The UAE reviews the governance of artificial intelligence at the International Labor Conference

The UAE is participating in the 114th session of the International Labor Conference, which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, with the participation of governments, employers and workers in member states of the International Labor Organization, to discuss the future of global labor markets and the challenges associated with rapid economic and technological transformations.

The Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the head of the state delegation to the conference, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Awar, presented the UAE’s methodology in the governance of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, to enhance transparency and serve people, enhance their quality of life and well-being, build a sustainable labor market, and enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and sustainable development.

Al Awar pointed out in his speech during the plenary session of the conference that the UAE views artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance the efficiency of the economy and protect people at the same time, by building an integrated operational system based on smart solutions to support government services and enhance the efficiency of the labor market proactively based on data and smart analysis.

He said that the UAE labor market is one of the main engines supporting economic growth and enhancing the country’s competitiveness, thanks to an integrated development model based on a close partnership between the government and the private sector, and keeping pace with global economic and technological transformations, as well as its ability to attract competencies and expertise from more than 200 nationalities. The country has also been keen to develop flexible legislative frameworks that keep pace with modern transformations in support of the future economy and enhancing the quality of life.

He explained that investing in smart solutions in the UAE labor market contributed during the year 2025 to processing more than 11 million transactions automatically, reducing data entry time from three minutes to three seconds, in addition to providing guidance services to workers in more than 20 languages.

Al Awar said that the approach followed in the labor market has achieved rapid growth, as the size of the workforce in the private sector has doubled by more than 101% over the past five years, and the number of companies has increased by approximately 46%, and this indicates the confidence of investors and global competencies in the business environment in the UAE. Women’s participation in the labor market also recorded a growth of more than 10% during the year 2025, which reflects the expansion of economic opportunities and the development of the work environment that supports empowerment and participation.

He explained that the UAE has moved from the concept of traditional inspection to a smart regulatory system that relies on real-time data analysis and early monitoring of risks, which contributed to proactive intervention to prevent up to 66% of potential accidents and reduce repeated violations by 54%, in addition to raising the efficiency of inspection operations by 40% by directing oversight efforts towards the highest-risk establishments.

Al Awar pointed out that the UAE has paid strategic attention to developing skills and qualifying competencies for future requirements through the “Emirates Skills Platform” supported by artificial intelligence, which anticipates future skills and jobs and aligns education and training with the needs of the labor market, in a way that enhances the readiness of human capital and supports a competitive economy based on knowledge and innovation.

Al-Awar stressed that while we discuss the future of work and the rapid transformations led by technology and artificial intelligence, we cannot ignore the repercussions resulting from the illegal and unjustified Iranian terrorist attacks that targeted the UAE and a number of brotherly and friendly countries, even though they are not parties to the conflict. He explained that these attacks targeted civilian and vital facilities and infrastructure, in clear violation of international law, with the risks this entails on economic stability, supply chains, and the continuity of basic services on which workers and employers alike depend.

Al-Awar stressed the importance of ensuring that Iran is held accountable for these multiple violations of international law, including providing full compensation for the damages resulting from them, in accordance with the principle of state responsibility in international law.

He added that these events confirmed the strength of the UAE’s economy and labor market, the effectiveness of its solid proactive approach and the strengthening of national preparedness.

Al Awar pointed out that the long-term strategic visions and continuous investments in infrastructure, human capital and social protection systems contributed to ensuring business continuity and basic services and maintaining the stability of the labor market, which reflects the country’s ability to adapt to changes, enhance confidence in the business environment and consolidate the readiness of labor markets to keep pace with future challenges and turn them into opportunities for growth and sustainable development.

The 114th session of the International Labor Conference discusses the impact of heterogeneous artificial intelligence on various tasks, professions, sectors, and the nature of skills, and the gaps that this heterogeneity creates in light of the trend to invest in artificial intelligence, and the inconsistent results of this investment, which change according to the policies, choices, nature of institutions, and the governance methodology adopted, while discussing the impact of this change on the International Labor Organization’s Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work, and other topics.