Abu Dhabi unveils major AI training programme for government and public

The Abu Dhabi Government has launched an AI training programme for every government employee as well as the wider public, built with OpenAI, Microsoft and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

AiNative aims to upskill 20,000 government employees by the end of the year and forms part of Abu Dhabi’s drive to become the world’s first AI-native government by 2027.

The initiative, announced by the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (DGE), at the Ai Everything Abu Dhabi summit, advances the emirate’s AI strategy on the principle that technology and human capability must progress together.

It offers foundation learning journeys for government employees and the public, alongside a dedicated executive programme for department leaders.

The government journey equips employees at scale with practical tools – including ChatGPT, Codex and Microsoft 365 Copilot – building the skills they need to use AI confidently and responsibly in their daily work.

Specialised, function-specific certifications, including areas such as coding and data, will follow in later phases.

Citizens and residents will be able to access the public learning journey via Tomouh, DGE’s AI-powered learning app, by logging in with UAE Pass.

The programme will cover practical applications of AI in everyday life, including managing personal finances, running a small business, finding a job, studying and creating content responsibly online, and will be delivered through the free version of ChatGPT.

DGE owns the curriculum, which has been shaped in collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft and MBZUAI.

AiNative is being rolled out in phases. An initial pilot within government is already under way, before it will be made public.

The launch of AiNative follows the rollout of Microsoft 365 Copilot to 35,000 Abu Dhabi Government employees through the Frontier Employee Programme, announced in July.

Together, the initiatives pair access to advanced AI tools with the skills required to use them responsibly and at scale, supporting Abu Dhabi Government’s ambition to become the world’s first AI-native government.

A clear leadership vision. An obsession with customer experience.

On Day 2 of Ai Everything, HE Wesam Lootah, Director General of GovDigital, Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi, shares what drives Abu Dhabi’s pursuit of the most seamless, most effortless government.… pic.twitter.com/PyGTyILOC0

— دائرة التمكين الحكومي (@dgeabudhabi) October 7, 2026