Abu Dhabi has launched an ambitious initiative to equip 23,000 government employees with advanced artificial intelligence skills by early 2027. Introduced at the "AI Everything Abu Dhabi" event, the "AiNative" platform is a collaborative effort between the Department of Government Enablement, OpenAI, Microsoft, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The program is designed to move beyond theory, providing staff with practical, hands-on training that addresses real-world tasks—such as legal drafting or HR planning—while ensuring they understand the critical importance of data security and ethical AI usage.

To keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology landscape, the platform focuses on helping workers select the right tools for their specific roles, ensuring they can leverage AI to boost productivity without compromising sensitive government information. Faisal Al Hawi, Director of the AI Factory, highlighted that the initiative aims to transform how civil servants operate by automating time-consuming administrative tasks, thereby freeing them to focus on high-level decision-making. As the program matures, it will expand from foundational training into specialized modules for finance, procurement, and tax sectors, eventually opening its doors to the wider public via the UAE Pass to solidify the emirate’s position as a global leader in AI integration.