Dubai unveils first-of-a-kind AI oversight for public finance
ASCEND AI platform for compliance sets new benchmark in public sector oversight
#UAE #GovTech – Dubai Finance (DOF) has launched ASCEND, the world’s first AI-powered compliance verification platform for public finance governance. Announced at Dubai AI Week 2025, ASCEND is designed to automate compliance analysis, risk detection, and performance alignment using open-source large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). The platform replaces manual processes with real-time, autonomous verification and reporting, strengthening Dubai’s digital government leadership and setting a new global standard in financial governance.
SO WHAT? – Compliance remains one of the most resource-intensive and error-prone areas in public sector finance. Embedding AI directly into the heart of government operations, ASCEND promises to deliver more accurate, efficient, and transparent financial oversight. It’s one of the many areas in which the Government of Dubai is integrating AI to improve efficiency, productivity and public sector outcomes. Dubai is purposefully pioneering the use of AI in government departments and the public sector to enhance global competitiveness.
Here are some key points about the announcement:
Dubai Finance (DOF) has launched ASCEND (AI-Assisted System for Compliance Verification and Recommendations) at Dubai AI Week, which could be the world’s first AI platform for compliance verification in public finance.
The system uses open-source LLMs and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to reason over legal and financial texts in real time.
ASCEND performs automated gap analyses and risk assessments by comparing financial processes and KPIs against regulatory requirements.
It produces structured compliance reports in Arabic and English languages and provides actionable AI recommendations to address non-conformities.
The platform integrates directly with internal government systems, avoiding data duplication and supporting seamless oversight.
ASCEND is hosted on UAE-based cloud infrastructure, ensuring compliance with national ISR and data sovereignty standards.
The system replaces slow, manual audit processes with real-time assessments, improving speed, accuracy, and cost-efficiency.
DOF says ASCEND is a foundational piece of its AI strategy, designed for scalability across other governance domains.
The project aims to set a global benchmark for AI-led financial governance, with potential for international adoption.
The launch at Dubai AI Week reflects the emirate’s broader goal of embedding AI in core government functions to improve agility and accountability.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
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