UAE to Use AI for Writing Laws, Leading a New Era of Governance

In a bold move that could redefine how nations govern, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to use artificial intelligence to draft and review both federal and local legislation. The initiative is being led by the newly established Regulatory Intelligence Office and signals a major shift in how laws may be created in the future.

Unlike most countries that are still developing frameworks to regulate AI, the UAE is moving to govern with AI—placing it at the center of its legislative process. While over 69 countries have proposed more than 1,000 AI-related policy initiatives, these efforts mostly aim to constrain the technology. The UAE is instead using AI to build those legal frameworks from within.

This strategy positions the UAE as a pioneering testbed for AI governance at a time when nations like the U.S., U.K., and China are still debating fundamental regulatory approaches. In contrast to the European Union’s AI Act, which classifies AI systems by risk level and limits high-risk applications, the UAE is systematically integrating AI into its entire legislative infrastructure—a more radical and comprehensive approach than seen elsewhere.

AI for Multilingual Lawmaking in a Diverse Nation

One of the UAE’s key motivations is rooted in its unique demographics. With only about 10% of the population being Emirati and over 200 nationalities represented, where the majority of residents speak languages other than Arabic, traditional legal systems often face challenges in communication and compliance. AI offers a solution by facilitating multilingual legal drafting, potentially making laws more accessible and reducing misunderstandings.

This is part of a larger trend in legal tech: using AI to democratize access to legal information. Systems that automate legal research or document review are already showing promise in improving clarity and compliance, and the UAE appears poised to scale this across its legal system.

Balancing Innovation with Oversight

Still, experts caution that integrating AI into lawmaking comes with serious challenges. Oxford University researcher Vincent Straub noted that AI systems “continue to hallucinate and have reliability issues,” raising concerns about accuracy and unintended consequences.

Similarly, computer scientist Marina De Vos warned that AI could generate legislation that “makes sense to a machine” but not to society, underscoring the importance of human oversight and cultural awareness in legal applications.

To succeed, the UAE must walk a careful line between efficiency and accountability. The ability to create laws faster and in multiple languages is compelling—but only if those laws are practically sound, legally precise, and socially coherent.

What This Means

By putting AI at the core of its lawmaking process, the UAE is attempting something no other nation has yet dared: a full-scale reimagining of legislative governance through technology. This move doesn't just aim to improve bureaucratic efficiency—it represents a broader experiment in how societies might one day be governed in partnership with AI.

As countries like the U.S. and China tread cautiously toward regulation, the UAE is already writing laws with machines. Whether this bold experiment becomes a model or a warning will depend on how well the nation balances speed with safety, innovation with inclusion.

In the race to define AI’s role in society, the UAE may be setting the pace—and rewriting the rules.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.