How UAE Leads the AI Revolution

The UAE's AI Revolution – Leading the World in AI

The United Arab Emirates has once again demonstrated leadership to the rest of the world: according to the latest reports, nearly 60 percent of the working-age population uses artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools and solutions in their daily work. According to data from the "AI Diffusion Report" by the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, the UAE has taken the first place globally, not just regionally, in the practical application of artificial intelligence. This achievement signifies not only the rapid spread of technological innovations but also the success of a deliberate and years-long government strategy.

The Speed of AI Proliferation and UAE's Role

The spread of AI technology worldwide has occurred at an unprecedented pace. In less than three years, over 1.2 billion users have adopted it, surpassing earlier breakthroughs such as the internet, mobile phones, or cloud computing. However, while many parts of the world are just beginning to grasp the advantages of AI, the UAE is already showing measurable, real impacts across various sectors.

According to the report, 59.4 percent of UAE workers use AI solutions daily. This percentage is higher than that of Singapore (58.6%), Norway, or Ireland. Other developed digital economies like South Korea, Denmark, the United States, and the United Kingdom have also achieved good results, but none have seen AI usage exceed 59 percent.

The Success Story: Conscious and Long-term Strategy

As early as 2017, the UAE became the first in the world to appoint a state minister responsible for artificial intelligence, indicating they are not just observing but actively shaping technological development. Since then, the country has integrated AI solutions into many areas, from public services to education and various industrial sectors.

Key elements include:

Initiating AI-based scholarship programs

Establishing high-performance computing capacity

Attracting international tech companies

Incorporating AI training into school and university curricula

As a result, artificial intelligence has become a daily tool not just for IT experts but also for administrative workers, teachers, healthcare professionals, architects, and engineers.

AI in the Workplace: Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Others

Today, it is not uncommon for UAE office workers to use various AI tools for document writing, data analysis, presentation planning, or software code generation. Solutions like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Midjourney have become part of daily workflows.

Sectors such as finance, healthcare, aviation, logistics, hospitality, media, construction, and the government sector all benefit from employees working more efficiently, quickly, and with fewer errors using AI.

Regional Differences and the Digital Divide

While AI usage is growing throughout the Middle East, the UAE still far surpasses its neighbors. In Qatar, for instance, the ratio is 35.7 percent, in Saudi Arabia 23.7 percent, in Kuwait 17.7 percent, and in Egypt merely 12.5 percent. The difference is not only economic but also infrastructural and regulatory: the UAE has consistently invested for years in cloud-based systems, developing regulatory frameworks, and workforce training.

The report also highlights that globally a significant digital divide has developed: AI usage is twice as high in the northern hemisphere as in the southern hemisphere. Beyond GDP, language barriers also play a role: where underrepresented or poorly documented languages dominate, the use of AI tools lags significantly—even where internet access is available.

Abu Dhabi and the Region's AI Future

To reduce digital inequalities, the region's first "AI for Good Lab" was established in Abu Dhabi city. The center aims to cooperate with governments, research institutes, and civil organizations to develop artificial intelligence models that can interpret Arabic dialects, as well as African and South Asian languages. Project goals include improving climate-resilient agriculture, disaster prevention, public health, and geospatial analysis.

Sovereign AI – UAE's New Strategy

The UAE not only leads in AI usage but also in national AI development. The goal of sovereign AI is for development, modeling, and data management to occur within the country's borders. According to a recent survey, the UAE and Saudi Arabia jointly lead the world in this area, with a 17 percent adoption rate, compared to the global average of 13 percent. Organizations that focus on sovereign AI achieve fivefold investment returns and introduce twice as many AI-based applications.

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), G42, and national digitalization programs have helped the UAE rapidly catch up with the US and China in AI infrastructure.

Conclusion

The example of the United Arab Emirates demonstrates that artificial intelligence is not just a technological challenge but a strategic opportunity. The combination of political will, resources devoted to education, infrastructural investments, and international openness has enabled the UAE to move beyond experimenting with AI and achieve real impacts on the everyday lives of its citizens.

While the rest of the world is just beginning to find AI's role in the workforce, the UAE is already laying the foundation for next-generation artificial intelligence innovation—not just as a user but as a shaping force.

(Source of the article: AI Diffusion Report.)