UAE Trains Emiratis In AI As Tech Plays Increasing Role In Security, Governance

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) In modern conflicts, the decisive advantage is often not only firepower but information. The challenges of the 21st century are increasingly fought in data streams, sensor networks and decision systems long before anything reaches the battlefield.

As UAE’s NEP-AI application deadline approaches, National Experts explain why the next generation of critical systems will rely on algorithms as much as hardware.

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From air defence interception systems and cybersecurity networks to logistics coordination and infrastructure monitoring, AI is increasingly shaping how quickly nations can detect risks, process data and respond under pressure.

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Around the world, governments are integrating AI into the architecture that supports national security and operational resilience. Much of modern security now unfolds far from the visible theatre of conflict, within algorithms, predictive systems and the vast flows of data that determine how quickly a nation understands and responds to the world around it.

The UAE is no exception.

Through the National Experts Program – Artificial Intelligence Track (NEP-AI), the country is investing in a new generation of Emirati professionals capable of understanding, deploying and governing AI across critical sectors. With the application deadline of March 23 approaching, the program highlights the growing importance of national expertise in artificial intelligence.

Khaleej Times spoke to NEP-AI spokespersons and alumni of the programme about the expanding role of AI in modern security and national resilience.

Intelligence at the core

“Artificial intelligence is no longer just an innovation conversation,” NEP-AI spokesperson Dr Khalid Al Naqbi told Khaleej Times.“It has become part of how modern states protect infrastructure, manage risk and maintain operational continuity.”

AI is increasingly embedded in systems that monitor airspace, manage supply chains, secure financial networks and support real-time decision making across institutions.

“In today’s environment, AI supports everything from cyber defence and predictive security analysis to the protection of critical infrastructure,” Al Naqbi said.“The key point is that this capability must exist inside institutions, not outside them.”

** Building the AI stack**

NEP-AI targets experienced Emirati professionals already working across government and strategic sectors. Participants enter the programme with a pre-defined capstone project that addresses an existing institutional challenge.

The eight-month programme begins with technical foundations, focusing on the AI stack, including infrastructure, data systems, models and computing power.

“AI systems depend on physical infrastructure such as chips, data pipelines, energy and computing capacity,” spokesperson Faisal Al Hawi explained.“Understanding these foundations is essential if institutions are to rely on AI in high-stakes environments.”

From there, the programme moves toward sector application and leadership. Participants explore how AI is deployed across 25 national priority sectors, including digital government, energy, transport, finance and cybersecurity.

These sectors increasingly rely on AI to monitor complex systems, analyse large volumes of information and support faster decision making.

“Resilience today depends on how well institutions process information,” Al Hawi said.“AI strengthens that ability, whether through early warning systems, cybersecurity monitoring or operational coordination.”

Defence and autonomy

Dr Hamad Al Kaabi, an NEP expert representing the advanced defence technology sector, said the UAE has strengthened its capabilities in next-generation defence systems and robotics, embedding artificial intelligence across modern platforms.

“The integration of AI into defence technologies is transforming how systems detect threats, support decision-making and enhance operational effectiveness,” he said.“Developing national expertise in these technologies is essential as defence systems become increasingly data-driven and autonomous.”

A people-first strategy

As AI continues to reshape how nations manage security, infrastructure and complex systems, the UAE’s approach reflects a deliberate focus on people.

“Technology alone does not create resilience,” NEP-AI spokesperson Khaled Alnuaimi said.“It is people who understand the technology, the sector and the national context who ultimately make the difference.”

“In an era where information speed and system intelligence increasingly shape the landscape of modern security, building that human capability has become a strategic priority.”

For the UAE, investing in Emirati AI expertise is not simply a technological ambition. It reflects the recognition that in a world where information moves faster than events themselves, preparedness begins with experts who understand the systems shaping that world.

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