Abu dhabi: Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Agentic AI Project Executive Committee, delivered the opening address at the Agentic AI Retreat held at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. The event witnessed the participation of more than 400 senior government officials as Al Gergawi unveiled a strategic framework aimed at transforming 50% of government sectors, services, and operations to Agentic AI models within two years. This initiative positions the UAE as the first government globally to achieve such a transformation.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Gergawi emphasized that the UAE's leadership, under President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has laid a strong foundation for national targets in AI development. The UAE began its AI journey in 2017, launching the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and appointing the world's first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. Al Gergawi noted that the UAE now leads the world in AI adoption, with an adoption rate exceeding 70%, as reported by Microsoft.
He further highlighted the UAE's nine-year journey of focused effort in building strategies, creating the right legislative environment, and sustaining investment in AI, which has led to the UAE being recognized as the most AI-mature government, society, and financial sector globally. Al Gergawi traced the evolution of government development in the UAE, noting transformative initiatives like the e-Government initiative in 2001 and the Smart Government transition in 2013. Agentic AI, he explained, represents the latest transformative moment, moving beyond task automation to building a proactive government.
Al Gergawi distinguished Agentic AI from generative AI tools, explaining that it goes beyond information retrieval to executing integrated tasks and managing operations independently. He emphasized that AI liberates individuals by providing them more time for creativity and innovation, with the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs currently operating around 140 Agentic AI assistants on the GovAI platform.
Al Gergawi also discussed the unprecedented economic opportunities presented by AI, highlighting studies that confirm AI can raise workforce productivity by more than 40% in some sectors. He expressed confidence that AI will be instrumental in achieving the UAE's national economic target of AED 3 trillion by 2031. He outlined five integrated implementation tracks for the Agentic AI initiative, each led by senior federal ministers and officials, targeting capabilities and training, AI technologies and data, operations and institutional support, strategy and governance, and government services.
In conclusion, Al Gergawi expressed confidence in exceeding the leadership's directive for 50% of government work to be powered by Agentic AI within two years, describing the initiative as a national, sovereign, and strategic undertaking to build the world's best government and country.