Gulf governments talk about AI a great deal, and the numbers can be dazzling. This guide separates what is operating from what is announced, and shows how we keep track of the big claims.
What are Gulf governments doing about AI?
What has been promised, what is already working, what is still a plan, and the safeguards in place.
The short answer
Gulf governments have set out plans for AI, from national strategies to rules for how government itself uses it, and the UAE's plan for AI in government is one of the most ambitious in the world. Some things are clearly working, such as AI in UAE schools and Dubai's commercial robotaxis. Others, including the largest data-centre projects, are still plans, so we track them publicly.
Step by step
Step 1: What have governments said they will do?
The UAE's National AI Strategy 2031 aims for global leadership in AI, and in April 2026 the federal government set a target to move half of its sectors, services and operations to agentic AI within two years, phased and with training for every federal employee. Abu Dhabi's digital strategy aims, in the government's own words, for "the world's first fully AI-native government across all digital services by 2027". Saudi Arabia's 2020 strategy aims to place the Kingdom among the top 15 AI nations by 2030. Qatar published a national AI strategy in 2019, Bahrain launched a policy for AI use by government entities in July 2025, and Oman runs a national AI programme and created an AI Special Zone in Muscat in April 2026. Kuwait's strategy is reported by policy trackers, and we are still confirming it from primary sources.
From our pages
- The GCC AI landscape in 2026: a country-by-country guideAll six GCC states, separating what is operating from what is announced.
- In the tracker
- Not yetCR-G01: UAE to be a global leader in AI by 2031 (strategy cites up to AED 335bn of extra growth).
- Not yetCR-G02: Abu Dhabi to be "the world's first fully AI-native government across all digital services by 2027"; 200+ AI solutions…
- Not yetCR-G04: Saudi Arabia among the top 15 AI nations by 2030; up to 20,000 data/AI specialists; about US$20bn investment; 300…
- EmergingCR-G08: 50% of UAE federal government sectors, services and operations to run on agentic AI "for autonomous execution and…"
- Quick answers
- Terms explained
Step 2: What is already working?
AI has been a formal school subject in UAE public schools from kindergarten to Grade 12 since 2025–26. Commercial robotaxi services began in parts of Dubai on 30 March 2026. Saudi Arabia's Seha Virtual Hospital connects specialists with more than 240 hospitals. October 2026 also brought newer steps that are still at an early stage: Abu Dhabi's AiNative training programme, with a first pilot under way, Sharjah's framework for AI in schools, and Dubai's free GenDubAI guide for parents, itself a pilot.
From our pages
- AI in everyday life in the Gulf: health, learning, getting around, and dealing with governmentHealth, learning, getting around and dealing with government.
- In the news
- Quick answers
Step 3: What is still a plan?
The largest infrastructure projects. OpenAI announced Stargate UAE in May 2025 with 200 megawatts expected to go live in 2026. Its builder said in August 2026 that work was on track, but as of 22 October 2026 we had found no announcement that it is operating. Saudi Arabia's HUMAIN has announced plans for large numbers of NVIDIA chips and new data centres; our tracker listed these as announced plans, not yet delivered, at its 28 September 2026 review. A gigawatt announcement is a target, not a working facility, which is why our tracker gives each claim a status.
From our pages
- In the tracker
- Followed step by step
- Terms explained
Step 4: What rules and safeguards have they set?
The UAE Charter for the Development and Use of AI, approved in June 2024, sets out 12 principles, including safety, privacy, avoiding algorithmic bias and human oversight. Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law has been fully enforced since September 2024. Bahrain has adopted the GCC Guiding Manual on the Ethics of AI Use. In June 2026 the UAE approved a new Artificial Intelligence and Data Authority as its single national body for data, AI and digital government.
From our pages
- Fears vs Reality: Will we lose control of AI?How the UAE writes human oversight into its plans.
- Quick answers
- Terms explained
What we don’t know yet
- Progress towards the UAE's target for agentic AI in government. Our tracker had found no published progress metrics when it last reviewed this target, on 28 September 2026.
- Whether Stargate UAE's first phase will be confirmed as operating, and how the redesigned UAE–US AI campus and HUMAIN's announced capacity develop.
- Primary-source confirmation for Kuwait's strategy and for a standalone Bahraini national AI strategy.
- Whether the investments pay off. That will take years to judge.
Read next
- The GCC AI landscape in 2026: a country-by-country guideThe country-by-country reference.
- What the Gulf is actually building: compute, power, models and peopleWhat the Gulf is actually building: compute, power, models and people.
- AI in everyday life in the Gulf: health, learning, getting around, and dealing with governmentWhat it means in everyday life.
This guide repeats only facts that are sourced on the pages it links to. Follow a link to see the original sources.