The United Arab Emirates has ranked third globally for artificial intelligence adoption in 2025, with approximately 56 per cent of its population using AI-powered mobile applications.
Data indicates that adoption has accelerated sharply over the past three years, climbing from around 10 per cent in 2023 to 27 per cent in 2024, before more than doubling to 56 per cent in 2025. This growth has been supported by a significant increase in downloads of leading AI applications.
The country’s progress reflects its early and sustained commitment to artificial intelligence, beginning with the launch of a national AI strategy in 2017 and its continued evolution under the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, designed to embed AI across key sectors.
In 2025, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, stated that AI utilisation across government entities had reached 97 per cent, signalling deep integration of AI within public sector operations.
While countries such as Singapore and Chile also demonstrate high levels of AI usage, the UAE’s rapid expansion highlights the effectiveness of its strategic focus and positions it ahead of many larger economies in AI adoption.
