UAE launches AI Readiness Index for federal entities
Government achieves 97% AI tool utilisation rate across government
#UAE #digitaltransformation – UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Omar Sultan Al Olama has announced a UAE Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index to assess the preparedness of federal entities to lead in the era of AI. The announcement, made during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 in Abu Dhabi, where it was revealed that the UAE achieves a 97 per cent utilisation rate of AI tools across government entities. The index will be used to evaluate federal organisations’ progress in leveraging AI technologies, in line with the UAE’s proactive approach to embracing AI.
SO WHAT? – The introduction of the new UAE Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index is typical of the UAE’s proactive approach to digital transformation. The launch of a readiness index signals a shift from measuring adoption to evaluating effectiveness and preparedness, establishing benchmarks that will inform UAE policy and digital transformation plans. The index could also influence how other governments assess their own AI capabilities and institutional readiness.
Here are some key points about the new index:
UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Omar Sultan Al Olama has announced the launch of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index during a session on national AI experiences at the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
The Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index aims to assess the preparedness of federal entities to lead and excel in the era of artificial intelligence, evaluating organisations’ capabilities to adopt and implement AI technologies effectively across their operations.
According to the minister, AI could multiply the productivity of every Emirati by one hundred times, effectively equating the UAE’s productive capacity to that of 100 million people, with competition now determined by intelligence rather than size and speed rather than age.
The UAE has achieved a 97 per cent utilisation rate of AI tools across government entities, reflecting the nation’s proactive approach, agility in adopting advanced technologies and enhanced standing as a global leader in governmental AI implementation.
The announcement session brought together chief artificial intelligence officers from various federal entities to review national experiences and future strategies in the AI domain, facilitating knowledge sharing and coordination across government organisations.
ZOOM OUT – The UAE’s AI minister made a number of significant announcements during the UAE Government Annual Meetings this week. Beyond the AI Readiness Index, he also launched ‘AI in the Ring’, described as the world’s first test to assess how AI models align with local cultural values, testing platforms like ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini against 250 prompts centred on UAE history, culture and societal norms. Meanwhile, the UAE has achieved 58 per cent population AI adoption, the highest globally, whilst surpassing its 300,000 coder target to reach 450,000.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]