UAE and WEF to draw up global rules for AI in government decision-making

The UAE is working with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to develop global principles on how governments use artificial intelligence to plan and make decisions.

The framework will focus on agentic AI, systems that can reason, coordinate and act on their own rather than simply responding to instructions.

The talks opened on Tuesday at the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders in Dubai. They bring together experts, decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world.

Organisers say the UAE is the first country to lead a global dialogue of this kind. The aim is to produce an international reference that helps governments use AI effectively and responsibly in planning and decision-making.

Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, H.E. Huda Al Hashimi, said the initiative would help governments anticipate change and develop smarter, more agile strategies.

“Agentic AI is fundamentally transforming how governments anticipate change, assess possibilities and make consequential strategic decisions,” said Stephan Mergenthaler, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of the WEF.

“The Global Principles for Strategy in the Agentic AI Era represent a critical opportunity to establish a shared global framework that ensures these powerful capabilities are developed and deployed responsibly.”

The principles are part of the Global Strategic Intelligence Programme, a long-running partnership between the UAE and the WEF.