Abu Dhabi’s bold AI strategy is more than a tech upgrade – should Malta take note?

In January, Abu Dhabi announced a game-changing strategy that may well redefine what governments can achieve through technology. With an investment of AED 13 billion (around €2.3 billion) earmarked for digital transformation over the next three years, the emirate has unveiled its Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027 – a plan that aims to position it as the world’s first fully AI-native government.

This is not simply a technological facelift. It’s a nation-state strategy: One that uses artificial intelligence to reimagine governance, drive economic value, and enhance public trust through faster, smarter public services.

By 2027, Abu Dhabi aims to achieve:

• 100 per cent automation of all Government processes
• Deployment of over 200 AI-powered solutions across public sector services
• A GDP contribution of more than AED 24 billion (approx. €6 billion)
• Creation of 5,000+ new jobs, aligned with Emiratisation efforts

At the core of this transformation is a sovereign cloud infrastructure designed to host all government operations, improving efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. A unified digital enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform will act as the central nervous system of the Government – streamlining everything from finance to HR to service delivery.

The strategy was spearheaded by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement (DGE), with support from institutions such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), ensuring that the government remains at the forefront of cutting-edge AI research and application.

“By incorporating AI, cloud technologies, and data-driven insights into our government’s DNA, we will transform public service delivery, optimise operations, and drive sustainable economic growth,” said Ahmed Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of DGE.

But the strategy goes beyond infrastructure and GDP. Through the “AI for All” programme, Abu Dhabi also aims to empower its citizens by equipping them with the skills to interact meaningfully with AI systems, making the transformation both top-down and bottom-up.

A lesson for Malta?

Gege Gatt, CEO of Malta-based AI firm EBO.ai, believes this development should be a wake-up call for other nations – including Malta.

“Abu Dhabi has just raised the bar on digital transformation,” he said. “This is more than a tech upgrade. It’s a nation-state strategy: Using AI to reimagine government, create economic value, and enhance public trust through faster, smarter services.”

Dr Gatt argues that Malta, with its compact size, centralised governance, and growing tech ecosystem, is well-placed to act as Europe’s testbed for public sector AI.

“Malta could carve out a leadership position – scaling automation, boosting service delivery, and attracting strategic investment. But we need to be clear: This requires coordinated ambition, not incremental steps,” Dr Gatt added.