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Summary of Antitrust Investigations and AI Regulation in the UAE
- Tech Reg Forum
- Nov 28, 2025
- 3 min read
This overview provides a focused account of recent competition and AI regulatory developments in the UAE, highlighting the introduction of a strengthened merger control regime, an EU antitrust probe involving a major UAE entity, and the country’s accelerated deployment of advanced AI initiatives. It also outlines government-industry collaborations driving nationwide AI education, public-sector automation, smart-city innovation and the expansion of sovereign digital infrastructure.
→ Antitrust Investigations
July
July 28 - EU Antitrust Investigation of major UAE company
-Abu Dhabi state oil giant ADNOC's 14.7 billion euro ($17.2 billion) bid for German chemicals company Covestro may face hurdles after EU antitrust regulators opened an investigation on Monday into potential distortions caused by foreign subsidies.
-ADNOC struck the deal to buy Covestro last October, marking its biggest ever acquisition and one of the largest foreign takeovers of an EU company by a Gulf state.[1]
March
March 31, 2025 -implementing the UAE's mandatory and suspensory new Competition Law regime implemented. Now, "Economic Concentrations" with a nexus to the UAE will be required to file a merger control notification when exceeding either the market share threshold or a new turnover threshold. In that case, parties will be prohibited from closing a transaction without the prior clearance of the Ministry of Economy's Competition Department. A filing is required if either of the following thresholds are met:
-Turnover Threshold: Where the total annual sales of the parties in the "Relevant Market" in the UAE exceeds AED 300 million during the latest fiscal year (approximately USD 81.6 million); or
-Market Share Threshold: Where the total market share of the parties exceeds 40% of the total sales in the "Relevant Market" in the UAE during the last fiscal year.[2]
→ AI Regulations
October
29 October, 2025 - Google announced its collaboration with the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office to launch the “AI for All” initiative. As part of this initiative throughout 2026 Google will programme on the fundamentals of AI for people of all ages and professional backgrounds. The The initiative will include:
-Educational programs
-Dedicated series for SMEs focused on leveraging AI to drive growth and enhance operational efficiency.
-Nationwide awareness campaign[3]
20 October, 2025 - AutoGov introduced by the UAE at GITEX GLOBAL which is the world’s largest tech and AI event. AutoGov first AI-powered public servant capable of autonomously completing citizen transactions such as license renewals, healthcare bookings and utility payments based on individual preferences.
- At the same event Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority in partnership with K2 launched the RAAD smart vehicle. a first of its kind multi-mission vehicle that combines AI, robotics within a unified command-and-control system to boost emergency response efficiency. Other innovations included the Smart Inspection Robot built for patrolling and assuring citizen safety, alongside LivAI, the emirate’s new Digital Twin Platform integrating live data, robotics, and predictive analytics to simulate and manage master urban development.
- At the same event - the Department of Government Enablement (DGE) signed agreements to integrate Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) services into TAMM, bringing document attestation and foreign affairs functions onto the unified digital platform. The Department of Energy (DoE) announced collaboration with Google Cloud, SPACE42, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to deploy AI models for energy forecasting, renewable optimisation, and geospatial analytics. DGE also announced five partnerships on the critical infrastructure front, joining forces with Core42, CyberGate, Etisalat by e&, and Microsoft, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s sovereign cloud, cybersecurity, and AI-readiness roadmap. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) unveiled five strategic alliances accelerating Abu Dhabi’s smart urban ecosystem - partnering with e&, Capgemini, Hikvision, Analog Studios, and Origen Technology.
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