Abu Dhabi advances AI strategy through workforce training and cybersecurity initiatives

The Department of Government Enablement (DGE) in Abu Dhabi has launched ‘AiNative’, an artificial intelligence training programme designed to upskill 20,000 government employees by the end of the year. Developed in collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the initiative is part of a broader strategy to establish Abu Dhabi as the world’s first AI-native government by 2027. The programme provides practical training in tools such as ChatGPT, Codex, and Microsoft 365 Copilot, with future phases expected to include specialized certifications in coding and data.

In a related technological advancement, the UAE Cyber Security Council, Core42, Microsoft, and Open Innovation AI are moving into the next phase of implementing Microsoft’s MDASH. This collaboration aims to strengthen cyber resilience by helping government organizations identify and prioritize software vulnerabilities. The initiative will also extend the capabilities of the UAE’s National AI Test and Validation Lab, providing advanced code safety features to ensure the security and trustworthiness of AI models and applications used in critical digital services.