UAE launches national AI testing lab to certify models and agents

The United Arab Emirates has launched a national facility to test and certify artificial intelligence systems, as the country pushes ahead with large-scale AI deployment across government and industry.

The UAE Cyber Security Council, in collaboration with Open Innovation AI and Cisco, and supported by Emircom, announced the establishment of the National AI Test and Validation Lab. 

The facility is designed to help organizations assess the safety, security, and reliability of AI models, agents, and applications before they are deployed.

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, said the lab would provide a sovereign capability to ensure AI systems align with national policies. He noted that AI is increasingly embedded in critical infrastructure and public services, making verification and trust essential.

The lab will operate under the Cyber Security Council and evaluate systems against both domestic regulations and global standards. It will test for vulnerabilities such as prompt injection, data leakage, and risks linked to autonomous AI agents. Systems that pass the process will receive a national certification, signaling compliance and security assurance.

Cisco is providing the underlying infrastructure, including AI-ready networking and compute supported by NVIDIA GPUs, while Open Innovation AI will handle orchestration and automated testing. The platform is expected to scale to assess tens of thousands of AI systems annually as adoption accelerates.

The move builds on the UAE’s broader push to position itself as a global AI hub. Earlier initiatives include plans to shift up to 50% of government operations to AI-driven systems within the next two years, alongside the creation of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Zone in Muscat under regional cooperation frameworks.

Across the region, governments are stepping up investments in AI governance and infrastructure. Partnerships with global technology firms and the rollout of national AI strategies have become central to economic diversification plans, particularly in sectors such as finance, energy, and healthcare.

With the new lab now operational, UAE authorities are aiming to set a global benchmark for how AI systems are tested, certified, and deployed at scale, while addressing rising concerns around security and trust in rapidly evolving AI technologies.