UAE and Google Launch “AI for All” Initiative to Equip Everyone with Future-Ready AI Skills
In a landmark partnership, the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the United Arab Emirates and Google LLC have officially launched the “AI for All” initiative — a nationwide programme designed to democratize access to artificial intelligence learning across the United Arab Emirates.
Empowering a Nation with AI Skills
Announced as part of the UAE Coding Day event (UAE Codes 2025) and slated to roll out through 2026, the initiative aims to train individuals of all ages and professional backgrounds in the fundamentals of AI. The goal is to enable students, teachers, employees, content-creators, SMEs and the general public to safely understand and apply AI in everyday contexts.
The impetus behind the initiative: research suggests generative AI alone could add up to AED 298 billion to the UAE economy — illustrating the urgency of building a robust AI-literate workforce.
Key Components of the Initiative
- Educational programmes: Training modules will cover topics such as prompt-engineering for generative AI, safe and responsible AI use, creativity and productivity tools, and AI literacy for SMEs.
- SME-focused stream: A dedicated track will show how small and medium-sized enterprises can leverage AI to drive growth, improve operations, and enhance efficiency
- Nationwide awareness campaign: In 2026 a wide-scale campaign will encourage every resident in the UAE to complete foundational AI-skills modules and become familiar with AI tools such as Google Gemini.
- Partnership ethos: Google emphasises its belief that “AI’s benefits must be accessible to all,” supporting the UAE’s goal of being an “AI Destination” aligned with its Vision 2031.
Why This Matters
- Workforce & talent development: As businesses globally adopt AI, having a local workforce that is AI-capable becomes a strategic advantage for the UAE.
- Economic diversification: The UAE is accelerating its shift away from oil-dependency; investing in AI skills ensures the country is prepared for high-value, technology-driven sectors.
- Inclusive technology adoption: By targeting not only students but also educators, SMEs and the broader public, the initiative helps prevent a digital-skills gap as AI becomes more pervasive.
- Business opportunity: For technology providers, training platforms, AI-tool vendors, and reskilling services, this initiative opens a sizeable market in the UAE for AI-education and business-integration.
Outlook
In the coming year, the rollout will expand across national programmes, with visible campaigns and training tracks. Organisations and individuals should monitor how participation, certification, and tool-access will be managed. For businesses, aligning with this wave early could offer a first-mover advantage in AI-deployment and talent leverage locally.
