The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) not just to assist in drafting legislation but to actively review and amend existing laws. According to state media, this “AI-driven regulation” will fundamentally reshape how laws are created, with the government aiming for faster, more precise legal processes.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and UAE vice president, said the AI system will speed up lawmaking by 70%, analyzing vast databases of court judgments, existing laws, and government services to suggest timely updates. A new cabinet body, the Regulatory Intelligence Office, will oversee this ambitious rollout.
Global Experts’ Response
Academics and researchers have described the UAE’s approach as unprecedented. Rony Medaglia from Copenhagen Business School said the country seems to be turning AI into a “co-legislator.” Vincent Straub of Oxford University warned, however, that while AI is powerful, its tendency to hallucinate or misunderstand context could pose serious risks.
Oxford Internet Institute’s Keegan McBride noted the UAE’s autocratic system gives it more room to experiment rapidly compared to democratic nations. “They’re able to move fast. They can sort of experiment with things,” he said.
But it’s more than just an experiment, as the UAE’s commitment is backed by major investment. Last year, Abu Dhabi launched MGX, a national AI fund that invested in a $30 billion BlackRock infrastructure initiative and appointed an AI observer to its board, meaning the country is not just experimenting, it’s betting big on AI as the future of governance.
