Abu Dhabi academic Tuka Alhanai has been nominated to serve on the United Nations' independent scientific artificial intelligence panel, positioning the UAE at the forefront of global technology governance discussions.
Alhanai, an assistant professor of computer engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, is among 40 experts from around the world selected for the new panel, according to The National. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres submitted the list to the General Assembly for consideration.
"The question is whether we will shape this transformation together, or allow it to shape us," Guterres said in a post on X announcing the panel.
The nomination reflects the UAE's strategic emphasis on positioning itself as a regional technology hub, particularly in artificial intelligence development and governance. Abu Dhabi has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, research institutions, and talent development as part of its broader economic diversification strategy beyond oil dependence.
In the Emirates, as across the Gulf, ambitious visions drive rapid transformation—turning desert into global business hubs. The UAE's inclusion in this high-level UN panel demonstrates how systematic long-term investment in education, research, and technology can elevate a nation's standing in global governance discussions within a relatively short timeframe.
Alhanai's expertise in computer engineering brings Middle Eastern representation to a crucial international body tasked with navigating the complex policy challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies. Her appointment follows the UAE's establishment of the world's first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and the launch of the UAE's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.
The panel's formation comes amid growing international concern about AI governance, from algorithmic bias and data privacy to national security implications and economic disruption. The UN initiative aims to provide scientific guidance to member states developing AI policy frameworks.
For the UAE, participation in this panel aligns with broader diplomatic efforts to position the Emirates as a bridge between East and West on technology governance issues. Abu Dhabi's AI ambitions include developing autonomous vehicle systems, smart city infrastructure, and AI-driven healthcare solutions.
The nomination also validates NYU Abu Dhabi's emergence as a serious research institution since its founding in 2010. The university's investment in computer science and engineering faculty has created a pipeline of expertise that now contributes to global policy discussions.
As AI technologies advance at an unprecedented pace, the UAE's seat at the table ensures that regional perspectives—particularly from rapidly modernizing nations—inform international regulatory frameworks that will shape the technology's development for decades to come.
