The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its legislative process, marking what experts describe as one of the most ambitious government uses of AI to date. The Gulf state plans to harness AI not only to draft new legislation but also to review and amend existing laws, aiming to create a more efficient and precise legal system.
This initiative was announced by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and UAE vice-president, who stated that “this new legislative system, powered by artificial intelligence, will change how we create laws, making the process faster and more precise.” The government last week approved the establishment of a new cabinet unit, the Regulatory Intelligence Office, to oversee this AI-driven reform.
Unlike efforts in other countries where AI primarily assists with summarising bills or enhancing public service delivery, the UAE’s approach is set to leverage AI to actively suggest updates and changes to legislation. The government plans to build an extensive database that combines federal and local laws with public sector data such as court rulings and government service records. This comprehensive data integration aims to enable AI to identify how current laws impact the population and economy and to propose timely modifications.
Officials anticipate that the use of AI could accelerate the legislative process by as much as 70%, according to the cabinet meeting readout. The project reflects the UAE’s broader investment in AI. For example, Abu Dhabi’s MGX investment vehicle, launched last year, has already backed a $30 billion AI infrastructure fund managed by BlackRock and included an AI specialist on its board.
Experts have characterised the UAE’s plans as a bold step “to basically turn AI into some sort of co-legislator,” as described by Rony Medaglia, a professor at Copenhagen Business School. However, they also highlight significant challenges inherent in such a system. Vincent Straub, a researcher at Oxford University, warned about the reliability of current AI models, noting that while impressive, they “continue to hallucinate [and] have reliability issues and robustness issues” and that “we can’t trust them” fully.
Straub also emphasised the novelty of the approach, stating that the UAE intends for the AI system to anticipate necessary legal changes proactively, potentially reducing the need for costly law firm consultations. Keegan McBride, a lecturer at the Oxford Internet Institute, pointed out that the UAE’s autocratic governance structure may facilitate faster digital transformation than seen in many democratic nations, enabling rapid experimentation with such sweeping AI applications. “In terms of ambition, [the UAE are] right there near the top,” McBride said.
Yet, some concerns remain about the interpretive capabilities of AI in legal contexts. Marina De Vos, a computer scientist at Bath University, highlighted the risk that AI might propose solutions that “make sense to a machine” but “may absolutely make no sense to really implement it out there for real in a human society.” Researchers stress the importance of human oversight and establishing robust guardrails to ensure AI’s proposals are viable and culturally appropriate.
Details about the specific AI technologies to be employed remain undisclosed. Experts suggest that a combination of AI systems may be necessary to meet the complex demands of legislative analysis and drafting.
The Financial Times reports that while other governments globally are exploring AI to improve public administration and legislative efficiency, none have announced plans as comprehensive or assertive as the UAE’s vision for an “AI-driven regulation” system.
Source: Noah Wire Services