Abu Dhabi Unveils Landmark AiNative Program to Train Public and Government Employees in Artificial Intelligence

Abu Dhabi on Wednesday announced plans to equip thousands of government employees and the wider public with essential artificial intelligence skills as part of a major initiative to promote the responsible use of rapidly evolving technology. The Abu Dhabi government and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence have partnered with global tech leaders OpenAI and Microsoft to launch the AiNative training program.

This key strategy aims to provide 20,000 government employees with cutting-edge support by the end of the year, serving as a cornerstone for Abu Dhabi's goal to become the world's first AI-native government by 2027.

Announced at the Ai Everything conference in the capital by Abu Dhabi's Department of Government Enablement, the initiative encourages citizens, residents, government workers, and department leaders to harness AI for progress. Participants will receive training on tools such as ChatGPT, Codex, and Microsoft 365 Copilot for daily tasks, with specialized certifications in coding and data to follow in later phases.

Citizens and residents can access the training through Tomouh, the DGE's AI-driven learning app available via the UAE Pass government app. The curriculum covers practical applications including personal finance management, small business operation, job hunting, studying, and responsible online content creation, delivered via the free version of ChatGPT.

Wesam Lootah, director general of GovDigital at DGE, stated that the program gives the community practical skills for responsible AI use. Eric Xing, President and University Professor at MBZUAI, emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and ensuring equitable access to future technologies.

The AiNative initiative is being deployed in phases, following the rollout of Microsoft 365 Copilot to 35,000 Abu Dhabi government employees under the Frontier Employee Programme. Abu Dhabi's broader Digital Strategy 2025-2027 allocates Dh13 billion ($3.5 billion) to automate government processes, integrate sovereign cloud computing, and contribute more than Dh24 billion to the local economy while creating over 5,000 jobs.