UAE Launches Third Edition of AI Award With Sharp Focus on Agentic AI

The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain has launched the third edition of the UAE AI Award, shifting the programme's focus toward agentic AI as the country pushes to recognise entities and individuals using these technologies to transform government performance and improve community wellbeing.

The award's third edition reflects the UAE's broader vision of positioning agentic AI as a strategic partner in shaping the future of government. It supports the country's next phase of government transformation, which aims to integrate agentic AI across half of all government sectors, services and operations, with the stated goals of improving productivity, boosting efficiency and unlocking new models of government delivery.

Officials describe the shift as part of a wider move toward a new operating model in which agentic AI works alongside people rather than replacing them, aiming to empower national talent, enhance service delivery and drive innovation across the public sector. The award is also framed as reinforcing the UAE's broader national movement to adopt agentic AI across government, strengthening the country's position as a global leader in developing and deploying advanced technologies.

Five categories, one clear focus

This year's award structure centres on five main categories. Excellence in Agentic AI Powered Services recognises entities that have successfully used agentic AI to enhance services, improve operational efficiency and elevate customer experience. Agentic AI Solutions Developed in the UAE highlights homegrown solutions that demonstrate advanced national capability in AI design and development.

The remaining categories include Best Government Private Partnership in Agentic AI, which recognises collaborations that have delivered innovative solutions supporting digital transformation, alongside an Agentic AI Scientific Research category honouring research that advances both knowledge and practical applications. A fifth category, AI Leader, celebrates individuals driving adoption of innovative AI solutions and building AI enabled culture within their organisations, a theme that increasingly overlaps with how Dubai's startup ecosystem is positioning its own founders and operators around applied AI leadership.

A growing national programme

Federal and local government entities, semi government bodies, private sector organisations, academic institutions and individuals can apply through the official award portal, with full details available on categories, evaluation criteria and the application process.

The UAE AI Award has become one of the country's flagship national initiatives promoting innovation in artificial intelligence. Across its first two editions, the award attracted more than 540 applications from entities and individuals spanning a wide range of sectors, a figure that officials point to as reflecting the growing momentum behind AI adoption and its contribution to enhancing government services and strengthening the UAE's competitiveness on the global stage.