enterprises, research institutions, and others, to tackle the challenges of AI on an international scale,” he added.
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AI’s Six Core Principles
The new AI policy focuses on six core principles: advancement, cooperation, community, ethics, sustainability, and security. These principles aim to leverage AI to drive economic diversification and innovation, while promoting the development of high-impact technological solutions.
The UAE’s stance on AI includes the following foreign policies:
- Participating in international AI forums to shape the development and use of this technology through future standards and guidelines.
- Advocating transparency and built-in checkpoints within AI tools, enabling governments to enforce ethical standards and implement accountability measures.
- Supporting the establishment of international alliances for governing, securing, and developing AI systems.
- Supporting the establishment of global alliances to govern, secure, and advance AI systems.
- Supporting the implementation of international regulations that hold countries accountable for developing AI tools that could cause harm of destabilization, while ensuring AI security, privacy protection, and data safety.
- Encouraging responsible use of AI applications through joint research and development (R&D) initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability both regionally and globally.
Moreover, the core principles reflect the UAE’s commitment and dedication to aligning AI advancements with the country’s ethical, social, and environmental goals, consequently, accelerating innovation while preserving its values.
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