The United Arab Emirates has made history by becoming the first country in the world to use artificial intelligence to draft, review, and amend federal and local legislation. Government officials confirmed the groundbreaking move this week, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to leading the future of governance and technology.

Alongside this announcement, the UAE also launched the Regulatory Intelligence Office, a new cabinet unit that will work with federal and local entities to deploy AI across the legislative process. The system will not only help write and review laws but will also assess the impact of legislation on the population and the economy, using a centralized database of legal texts.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE’s Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, stated, “This new legislative system, powered by artificial intelligence, will change how we create laws, making the process faster and more precise.” Internal projections suggest that AI could speed up the lawmaking process by up to 70% and cut associated costs by 50%.

The initiative is also expected to significantly impact the country’s economy, with officials predicting a 35% boost in the UAE’s GDP by 2030. As part of this shift, laws, judicial rulings, executive regulations, and public services will increasingly be written or amended by machine-driven processes, ensuring that the country’s legal framework remains dynamic and responsive.

The UAE has long been a pioneer in artificial intelligence. In 2017, it became the first country to appoint a Minister of Artificial Intelligence, with Omar Sultan al-Olama leading the nation’s digital transformation under the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence. By 2030, global officials estimate the AI market could reach a value of $15.7 trillion, and the UAE aims to position itself as a major regulatory and development hub within the sector.

Sheikh Mohammed also added that the AI system will “regularly suggest updates to current legislation,” helping the UAE stay ahead of emerging needs and maintain a future-ready government.