UAE proposes AI-led regulatory model as laws struggle to keep pace with technology

The UAE government has laid out a new vision for how laws could be written, tested and updated in the age of artificial intelligence, arguing that traditional regulatory systems are no longer fast or flexible enough for modern economies.

The plan was detailed in a whitepaper launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos by the General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based AI company Presight and consulting firm PWC.

The paper introduces what the UAE calls a Regulatory Intelligence Ecosystem — a framework that uses data, AI tools and simulation models to help governments design regulation that can adapt continuously as technology, markets and social behaviour change.

“In a world where technology and business models evolve at unprecedented speed, regulatory cycles are moving beyond conventional approaches,” said Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet.
“The UAE Government has set out to launch the first living and evolving Regulatory Intelligence Ecosystem, driven by people and constantly adapting to changes.”

From static laws to adaptive systems

At the core of the proposal is a simple argument: laws are still designed as fixed texts, while the world they regulate now changes in real time.

The whitepaper outlines how AI could be used to monitor economic and social data, analyse regulatory outcomes, and test the impact of proposed legal changes before they are introduced. Instead of waiting years for reviews, regulation would be assessed continuously.

One of the main concepts is a Unified Regulatory Digital Twin — a live digital model of the UAE’s regulatory environment. The system is designed to simulate how laws affect businesses, public services, courts and society, and to predict the consequences of policy changes.

The paper stresses that AI would not make decisions on its own. A governance model called Sovereign Governance-in-the-Loop keeps humans in control at every stage, with AI acting as a support tool rather than a replacement for lawmakers.

Presight’s role — important, but not the story

Presight’s involvement reflects its growing role as a government technology partner, rather than the launch of a commercial product. The company is contributing AI and data capabilities to help design and model the regulatory framework, rather than operating or enforcing laws.

“By pioneering a regulatory ecosystem built on intelligence, adaptability and trust, the UAE is setting a global benchmark,” said Thomas Pramotedham, Chief Executive Officer of Presight.

For Presight, the project positions the company closer to state-level infrastructure, an area where trust and political alignment matter as much as technology. But the announcement itself is about the UAE’s policy direction, not Presight’s business expansion.

Why this matters beyond the UAE

Governments worldwide face the same pressure. Technology moves quickly. Regulation moves slowly. This gap has become more visible with AI, fintech platforms and digital labour markets, where outdated laws struggle to keep pace.

The UAE’s proposal offers one possible response: regulation designed as a system that updates continuously and tests itself against real-world data. For smaller and fast-moving states, this approach could reduce regulatory lag. For larger democracies, it highlights how difficult reform has become within existing legal structures.

There are also open questions. How transparent are AI-driven policy simulations? Who audits the data and assumptions behind them? And how much influence do technical systems gain over political judgment?

A signal, not a finished system

PwC, which advised on the initiative, said it is applying its legal innovation and generative AI capabilities at national scale to help connect laws, outcomes and public services.

The UAE is presenting Regulatory Intelligence as a globally relevant discipline and inviting international partners to engage. But the whitepaper describes a framework and applied model, not a fully deployed system.

For now, the significance lies in the signal it sends. Governments are no longer only regulating AI. Some are beginning to redesign regulation itself around it — carefully, experimentally, and with human control still firmly in place.