At the UN Public Service Forum 2025 in Uzbekistan, Mohamed Bin Taliah, the UAE’s Chief of Government Services, shared with Forbes Middle East how the Emirates is transforming governance with artificial intelligence (AI) at its core.
Redefining Government Through AI
From facial recognition-powered digital IDs to virtual courtrooms, the UAE is reshaping how citizens interact with public services. Taliah emphasized a citizen-centric approach—faster, smarter, and more secure.
“We’re not just digitizing services. We’re reimagining how government should work in the AI era,” said Taliah.
The UAE’s Digital Economy Vision
Under the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, the country plans to raise the digital sector’s contribution to its non-oil GDP from 11.7% to over 20% by 2031. This includes:
- Expanding access to digital platforms
- Forming global tech partnerships
- Driving innovation through AI
Streamlined, 24/7 Access
Applications like Dubai Now, TAMM, and Digital Sharjah are simplifying life for citizens by centralizing services. The U-Ask chatbot, available in both Arabic and English, adds conversational ease to user interactions.
UAE PASS: A National AI-Powered Digital Identity
With over 10.2 million users, UAE PASS allows people to sign documents and access services securely using facial recognition. Healthcare systems have also integrated this tech for seamless access.
AI in Courts: Justice, Transformed
Dubai’s legal sector is undergoing a tech revolution:
- 98% of court cases are now conducted online
- Judges use AI tools to summarize files and retrieve legal data
- “Smart courtrooms” and virtual lawyers are under active pilot testing
Zero Bureaucracy: A Bold Reform
Through the Zero Bureaucracy Program, the UAE has eliminated 4,000+ redundant service steps, saving 12 million hours and cutting wait times by 70%. The next milestone? Reducing user confusion caused by scattered digital platforms.
Privacy by Design
Taliah confirmed that data privacy remains central. The UAE follows international data protection standards, ensuring safe and ethical AI use.
Tech Diplomacy: UAE’s Global AI Footprint
The UAE is sharing its digital expertise through initiatives like the “One Million Uzbek Coders”, modeled after the successful “One Million Arab Coders” program. Uzbekistan is also set to open an IT Park office in Dubai, deepening bilateral tech collaboration.
UN Public Service Forum 2025: A Global Call to Action
The forum concluded with the Samarkand Ministerial Declaration, urging nations to equip their public sector workforce with digital skills and commit to fair, inclusive, and sustainable governance.