Abu Dhabi has launched a major artificial intelligence training initiative aimed at equipping at least 20,000 government employees with advanced digital skills by the end of 2026.
The programme, named “AiNative,” was officially unveiled by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement (DGE) at the Ai Everything Abu Dhabi event. Developed in collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the curriculum is designed to integrate AI tools directly into public-sector operations.
The rollout forms part of the emirate’s broader AED 13 billion ($3.5 billion) Digital Strategy 2025–2027, which prioritises AI adoption, sovereign cloud infrastructure, and administrative automation across the public sector.
The curriculum covers practical applications across popular tools including ChatGPT, OpenAI Codex, and Microsoft 365 Copilot, with tailored modules planned for specific civil service functions such as taxation, legal matters, procurement, and finance. A separate track has also been created for senior executive leadership.
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“AI will only create lasting value when people have the knowledge and confidence to use it well,” said Wesam Lootah, Director General of GovDigital at DGE.
Faisal Al Hawi, director of the AI Factory at DGE, noted that the training is customized according to employee responsibilities, ranging from HR workforce planning to automated contract analysis. Later stages of the programme will offer specialized technical certifications in coding and data analysis, alongside strict guidelines regarding government data security and information privacy.
The department also plans to expand the AiNative platform to the general public in subsequent phases through its “Tomouh” digital learning portal, allowing citizens and residents to access AI training for personal finance, job searches, and small business operations.
