The United Arab Emirates has unveiled the world’s first policy regulating the use of artificial intelligence in national elections, setting a new global benchmark for ethical and transparent technology governance, Al Bayan reported.

Announced by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, the framework — titled the National Elections Committee Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence — was developed with the Federal National Council (FNC) and the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

The policy mandates that every candidate in the upcoming FNC elections must declare and register any use of AI tools in their campaigns to ensure transparency and prevent manipulation. “This is the first policy of its kind globally,” Al Olama said. “AI can help candidates reach a broader audience, but it can also be misused to influence voters unfairly. In the UAE, all AI applications in campaigns must be declared, reviewed, and monitored to ensure fairness.”

The initiative reflects the UAE’s proactive approach to technology regulation — balancing innovation with responsibility. Al Olama said the policy aligns with the National Charter for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, which serves as the country’s reference for deploying AI ethically across government and private sectors.

The minister also highlighted that the UAE has launched the world’s first AI-powered legislative system, designed to modernize how laws are drafted and evaluated, and is developing new frameworks for AI use in finance and media, including measures to counter misinformation and deepfakes.

“Every technology is a double-edged sword,” Al Olama said. “AI is one of humanity’s greatest opportunities for progress, but our laws must remain fast, flexible, and forward-looking to keep pace with global change and our national ambitions.”