{
  "id": 9768592,
  "title": "UAE pulls ahead in global ranking on AI adoption",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/uae-pulls-ahead-in-global-ranking-on-ai-adoption",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-25T13:02:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/25/uae-pulls-ahead-in-global-ranking-on-ai-adoption/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a global leader in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), according to the latest report from Microsoft's AI Economy Institute. Microsoft calculates AI diffusion as the proportion of individuals aged between 15 and 64 who have utilized a generative AI product or app during the specified reporting period. The UAE's AI adoption has surged significantly, climbing from 59.4 percent in the first half of 2025 to 64 percent in the second half of 2025 and reaching 70.1 percent early in 2026.\n\nThis places the UAE more than four times above the global average AI adoption rate of 17.8 percent. Globally, AI adoption saw a modest increase from 16.3 percent to 17.8 percent during the first quarter of 2026. Singapore holds the second position in the global ranking, with AI adoption rising by 5.7 percentage points since the beginning of 2025. However, the UAE's AI adoption growth has outpaced Singapore's by more than double, with a rise of 13.9 percentage points over the same period, reaching 73.3 percent.\n\nThe UAE's leading position in AI adoption is largely attributed to a strategic initiative to transition AI from experimental stages to practical use in various sectors such as government, workplaces, and educational institutions. Authorities in AI policy have highlighted the UAE's early adoption as putting the country at the forefront of the digital revolution. The nation has set an ambitious target to deliver half of its federal government services using AI agents within two years. Additionally, plans are underway to train 80,000 federal employees, ranging from ministers and senior executives to new hires, in agentic AI.\n\nIn Abu Dhabi, 35,000 government employees have already been granted access to Microsoft Copilot, demonstrating the practical application of AI technology. The broader strategy emphasizes embedding AI into everyday tools used by employees across the government. This push is also beginning at an earlier stage, with AI now being taught in UAE government schools from kindergarten through grade 12. The curriculum covers essential aspects of AI, including data, algorithms, applications, risks, and ethics. The UAE government has approved an AI curriculum across both public and private schools and plans to train 22,000 teachers and educators on the integration of AI into teaching, assessment, and lesson planning.",
  "summary": "The UAE continues to lead the world in AI adoption , according to the latest report from Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute. Microsoft measures AI diffusion as the share of people aged 15 to 64 who have used a generative AI product or app during the reporting period. Adoption in the UAE continues to rise rapidly, from 59.4 per cent in the first half of 2025 to 64 per cent in the second half of 2025…",
  "key_points": [
    "UAE ranks highest in global AI adoption at 70.1%",
    "AI adoption in UAE surged from 59.4% to 70.1% in 2025-2026",
    "UAE outpaces Singapore's 5.7 percentage point increase"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "UAE pulls ahead in global ranking on AI adoption",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/uae-pulls-ahead-in-global-ranking-on-ai-adoption-9769418",
        "published": "2026-09-25T13:02:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}