The Dubai Financial Department has called upon government entities in the emirate to limit their contracting for services and consulting that rely on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to companies that have received the Dubai AI Seal certification. This initiative, launched by the Dubai Center for AI Applications, is overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation and follows the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Dubai Future Foundation.
This directive is part of Dubai’s strategy to implement a classification system for trusted AI companies, thereby enhancing confidence in AI-based solutions and ensuring their deployment under the highest standards of transparency and governance. This aligns with Dubai’s vision of becoming the leading city in the world for the use of AI technologies.
Abdul Rahman Al Salih, the Director-General of Dubai Finance, emphasized that encouraging government entities to engage suppliers with AI certification for relevant contracts aligns with the department’s goal of synchronizing public spending policies with the future trends of the emirate. He noted that requiring the AI Seal for contracts “reflects the Dubai government’s commitment to ensuring the quality and reliability of the technology solutions utilized in its operations, directing public expenditure towards entities that uphold the highest standards of efficiency, governance, and innovation.”
Today, AI is a fundamental component of Dubai’s smart spending framework. Efforts are being made to enhance its role in improving government financial performance and achieving economic sustainability, which supports Dubai’s future vision.
According to Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, the initiative to classify and certify trustworthy AI companies is a pivotal step towards establishing a more secure and transparent digital ecosystem. This effort consolidates Dubai’s status as a global hub for responsible AI technology development and application. He affirmed that collaborating with Dubai Finance to implement this initiative across government entities ensures that the smart solutions employed in public service meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and technical governance.
This collaboration aligns with leadership directives to accelerate the adoption of future technologies, utilizing AI to benefit humanity and improve quality of life in Dubai through the secure and sustainable use of digital technologies.
Dubai Finance stated that this action is consistent with Law No. 12 of 2020 regarding contracts and warehouse management in the Dubai government, particularly Article 15, which mandates that government contracts be limited to licensed and registered companies within the country, authorized to provide the required goods and services.
The department clarified that government entities must inform consulting firms specializing in AI-based services about the necessity of obtaining the AI Seal certification, which is available free of charge to all technology companies holding a business license in Dubai that offer AI-related services or utilize these applications in their emirate services. Further information can be found at www.dub.ai/en/ai-seal.
Applications will be evaluated for participation and verified for authenticity, categorized into six main classifications based on their activities and services, the number of employees specializing in AI, current and future projects, and the quality of their partnerships in both the public and private sectors.