GIRAI logo
United Arab Emirates flag

Global Index Score

38.54

Global: 55thRegional: 4thIncome Group: 37th

United Arab Emirates's index score lands +6.5 against the Middle East average (32.1) and -13.6 against High income peers (52.1). It scores ahead of 60% of the 135 economies assessed this edition. Published score 38.5 reflects a URAI adjustment from 40.1 (1 government-misuse evidence item on file) — including "Dubai Oyoon (Eyes)". The profile rests on 26 documented evidence items spanning policy frameworks, government initiatives and civil society activity.

How United Arab Emirates Performs Across the Five Dimensions

GIRAI evaluates countries across five core dimensions that capture the social, ethical, and institutional impacts of artificial intelligence.

AI Policy

35.89

Avrg. Score

26.13

Global: 49thRegional: 4th

Enabling Conditions

61.44

Avrg. Score

52.95

Global: 51stRegional: 1st

Civil Society Engagement

1.76

Avrg. Score

13.39

Global: 117thRegional: 7th
1

Inclusion and Diversity

62.14

Index Score

32.56

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 23rdRegional: 1st

United Arab Emirates runs +29.6 against the regional average (32.6) on Inclusion and Diversity. Strongest indicators: Gender Equality (82.6), Children's Rights (63.6). Weakest: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (58.0). This dimension ranks 23rd globally — ahead of the country's overall position (55th). 8 evidence items on file, including "AI Ethics: Principles and Guidelines (United Arab Emirates)" and 3 other documented items.

2

Ethics and Sustainability

32.48

Index Score

31.58

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 69thRegional: 6th

United Arab Emirates runs +0.9 against the regional average (31.6) on Ethics and Sustainability. Strongest indicators: Human Oversight and Determination (48.9), Fairness and Non-discrimination (40.9). Weakest: Environmental Impact (0.0), Transparency and Explainability (30.0). This dimension ranks 69th globally — behind the country's overall position (55th). 5 evidence items on file, including "AI Ethics: Principles and Guidelines (United Arab Emirates)" and 2 other documented items.

3

Labour and Skills

36.15

Index Score

34.73

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 71stRegional: 5th

United Arab Emirates runs +1.4 against the regional average (34.7) on Labour and Skills. Strongest indicators: Reskilling/Upskilling Initiatives (83.0), AI Literacy (9.1). Weakest: Labour Protections (0.0). This dimension ranks 71st globally — behind the country's overall position (55th). 5 evidence items on file, including "UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031" and 1 other documented items.

4

Trust and Safety

42.82

Index Score

36.90

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 52ndRegional: 5th

United Arab Emirates runs +5.9 against the regional average (36.9) on Trust and Safety. Strongest indicators: Impact Assessments (50.0), Safety and Security (36.4). Weakest: AI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence (0.0), Access to Redress and Remedy (30.3). This dimension ranks 52nd globally — ahead of the country's overall position (55th). 5 evidence items on file, including "AI Ethics: Principles and Guidelines (United Arab Emirates)" and 1 other documented items.

5

AI Use in Public Service

27.12

Index Score

28.75

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 68thRegional: 5th

United Arab Emirates runs -1.6 against the regional average (28.7) on AI Use in Public Service. Strongest indicators: Public Sector Skills Development (64.8), Public Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems (0.0). Weakest: Public Procurement (0.0). This dimension ranks 68th globally — behind the country's overall position (55th). 3 evidence items on file, including "UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031" and 1 other documented items.

Comparing Results Across Editions

Explore how country performance, scores, and governance indicators have changed between GIRAI editions.

14 indicators

Indicator2024 Edition2026 Edition
Gender EqualityNo FrameworkBinding Framework
Children's RightsNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Cultural and Linguistic DiversityNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Fairness and Non-discriminationNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Transparency and ExplainabilityNon-Binding FrameworkBinding Framework
Human Oversight and DeterminationBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Labour ProtectionsNo FrameworkNo Framework
Reskilling/Upskilling InitiativesNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Safety and SecurityNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Access to Redress and RemedyNon-Binding FrameworkBinding Framework
Impact AssessmentsNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Public Sector Skills DevelopmentNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Public ProcurementNo FrameworkNo Framework
Government Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and GovernanceNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework

Indicator definitions changed between editions; this table compares evidence presence and status, not directly comparable scores. A — indicates the item is not applicable or was not assessed for that edition.

Compare responsible AI performance

Explore how countries and regions perform across GIRAI's governance dimensions, scores, and structural indicators.

Compare
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

38.54

Global 55thRegional 4th
Middle East

32.07

Regional average

Dimension scores

Inclusion and Diversity
United Arab Emirates
62.1
Middle East
32.6
Ethics and Sustainability
United Arab Emirates
32.5
Middle East
31.6
Labour and Skills
United Arab Emirates
36.1
Middle East
34.7
Trust and Safety
United Arab Emirates
42.8
Middle East
36.9
AI Use in Public Service
United Arab Emirates
27.1
Middle East
28.7

Indicators

37 of 37
IndicatorUnited Arab EmiratesMiddle East
Inclusion and Diversity7
APGender Equality
82.625.2
APChildren's Rights
63.615.8
APCultural and Linguistic Diversity
58.030.0
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Inclusion and Diversity
0.010.8
ECEgalitarian Democracy
13.022.4
ECSocioeconomic Inclusion in Connectivity
100.062.7
ECGender Inclusion in Connectivity
100.087.7
Ethics and Sustainability6
APFairness and Non-discrimination
40.936.3
APTransparency and Explainability
30.041.0
APHuman Oversight and Determination
48.936.7
APEnvironmental Impact
0.013.7
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Ethics and Sustainability
0.016.9
ECEnvironmental Performance
31.716.6
Labour and Skills6
APLabour Protections
0.06.3
APReskilling/Upskilling Initiatives
83.049.4
APAI Literacy
9.129.8
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Labour and Skills
0.011.3
ECLabour Rights
23.928.1
ECPopulation Digital Readiness
94.482.0
Trust and Safety11
APSafety and Security
36.438.2
APAccess to Redress and Remedy
30.322.0
APImpact Assessments
50.035.7
APAI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence
0.012.0
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Trust and Safety
8.88.4
ECData Protection and Privacy
50.053.7
ECData Sharing and Access
87.557.5
ECConsumer Protection
95.180.2
ECCybersecurity
100.080.9
ECRule of Law
65.055.1
ECGlobal Peace
74.659.2
AI Use in Public Service7
APPublic Sector Skills Development
64.837.5
APPublic Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems
0.04.1
APPublic Procurement
0.017.4
CSOGovernment Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and Governance
0.019.6
ECCivil Society Oversight
24.141.0
ECPublic Service Delivery
97.580.3
ECRight to Information
20.028.5
Score adjustment
URAIUnacceptable Risk AI Systems
×0.961 government-misuse item×0.98Regional average
APAI Policy
CSOCSO Engagement
ECEnabling Conditions
Misuse Of AI

Unacceptable Risk AI Systems

Evidence related to government use of AI systems associated with unacceptable-risk categories.

Contact GIRAI
  • Mass Biometric Surveillance

    Dubai Oyoon (Eyes)

    The Executive Council Resolution No. (34) of 2021 approves the deployment of intelligent camera surveillance systems using AI to establish an integrated security system capable of helping entities predict and proactively respond to incidents (Art.3). This AI-driven surveillance overseen by the Dubai Police & the State Security Authority in Dubai poses a profound risk to rights & freedoms. The system enables mass surveillance & potential erosion of privacy and freedoms due to constant monitoring & predictive policing capabilities(Art.2). Further risk arises as the system requires developing policies on the use of security AI (Art.4) and references rules governing the confidentiality of information (Art. 8).

    View Trusted Source

What Drives This Performance?

A breakdown of the structural factors shaping this country's score.

AI Policy

National AI strategies, laws, and oversight mechanisms that establish formal governance structures.

Contribution to overall score

54%

Civil society engagement

Participation of academia, advocacy groups, and non-state actors in shaping governance and ensuring accountability.

Contribution to overall score

0%

Enabling conditions

Institutional capacity, rule of law, digital readiness, and labour protections that enable effective governance.

Contribution to overall score

46%

  • Strongest context signal: Socioeconomic Inclusion in Connectivity (100.0)
  • Gender Inclusion in Connectivity (100.0)
  • Cybersecurity (100.0)

Evidence for United Arab Emirates

Loading evidence explorer…