Registration is open. The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence just launched the third edition of its AI Awards, and the theme has shifted. Hard.
This year is about Agentic AI. Not general AI, not vague digital transformation. Autonomous systems. The kind that act rather than just advise. Minister of State H.E. Omar Sultan Al Omama announced it personally.
Five categories are on the table:
– Excellence in Agentic AI-Powered Services
– Agentic AI Solutions developed within the UAE
– Best Government-Private Partnership in the space
– Scientific research on the subject
– A distinct category for individual AI Leaders
Why the sudden pivot? Pressure. The UAE set itself a brutal two-year clock. By April 2026 half of all government sectors and services need to integrate this technology. Ministers are being measured on speed. Adoption rates matter. The awards aren’t just shiny trophies they’re a live dashboard. A way to see who’s actually pulling ahead when their leadership scores are on the line.
The past two editions pulled in more than 540 applications so interest isn’t low. Anyone can enter: federal entities, local governments, private companies, academia. Individuals too. You’ll find the details at ai.gov.ae.
It all traces back to 2018 when the Cabinet formed this council. Back then the goal was simpler. Get AI into education. Get it into departments. Build a roadmap. The strategy points toward 2031 and world leadership status. Today the strategy has teeth. Committees and sub-councils are already working. The ecosystem is trying to form.
Are they fast enough?
The applications are coming in. The clock is ticking. See where it lands.
