UAE Organizations Lead the World in AI Governance Adoption

DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates is outpacing global peers in adopting tools to manage and oversee artificial intelligence, according to a new study released by the Dubai Future Foundation in collaboration with the IBM Institute for Business Value.

Around 20 percent of organizations in the UAE are currently implementing AI governance platforms, compared to just 12 percent worldwide, the report found. Governance in this context means setting rules, monitoring performance, and ensuring accountability as companies deploy automated systems at scale.

The study, titled “Orchestrating AI at scale for sovereignty and resilience,” surveyed more than 1,000 senior executives across 20 countries and 23 sectors. It also revealed that 98 percent of UAE executives said they must now factor sovereignty — the ability to control data and operations within national borders — into their business strategies, versus 93 percent globally.

Despite the lead, only 13 percent of UAE organizations apply comprehensive AI governance frameworks across all initiatives, indicating room for growth. Nearly two-thirds of UAE firms (68 percent) expect to adopt AI systems at scale by 2030, matching the global average of 67 percent.

Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said the findings support the objectives of the “Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence” and reinforce the emirate’s push to lead in the sector.

Saad Toma, General Manager of IBM Middle East and Africa, noted that fragmented systems limit visibility and control. “Orchestration-led AI adoption provides the visibility, control and coordination needed to maintain operational stability, reduce risk and ensure AI continues to deliver value,” he said.

Also Read:

Investors Seek Answers as Oil Prices Decline After Iran-Israel Truce

Saudi Statistics Chief Highlights Data and AI Integration at Global Data Festival