UAE embeds AI at the core of government planning cycle
The UAE has shortened five-year planning cycles to three-year cycles
#UAE #governance - The UAE has positioned artificial intelligence at the core of government decision-making in its newly shortened three-year strategic planning cycle, as announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The framework introduces strategic intelligence as a core component, enabling proactive planning through advanced analytics, accurate data, and future forecasting tools to plan for the 'We the UAE 2031' Vision across 38 federal entities. The strategic planning cycle for the Federal Government aims to simplify processes, optimise resources, and enhance financial efficiency.
SO WHAT? - Last month, the UAE announced one of the world's most comprehensive deployments of AI in government operations, positioning the UAE as a pioneer in AI-driven governance. The systematic integration of AI across every level of federal decision-making aims to enhance administrative efficiency, agility strategic foresight, setting a global benchmark for digital government transformation. The new federal government planning cycle will make use of advanced analytics, accurate data, and future forecasting tools.
Key facts regarding the UAE government’s intelligent planning cycle:
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has announced the start of a new federal government planning cycle, which now addresses a three-year period, replacing five-year plans.
The government’s planning cycle has been shortened from five years to three years to accommodate rapid global changes and ensure greater flexibility for regular plan updates.
Strategic intelligence has been placed at the core of government planing, aiming to support decision-making with advanced analytics, data-driven insights, and future forecasting capabilities.
• Strategic intelligence system allows decision-makers to understand change patterns and develop proactive plans with integrated performance indicators linked to future challenges
New planning framework serves 38 federal entities with integrated strategic intelligence tools and the UAE's National Artificial Intelligence System.
The new planning cycle supports the 'We the UAE 2031' Vision through proactive strategic planning, process simplification, resource optimisation, and enhanced financial efficiency across government operations.
Government planning model shifts focus from regulatory strength to regulatory agility, streamlined processes, and intelligent resource management for enhanced effectiveness.
• Framework promotes collective thinking and cooperation between strategy and finance directors to ensure policy alignment with national vision objectives.
A workshop was to launch the new planning cycle was organised by Prime Minister's Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs brining together strategy directors from ministries and federal entities.
Last month, it was announced that UAE's National Artificial Intelligence System will serve as advisory member at Cabinet, Ministerial Development Council, and all federal entity boards from January 2026, via conversational AI.
ZOOM OUT - The UAE is rapidly integrating AI into all aspects of government from executive decision-making down to digital public services. In April, the UAE Cabinet to the groundbreaking decision to implement its AI-powered Regulatory Intelligence Office, which became the first government body globally to formally integrate AI into its decision-making process. In tandem with the deployment of new technology platforms and tools, the government is also continually improving its education and training resources for executive leadership, through to a digital education platform to help train all government employees in AI and other digital skills.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
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