Abu Dhabi partners with Microsoft, G42 for AI cloud system

The Abu Dhabi Government has announced a significant partnership with Microsoft and Core42, a company under G42. This multi-year agreement will focus on creating a sovereign cloud system to support the emirate's digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) use. The aim is to make government operations more efficient by processing over 11 million digital interactions each day. The agreement was signed by key figures, including Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and leaders from Microsoft and G42. The government wants to become the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. This effort is part of its Digital Strategy 2025-2027, which has a budget of Dh13 billion (around $3.54 billion) for digital upgrades. The strategy plans to introduce over 200 AI-powered solutions to enhance public services and improve efficiency. Ahmed Al Kuttab, a government official, noted that combining Microsoft's cloud services with G42's AI skills will transform how government services are delivered. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, added that Abu Dhabi is setting a standard for AI in the public sector. One of the major initiatives is TAMM 3.0, an app for government services that has drastically cut the need for in-person visits and speeded up online transactions. Peng Xiao from Core42 emphasized the importance of keeping government data secure while using advanced AI technology. This agreement marks a crucial step in Abu Dhabi's push to modernize its government using AI and cloud computing.