UAE AI & Data Authority
Consolidation, not legislation: the UAE now has one accountable AI regulator-in-waiting, but still no horizontal AI law. Watch whether the Authority's standard-setting mandate turns into binding rules for the private sector.
What it is
A single federal body reporting to the Cabinet, chaired by AI minister Omar Al Olama, merging the AI Office, TDRA's digital government sector and the UAE Data Office. It leads national AI and data strategy, sets standards and runs the push to deliver half of government services through agentic AI.
Follows the May 2026 Cabinet governance framework for the national Agentic AI Project; second phase reviewed 10 September 2026.
Who is affected
Consolidation, not legislation: the UAE now has one accountable AI regulator-in-waiting, but still no horizontal AI law. Watch whether the Authority's standard-setting mandate turns into binding rules for the private sector.
Key obligations
- Sets national AI and data standards for federal entities
- Manages government data and AI-powered decision platforms
- Oversees the Agentic AI Project across ministries
Recent signals
UAE unveils an 'AI Control Tower' to monitor government AI agents
A new oversight layer will track accountability for agentic AI deployed across federal services. It follows the June 2026 AI and Data Authority consolidation. Its legal mandate is not yet confirmed in an official release (news-sourced).
UAE reviews second phase of its government-wide agentic AI project
The Ministerial Council for AI and Development reviewed the strategy for running half of federal services and operations on agentic AI, following the May Cabinet governance framework.
UAE creates a single federal AI and Data Authority
Three bodies merged into one authority reporting to the Cabinet, chaired by AI minister Omar Al Olama.
Related instruments
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