32 AI Assistants to Support Government Decision-Making in the UAE
24 Muhammad Ramadan
The UAE Government, on Wednesday, planned a new step in the employment of AI as an aid to government work, with the Cabinet approving the launch and start of the use of the "Council of Ministers AI Advisor" system, to support the study of policies, legislation, strategies, programs and initiatives presented to the Council, analyze their impact and make necessary recommendations.
The system is part of the UAE government's guidance to employ and use AI to assist government work, contributing to the development of a more efficient and flexible system that supports data-driven decision-making and strengthens the government's readiness for future variables, according to the UAE news agency WAM.
32 Assistants
The system employs 32 AI assistants who assess the financial, economic, social and environmental impacts associated with the topics presented to the Council, link topics to world best practices, the results of their implementation, adhere to national priorities of the State in studying topics, and make necessary recommendations according to a package of approved inputs and sources.
It is based on key principles including maintaining the privacy of the topics presented, meeting the UAE-approved cybersecurity standards, and working to support government decision-making on topics presented to the Cabinet.
The Cabinet also adopted a system for issuing its decisions within the framework of governance supported by AI technologies, using the "Cabinet's AI Advisor", to ensure continuity of government work and speed of decision-making.
From the answer to the analytical partnership.
Assistant AI differs from conventional AI tools, according to AI expert Sami A Nour, who confirms to "24", that conventional tools "often respond to a specific request, such as summarizing a document or analyzing a dataset, and then stop when the result is presented".
Sami A Nour adds: "While assistive AI can handle the topic as an integrated series of tasks, from collecting and comparing information with existing legislation and policies, to analyzing alternatives and their implications and making evidence-based recommendations".
He explains that this means "moving from using AI as a response tool to employing it as an analytical partner working proactively within a clear framework of authority and governance".
Multi-track analysis .
According to the AI expert, work can be distributed among assistants according to different disciplines and analytical pathways, so that the new policy examines aspects including its cost and impact on budgeting and revenues, growth, investment, competitiveness and the labor market, as well as its impact on families and community groups, quality of life, environmental impacts and how consistent it is with the goals of sustainability and climate neutrality.
It suggests that the system can identify differentials, test multiple scenarios, compare international experiences and results of their application, and provide an integrated picture to decision makers including benefits, risks, alternatives and proposed actions to reduce undesirable effects.
The decision is in the hands of man.
Sami A Nour points out that the system "shortens time by conducting simultaneous analyses", rather than transferring files successively between multiple teams, allowing officials more time to discuss strategic options.
He emphasizes that "the speed of analysis does not mean abolishing the role of man or transferring sovereign decision to the system", explaining that artificial intelligence offers broader reading and data-based recommendations, while man remains responsible for verifying inputs, assessing political, ethical and societal dimensions, balancing between priorities, and bearing responsibility and accountability for the final decision.
A comprehensive national framework
The launch of the "Council of Ministers' Artificial Intelligence Advisor" is an extension of the new system for implementing self-implementing AI models announced by the Cabinet in April 2026, to convert 50% of government sectors, services and operations into Agentic AI models within two years, becoming the UAE's first government globally to transition its sectors and services to these models.
Last May, the Cabinet adopted a framework for the roles of federal ministries and agencies in the AI Assistive Project, along with a national program to develop the skills and capabilities of federal government employees in this area, aimed at training 80,000 employees from different job categories, through specialized and ongoing training.
Sami A Nour observes, "This decision sets a comprehensive national framework for the transition to assistive AI. The AI adviser to the Cabinet represents a practical application of this trend in one area of government work, namely policy-making, legislation and decision-making support".
Source: 24