1. Risk Rating 
  2. AI regulation in your jurisdiction
  3. Existing Regulatory Frameworks Applicable to AI
  4. Regulatory Oversight of AI 
  5. AI Guidance, Policies, and Strategic Frameworks 
  6. International AI Standards and Guidelines
  7. Forthcoming AI Legislation
  8. Useful links

jurisdiction

United Arab Emirates
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Risk Rating 

Low.

AI regulation in your jurisdiction

There is currently no dedicated AI law in force in the United Arab Emirates.

Existing Regulatory Frameworks Applicable to AI

The UAE does not yet have a standalone, comprehensive AI statute. However, AI governance is shaped by a suite of federal instruments and emirate‑level regimes

  • Federal Decree Law No. 25 of 2018 on Projects of Future Nature: Creates interim licensing pathways to pilot and scale innovative AI solutions.
  • Federal Decree‑Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection: Establishes obligations for processing personal data, including for AI use cases.
  • Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 Cybercrime Law: introduces liability for unauthorised access and data misuse.
  • DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020 (as amended in 2023): Applies within the DIFC to autonomous and semi‑autonomous systems and aligns with international data protection standards.

Regulatory Oversight of AI 

Oversight of AI is shared across several bodies:

  • Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC) – responsible for overseeing AI integration and ethics.
  • UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain – responsible for policy development and sector coordination.
  • Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI)

AI Guidance, Policies, and Strategic Frameworks 

  • UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031: Launched in 2017 and updated in 2023, which sets the agenda to position the UAE as a global AI leader by 2031.
  • UAE Charter for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (June 2024): Adopts principles for responsible development and use—privacy, transparency, accountability, and inclusive access.
  • UAE International Stance on Artificial Intelligence Policy:  Aims to create an innovation-driven ecosystem that ensures global compliance, fosters collaboration, and prepares the nation for future opportunities in artificial intelligence.
  • UAE AI Seal:  Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) has introduced the “Dubai AI Seal,” a verification system designed to accelerate the growth of Dubai’s AI industry. The program aims to strengthen business credibility, protect public and private entities from irrelevant suppliers and AI-washing, and streamline access to trusted AI providers in Dubai.

International AI Standards and Guidelines

The UAE’s AI legal and policy framework is strongly aligned with international standards and guidelines. It incorporates global principles such as the OECD AI Principles and UNESCO’s AI Ethics Recommendations. The UAE has also adopted ISO/IEC 42001:2023, the first global AI management system standard,. While the NIST AI Risk Management Framework is not explicitly referenced, its risk-based approach is reflected in UAE guidelines through requirements for transparency, accountability, and human oversight. 

Forthcoming AI Legislation

Not at present.

But in April 2025, the UAE announced that it will be the first nation to deploy AI to draft new legislation and amend existing laws. The initiative, led by the newly created Regulatory Intelligence Office, embeds AI into the law‑making process—so it may even result in AI regulations being authored by AI itself.