The UAE is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to develop and monitor its laws in a move lawyers have described as “groundbreaking” with the potential to set a global precedent.
The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, following a meeting of the UAE Cabinet.
“This new legislative system, powered by artificial intelligence, will change how we create laws, making the process faster and more precise,” he said. “It will ensure that our legislative framework stands out, aligning our laws with the best global practices while staying true to the unique path of our rapid development.”
As part of the initiative, the cabinet approved the formation of a new Regulatory Intelligence Office under its general secretariat.
“This office will work on creating a comprehensive legislative plan that brings together all federal and local laws in the UAE, connecting them through artificial intelligence with judicial rulings, executive procedures, and public services,” he added.
The new system is said to be the first of its kind globally. It will examine the effect of laws on the economy and society in real-time and suggest updates using data.
It will accelerate the legislative process by up to 70%, reducing the time and effort required for research, drafting, evaluation, and enactment of laws.
It will also link global research centres to bring UAE laws in line with best international practices.
“The new system will allow us to track the daily impact of laws on our people and economy using large-scale data, and it will regularly suggest updates to our legislation,” said Maktoum. “The system will be linked to leading global research centers to follow the best international policies and legislative practices, adapting them to suit the UAE’s unique circumstances.”
Commenting on the new system, Taimur Malik, a UAE-based lawyer and legaltech specialist told Law Middle East: “The establishment of the Regulatory Intelligence Office aimed at leveraging AI for harmonising current laws and creating new laws which are in sync with societal requirements is a groundbreaking legal development.”
Continuing, Malik, a former Clyde & Co partner, said: “Beyond the positive impact in the UAE, this may become a test case for how legislative drafting takes places around the world in the future. Globally, many laws are seen as archaic and legislative developments often take time due to capacity constraints of lawmakers and lack of data and this system by the UAE can work to overcome such hurdles.”
Meanwhile, Essam Al Tamimi, chairman and founding partner of Al Tamimi & Company, said: “This bold move underscores the country’s ongoing commitment to embracing future-forward solutions. By pioneering AI-powered legislation, the UAE is not only setting new benchmarks in legal innovation, it’s also cementing its status as a global leader in technology-enabled policymaking.”
The move comes as part of a wider push in the UAE to bring AI to government services. The UAE judiciary and courts have already invested in AI.
