Input: WAM
The UAE Government has unveiled its first white paper on shaping the future of regulatory intelligence at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to reimagine how regulation is designed and implemented in the age of artificial intelligence.
Titled “The UAE: Shaping the Future of Regulatory Intelligence, from a static rulebook to a living, AI-powered regulatory ecosystem”, the whitepaper was developed by the General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet in collaboration with Presight, a G42 company, and PwC.
The paper outlines the UAE’s vision for transitioning from traditional, fixed regulatory systems to an agile, data-driven, and continuously evolving Regulatory Intelligence Ecosystem. The model is designed to keep pace with rapid technological change, new business models, and societal needs, while remaining guided by constitutional principles, human values, and national priorities.
In her keynote address, Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, said the speed at which technology and markets are evolving requires governments to rethink conventional regulatory cycles. She noted that, under the guidance of the UAE leadership, the country is launching a living, adaptive regulatory ecosystem that is people-centric and capable of responding dynamically to change, with the aim of enabling a better, more prosperous life for all who live and do business in the UAE.
Al Hammadi added that the whitepaper combines vision with practical application, demonstrating how an AI-powered regulatory ecosystem can enhance government effectiveness, improve quality of life, and reinforce the UAE’s global competitiveness. She also described it as an invitation for global dialogue, encouraging collaboration among governments, experts, and the private sector on the future of regulation.
Speaking at the launch, Thomas Pramotedham, Chief Executive Officer of Presight, said the initiative positions the UAE as a global benchmark for how governments can responsibly harness artificial intelligence to strengthen governance and public services. He noted that the approach reflects a forward-looking mindset that actively shapes change rather than reacting to it.
The session was attended by Mohamed Kande, Global Chairman of PwC, while Hani Ashkar, Senior Partner for PwC Middle East, said the initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to intelligence-led regulation. He noted that PwC is contributing its NewLaw and generative AI capabilities to help design an integrated regulatory ecosystem that links legislation, outcomes, and public services at a national scale.
The whitepaper introduces several concepts presented for the first time globally. These include the first dedicated Regulatory Intelligence Glossary to establish a shared language for legislators, policymakers, and technology developers, as well as the concept of a Unified Regulatory Digital Twin. This digital twin acts as a live, real-time model of the UAE’s regulatory ecosystem, capable of monitoring changes, analysing data, proposing legislative updates, and simulating economic and societal impacts.
Addressing the constitutional and ethical dimensions of deploying AI in regulation, the paper introduces the Sovereign Governance-in-the-Loop framework, which ensures that artificial intelligence acts as an assistant rather than a replacement for human decision-makers. Under this model, legislators remain responsible for all critical decisions, ensuring alignment with constitutional principles and the legal system.
The whitepaper also highlights the importance of new hybrid roles that combine legal expertise with technology skills, and introduces a Regulatory Intelligence Innovation Loop to govern the responsible development, testing, and deployment of new AI-driven regulatory use cases.
Positioned as a globally relevant and open framework, the UAE’s Regulatory Intelligence Ecosystem is designed to be interoperable and accessible in multiple languages. The whitepaper invites international partners to collaborate on next-generation, intelligence-led regulation that balances innovation with trust, constitutional integrity, and societal wellbeing.
