How the UAE is Leading the AI Revolution—And What Other Countries Can Learn

Bold Innovation or Bureaucratic Stagnation? How UAE’s AI Surge Highlights South Africa’s Policy Failures

The United Arab Emirates has set an ambitious goal: to become a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031.

“We will transform the UAE into a world leader in A.I. by investing in people and industries that are key to our success,”declares the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, spearheaded by the UAE’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence.

Unlike many nations, including South Africa, that initially dismissed AI as a passing trend, the UAE recognized its transformative potential early. Today, the country boasts a Minister of State for AI - a role created to drive innovation without the constraints of legacy systems.

Rather than fearing disruption, the UAE is harnessing AI to shape the future, investing heavily in research, development, and talent acquisition. Its strategy is built on ambition, creativity, and strategic partnerships, positioning the nation as a key player in the global AI landscape.

While South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 vaguely references "digital transformation," it lacks a concrete AI strategy—a critical oversight in an era where AI is reshaping economies.

A Blueprint for AI Leadership

The UAE’s approach offers valuable lessons for other nations. Consider Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), which funded an AI system trained on 4,000 powerful computer chips - a multimillion-dollar project that put the UAE on the map in AI research.

“The UAE was not well known before for training models,” says Philipp Schmid, an AI researcher at Hugging Face. “But then, by more or less the next day, we knew that they can train models, they open-source their models, they publish research around it, which benefits all.”

What’s Holding Other Countries Back?

This progress makes me wonder: What is my country—South Africa—doing to seize the AI opportunity?

With a median age of 27, South Africa has a young, tech-savvy population eager to lead in disruptive technologies. Yet, the political elite seem unaware or uninterested in AI’s potential to create jobs, revitalize industries, and leapfrog development.

Only in 2024 did South Africa announce the establishment of an AI Expert Advisory Council “to address the regulatory issues surrounding the use of AI.” This initiative was highlighted at a national AI summit organized by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.

The proposed council, led by Vukosi Marivate - an associate professor of computer science and the ‘ABSA UP’ Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria - will collaborate with the government to formulate ethical AI governance frameworks. It is said these efforts “aim to guide the development of a national AI policy aligned with both domestic and continental objectives”. Professor Marivate will oversee the selection of specialists for the council.

We would recall that South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 outlines broad economic goals but fails to prioritize AI as a growth lever. The Experts Council on AI has not produced anything tangible to demonstrate forward momentum and thinking.

The plan emphasizes "inclusive growth" but does not link AI to job creation, despite evidence that AI-driven industries (like fintech and agritech) could absorb young workers. It calls for "digital infrastructure" but lacks funding commitments for AI research, unlike the UAE’s billion-dollar investments.

South Africa still hasn’t finalized its Cloud and Data Policy, while the UAE has had AI laws in place since 2017. Top South African AI talent leaves for Europe or the UAE, where opportunities are better.

Imagine if South Africa repurposed some of its hundreds of abandoned government buildings and schools (KwaZulu-Natal alone has over 300 unused schools) into AI incubators. The infrastructure is there—what’s missing is vision and political will.

Dubai’s AI-Powered Future: A Model to Follow

Dubai has embraced AI across government services, healthcare, transport, and security, becoming a living lab for real-world AI applications. Its success stems from:

- Forward-thinking regulations

- Public-private partnerships

- Strong data security frameworks

By adopting a similar strategy, any country—including South Africa—could position itself as a smart nation, using AI to boost economic growth, improve governance, and enhance quality of life.

The Time to Act is Now

The UAE’s AI success proves that strategic vision + execution = global competitiveness. South Africa has the raw talent, infrastructure, and need —but without urgent action, it risks falling further behind.

The NDP 2030 must be revised to treat AI as a national priority, not just a buzzword. Otherwise, South Africa’s youth—and economy—will pay the price. The question is: Will South Africa follow suit—or be left behind?

For us, the opportunity is clear. The tools, the talent, and the need exist. All that’s required is the courage to act.

Let’s discuss Mzansi in the comments.