The UAE approved the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority on 14 June 2026. The new federal body is intended to unify public data, artificial intelligence and digital-government capabilities in a single national ecosystem. The UAE Cabinet said the authority will report directly to the Cabinet and that Omar Sultan Al Olama will lead it.
The authority consolidates functions previously held by three entities: the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; the Digital Government Sector at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; and the UAE Data Office. Its mandate includes leading the national AI strategy, coordinating digital initiatives, managing government data and setting standards for AI and data management.
The institutional change is important because AI policy is often fragmented across separate bodies responsible for data quality, digital services, regulation, infrastructure and workforce development. Bringing those responsibilities into one authority can improve coordination, but it also creates a demanding execution task. The body will need clear decision rights, transparent standards and effective coordination with federal and local governments.
The Cabinet's announcement says the authority will develop national data platforms, support evidence-based government decisions and oversee proactive digital services. It will also build national capabilities through research, development and technical advisory work, coordinate international partnerships and support cybersecurity and government information security. These are broad responsibilities, so future reporting will need to distinguish between formal mandates, operating platforms and deployed services.
The announcement does not by itself prove that a unified AI platform or a specific public service is already operational. It establishes the institutional architecture for the next phase of the UAE's AI and digital-government strategy. The high-impact question is whether the authority can turn that architecture into interoperable data, secure AI deployments and measurable service improvements. Its progress will be visible through published standards, agency integration, national platforms, procurement decisions and evidence of responsible use in government workflows.
