The AI team within our technology consulting function are going to be filtering and sharing important regional and international AI developments – so that you don’t have to. To start, they thought it would be helpful in the first issue of AI Flash to ensure readers have access to key AI-focused documents that GCC government ministries and other regulatory bodies have released recently – as well as examples of what other governments are doing globally. Our aim is to produce a regular summary of AI developments – and to start some useful conversations!
GCC
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) has published an AI adoption framework (2025) to support structured AI adoption across sectors, including organisational readiness and adoption planning considerations for deploying AI capabilities.
The Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) has issued AI ethics principles (2025), setting baseline expectations for responsible AI, including fairness, transparency, accountability, safety, and human oversight, as a reference point for AI development and use in the Kingdom.
SDAIA – Generative AI guidelines for government
The Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) has published generative AI guidelines for government (2025), providing guidance for the governance and controlled use of generative AI, including policy and risk considerations for government entities deploying GenAI solutions.
Public consultation has closed on a draft global AI hub law (2025) posted by Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) on the Istitlaa platform, aimed at establishing a framework to position the Kingdom as a global hub for AI and advanced technologies.
Kingdom of Bahrain
IGA – General policy for the use of artificial intelligence
A general policy for the use of AI (2025) has been issued by Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (IGA), establishing a national framework for the safe and ethical use of AI across government entities aligned with national digital policies.
The United Arab Emirates
Ministry of AI – Charter for the development & use of AI
The UAE’s Ministry for Artificial Intelligence has published a charter for the development and use of AI (2024), setting out national principles to guide ethical and responsible AI development and use.
ADGM – Big data analytics and AI rulebook
The section on big data analytics and AI in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) rulebook (2021) sets expectations for regulated institutions, including the requirement to establish an approved governance framework to manage and control risks arising from the use of AI and big data analytics.
Sultanate of Oman
MTCIT – General policy for the safe and ethical use of AI systems
Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology (MTCIT) has published a general policy for the safe and ethical use of AI systems (2025), establishing a national ethical and safety-oriented policy reference for AI adoption and deployment.
State of Qatar
MCIT – Principles and guidelines for ethical use of AI
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has published principles and guidelines for ethical use of AI (2024), setting out ethical principles and guidance intended to promote responsible AI practices aligned with Qatar’s values and development goals.
MCIT – AI guidelines for developers
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has issued principles and guidelines for the ethical development and deployment of AI (2024) to support ethical AI development and deployment for developers and publishers.
International
European Union
Implementation timeline – EU AI Act
The European Commission’s published timeline confirms the EU AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024, with key staged milestones including application of certain provisions (including prohibitions and AI literacy) from 2 February 2025, and application of key obligations for general-purpose AI from 2 August 2025, with further phased rollout thereafter.
Vietnam
Law on Artificial Intelligence
Vietnam’s National Assembly passed its first standalone law on AI on 10 December 2025 (Law No. 134/2025/QH15), which takes effect on 1 March 2026, marking a move toward a dedicated statutory AI framework.
