Sheikh Mohammed announces AI system to become advisory UAE Cabinet member from 2026

Starting January 2026, the National Artificial Intelligence System will join the UAE Cabinet as an advisory member.

Additionally, a new Ministry of Foreign Trade has been established, with Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi appointed as its minister. The Ministry of Economy has been renamed the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and Abdulla bin Touq will lead it.
AI's Enhanced Role in Government.Sheikh Mohammed explained on X that the National Artificial Intelligence System will also serve as an advisory member to the Ministerial Development Council and all boards of directors for federal entities and government companies starting in January 2026.This move aims to bolster decision-making, provide immediate analysis of resolutions, offer technical advice, and boost the efficiency of government policies across all sectors.

He emphasized that these changes reflect a global restructuring—scientifically, economically, and socially—and are designed to ensure the UAE's readiness for future decades, guaranteeing continued prosperity and a high quality of life for future generations.

Building on a Legacy of Innovation

The UAE has long prioritized AI in its policy. In October 2017, it appointed the world's first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Al Olama, whose current title is Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.Following this, in early 2019, the UAE launched the ambitious National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, aiming to become a global leader in AI by that year.

That same year, the country established the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the world's first graduate-level, research-focused AI university. More recently, in January, Abu Dhabi rolled out its Digital Strategy 2025-2027, which seeks to transform the emirate into the world's first fully AI-powered government by 2027.During the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stated that AI is set to accelerate civilization's progress faster in the next 25 years than at any point in history.