The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into law writing and regulation, marking it for the first time when the country took such a step.
The decision comes after UAE ministers approved last week the establishment of the Regulation Bureau, a newly established cabinet body tasked with overseeing the use of AI in both drafting new laws and reforming existing laws.
Emirati Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum highlighted the potential for transformation of the initiative, saying, “This new legislative system powered by artificial intelligence will change the way laws are created, making the process faster and faster.”
As state media outlined, the government will build an extensive database of federal and local laws, supplemented by court decisions and public sector data, including government services. Sheikh Mohammed explained that AI “proposes regular updates to our laws,” allowing for more dynamic and responsive governance.
Authorities predict that AI will accelerate legal operations by up to 70% while reducing reliance on costly legal reviews traditionally carried out by law firms. The technology is expected to anticipate required legal changes in advance, streamline processes, and increase legislative agility.
However, the announcement sparked a wave of concern among experts and observers. Critics argue that embedding AI in such important sectors could present a critical challenge, particularly in terms of ethical considerations, accuracy, and the possibility that AI interpretation of law may differ fundamentally from human judgment.
