UAE launches third Emirates AI Award to accelerate adoption of assistant AI across government services
Third Emirates AI Award launched to reward UAE organisations using assistant AI and advance plans to integrate it into 50% of public services nationwide.
The UAE has launched the third Emirates AI Award, a national competition aimed at accelerating the adoption of assistant AI across government services and recognising organisations that deliver measurable public value. The Emirates AI Award will spotlight projects and leaders that transform digital tools into intelligent assistants, the council said. The initiative aligns with the country’s strategy to embed assistant AI across half of government sectors to raise productivity and service quality.
Third edition highlights assistant AI as strategic priority
The third Emirates AI Award shifts focus explicitly to assistant AI, reflecting a strategic move to make these systems active partners in public administration. Organisers say the award seeks examples where assistant AI moves beyond automation to support decision-making, service delivery and citizen engagement. This emphasis is intended to encourage responsible, high-impact deployments that deliver tangible benefits to residents and the economy.
Five award categories designed to capture ecosystem strengths
The competition is structured around five main categories that recognise diverse contributions across the public and private sectors. Categories include excellence in services powered by assistant AI and solutions developed within the UAE, underscoring a push for homegrown capability. Additional awards for public-private partnerships, scientific research in assistant AI and an individual “AI Leader” prize aim to reward collaboration, scholarship and leadership.
Minister frames the prize as a national benchmark
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, described the award as a new national benchmark for excellence in assistant AI. He said the UAE is pursuing a comprehensive approach to technology adoption that positions assistant AI as a practical partner in government work. The minister stressed that the prize will honour models that responsibly convert technological potential into measurable improvements in services and operations.
Past editions and participation underscore growing interest
Organisers point to strong engagement in the award’s first two editions, which together drew more than 540 nominations from across sectors. That participation, they say, reflects rising national interest in embedding AI into services and business models. The current edition aims to build on that momentum by highlighting scalable, locally developed solutions and by encouraging wider collaboration between government, private companies and research institutions.
Intended effects on government performance and citizen services
Officials say the prize supports a broader UAE vision to increase productivity, enhance service efficiency and improve quality of life through intelligent technologies. By prioritising assistant AI, the government intends to redesign workflows, shorten processing times and uplift user experience across multiple touchpoints. The award is positioned as both a recognition vehicle and a catalyst for the wider institutional adoption that the government seeks.
Research and partnerships to be elevated
One category explicitly recognises scientific research, signalling a desire to anchor deployments in rigorous study and evidence. Another category for public-private partnerships is designed to reward collaborations that translate commercial innovation into public benefit. Together these strands aim to strengthen the pipeline from research and development to operational use, and to promote responsible, UAE-led design and implementation.
Organisers have emphasised that the award will spotlight cases where assistant AI augments human skills rather than solely replacing tasks. This framing is intended to encourage solutions that support government employees, build national capabilities and create sustainable models for future services. Entries that demonstrate measurable outcomes, such as improved response times or higher citizen satisfaction, are expected to fare well in evaluation.
The Emirates AI Award is being promoted as part of a larger national push to mainstream assistant AI across government, with the ambition that these systems will become routine contributors to public-sector work. By recognising both technological innovation and the leaders who drive its adoption, the prize seeks to accelerate a cultural and operational shift in how services are designed and delivered.
The award’s renewed emphasis on locally developed solutions and partnerships is meant to strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional and global hub for advanced digital technologies. As government bodies and private firms prepare submissions, the competition is likely to further stimulate investment in research, talent and pilot deployments that can be scaled across the public sector. The third Emirates AI Award thus aims not only to reward excellence but to raise the bar for how assistant AI is used to serve the public interest.
