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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced the creation of the Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data on June 14 2026. The new body reports directly to the Cabinet and consolidates responsibilities previously spread across several entities to streamline oversight of emerging technologies. Omar Sultan Al Olama the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications will chair the authority Gulf News reported. This structure positions the authority as the central coordinator for technology initiatives across federal and local government levels.
The authority merges the Office of Artificial Intelligence Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications the UAE Data Office and the digital government portfolio previously managed by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. Such integration aims to eliminate fragmentation in policy development and implementation according to multiple reports citing the official announcement. The move builds upon existing structures rather than creating entirely new ones ensuring continuity in ongoing digital projects. Leadership under Al Olama who has driven prior AI initiatives will guide the combined entity’s operations.
Responsibilities of the Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data include developing the national strategy for artificial intelligence data and digital government. The body will propose related policies legislation strategies and programmes while overseeing data integration and public service enhancements a government statement outlined. It will also focus on accelerating innovation and improving government efficiency through data-driven decision making. These functions extend to fostering collaboration between public and private sectors in technology deployment.
The establishment aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 which the government launched in 2017 to position the country as a global leader in the field. PwC estimated that artificial intelligence will contribute AED 353 billion to the UAE’s GDP by 2030 equivalent to 13.6 percent of total output according to the strategy document. The authority’s formation seeks to accelerate progress toward these targets by centralising governance and resources. Previous initiatives under the strategy included talent development programmes and sector-specific AI applications.
Market projections underscore the scale of ambitions in this sector. A MarketsandMarkets assessment placed the UAE artificial intelligence market at USD 7.5 billion in 2026 with expectations it will reach USD 47.1 billion by 2031 at a compound annual growth rate of 30.1 percent. International Data Corporation separately forecast annual spending on AI across the Middle East and Africa to expand rapidly in the years leading to the authority’s creation. These figures reflect both government investment and private sector adoption across priority areas including healthcare logistics and smart cities.
The authority will also incorporate elements of cybersecurity and advanced data regulation into its mandate according to analyses from Morgan Lewis and MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East. Such scope addresses the intersection of artificial intelligence with data protection and digital infrastructure security. Coordination with existing regulators will remain essential to avoid overlap in enforcement activities. Implementation details including specific organisational structure are expected to follow in subsequent Cabinet decisions.
