Abu Dhabi Plans World’s First All-Digital Government by 2027

Abu Dhabi’s government entities are spearheading a remarkable digital revolution. They have unveiled a Dhs13bn ($3.5bn) investment plan to create the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. The Digital Strategy 2025-2027 will revolutionize government operations through 200 innovative AI solutions. The plan includes complete adoption of sovereign cloud computing across government functions.

This comprehensive plan will boost Abu Dhabi’s GDP by more than Dhs24bn by 2027. It will generate over 5,000 new jobs to support Emiratisation efforts. The strategy builds on a decade of digital development that has transformed simple e-government services into sophisticated AI-powered solutions. Abu Dhabi will establish a reliable digital infrastructure by 2027. This infrastructure will become the flexible foundation for future government operations and support the UAE National Strategy for AI 2031.

Abu Dhabi’s Digital Transformation Roadmap

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement (DGE) has unveiled TAMM 3.0, which changes the city’s digital world. This AI-powered platform now provides over 800 continuous services through a single app and portal. The platform comes with an AI assistant that delivers up-to-the-minute, contextual responses in Arabic and English.

DGE has formed strategic collaborations to build a strong digital foundation:

• Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to upskill workforce
• Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) to develop large language models
• G42 to implement AI infrastructure

TAMM and ATRC’s AI71 company have joined forces to implement the cutting-edge Falcon series of large language models. This makes TAMM the first UAE organization to use this technology. The Falcon 180B model runs on 180 billion parameters and 3.5 trillion tokens, which gives TAMM better conversational capabilities and precise responses.

The strategy puts forward strong digital guidelines and frameworks that maintain top-tier cybersecurity standards. A unified digital enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform optimizes processes for government entities. This detailed digital development builds on earlier initiatives and moves from simple e-government services to advanced AI-powered solutions that serve citizens, residents, and businesses.

Building the AI-Ready Infrastructure

Abu Dhabi’s AI transformation’s life-blood is its unified multi-cloud system, ADGOV Cloud, which serves more than 40 government entities. This central infrastructure unites digital operations from government departments of all sizes into a complete hybrid setup.

ADGOV Cloud works with leading global platforms like Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Amazon Web Services. The system runs with a private government cloud, the Unified Data Center (UDC), which sits in a third-party facility. This setup will give both operational flexibility and data sovereignty.

The Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority (ADAA) has become the first government body to finish its move to the G42 Cloud. This change has improved organizational performance and cut operational costs. The migration has also boosted operational flexibility, letting ADAA grow its services without hardware limits.

Unlike traditional infrastructure, the new system focuses on resilient sovereign security controls. A dedicated Cloud Migration Office now oversees the smooth transition of data and applications to the unified system. A Dhs13 billion investment supports this complete infrastructure development that should add over Dhs24 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP.

The infrastructure blueprint has:

• Sovereign cloud computing across all operations
• A unified digital enterprise resource planning platform
• Advanced cybersecurity frameworks
• Adaptable AI-ready systems

This resilient digital foundation lines up with the UAE National Strategy for AI 2031, making Abu Dhabi a leader in AI-powered governance.

Implementation Challenges and Solutions

Abu Dhabi government entities face several roadblocks in their AI transformation plans. Data privacy is the main concern, with 81% of organizations reporting limited access to quality training data. 84% of entities don’t deal very well with high-capacity computational systems that power AI solutions.

The workforce adaptation challenge is substantial. 70% of leadership positions expect extensive workforce reskilling. The government launched a groundbreaking “AI for All” program with three key approaches:

• Reskilling employees for new AI-compatible roles
• Retooling existing workforce for AI augmentation
• Offering early retirement options for those near retirement age

The government collaborates with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence for upskilling programs. It also works with the Advanced Technology Research Council to develop large language models. These strategic collaborations help bridge the technical expertise gap for smooth AI integration.

Strong frameworks protect data security and privacy to tackle data governance issues. However, cultural acceptance remains a challenge. 57% of organizations acknowledge broader cultural barriers that limit AI adoption. The government promotes innovation while maintaining strict data protection standards.

Substantial investments in sovereign cloud computing and unified digital platforms address infrastructure challenges. This detailed strategy helps Abu Dhabi government entities direct their complex transition to AI-native operations. They maintain service quality and data security throughout this process.

Abu Dhabi leads governmental digital transformation with its bold Dhs13bn investment strategy. The emirate aims to build the world’s first AI-native government by 2027 through this complete plan. TAMM 3.0 and ADGOV Cloud’s unified infrastructure create reliable foundations for future government operations.

Data privacy and workforce adaptation present challenges. The emirate tackles these through mutually beneficial alliances with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the Advanced Technology Research Council. The “AI for All” program helps workers transition smoothly and develop technical expertise.

This digital shift will add Dhs24bn to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and create 5,000 new jobs. The emirate has adopted sovereign cloud computing and advanced cybersecurity frameworks to set new standards in AI-powered governance. These initiatives make Abu Dhabi a global leader in digital government services that align with the UAE National Strategy for AI 2031.