UAE’s Minister for AI Says Gov’t’s Boldest Policy Decision on Artificial Intelligence was on how to Improve Quality of Life for Citizens
The United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, has said the country’s boldest policy decision in its technological journey was not adopting blockchain or artificial intelligence itself, but prioritising people’s welfare, safety and quality of life as the foundation of innovation.
Speaking at Expand North Star 2025 in Dubai during a conversation with Yasir Khan, Editor-in-Chief of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, on the topic, “The Next Decade of Startup Innovation: Positioning UAE as the World’s Startup Capital”, Mr Al Olama said the UAE’s greatest achievement has been creating an environment where human development and technological progress reinforce each other.
“Most people think we did something extraordinary by developing a blockchain and AI policy, but the boldest policy decision we made was to focus on what matters to people — safety and security, and ensuring an equal playground for everyone,” he noted.
The Minister explained that Dubai’s appeal as a global innovation hub rests on these three principles — safety and quality of life, equality of opportunity, and a forward-looking mindset.
He added that the UAE has consistently approached innovation with a long-term view, investing in AI and advanced technologies “not in quarterly intervals, or four-year cycles, but in multi-decade intervals.”
“Abu Dhabi began investing in AI as far back as 2008, when it was still an emerging idea,” he noted. “We invested in chip companies and AI ventures because we think in terms of the next 10, 50 and even 100 years.”
On the role of AI in daily life, Mr Al Olama emphasised that true success lies in AI that improves lives invisibly, rather than in ostentatious displays of technology.
“Success to me in terms of the pursuit of AI ambitions by the UAE Government, is where AI leads to improving the quality of life for people by an order of magnitude,” he said. “On the other hand, failure to me, would be deploying robot dogs and gimmicks that don’t actually make people’s lives better.”
He added that the UAE’s ambition is to demonstrate that even a small nation, operating in a complex regional environment, can become a global AI leader through consistency, openness to learning, and international collaboration.
“We are proving the impossible, it’s not just about the UAE succeeding but it’s also about showing that anyone, anywhere, can achieve the same. We don’t claim to be the best, but we claim to be the best students and the best listeners,” Mr Al Olama averred.
The UAE has been at the forefront of digital transformation in the Middle East, launching the world’s first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and integrating AI across key sectors including energy, healthcare, and government services. The country aims to become a global centre for AI development and deployment by 2031 under its National AI Strategy.
About Expand North Star
Expand North Star, the world’s largest startup and investor connector event, is an annual technology startup event organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
Expand North Star showcases startups in front of tech industry professionals from more than 100 countries worldwide.
This year’s event marks the tenth anniversary of the Expand North Star having started since 2016.
The event has enabled thousands of digital startups to secure multi-million-dollar investment deals and forge strategic partnerships to accelerate their global growth.
The event has become a vital launchpad for startups, connecting innovators with capital and markets, and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a capital of the digital economy.
Over 2,000 international startups, 1,000 investors, 70,000 attendees and 350 distinguished speakers are participating in this year’s event.
As a flagship initiative of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star supports Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation and technology.
