Artificial intelligence is reshaping how governments regulate, make decisions, and deliver public value. As AI accelerates technological change and regulatory fragmentation grows across jurisdictions, governments must move beyond traditional efficiency-focused governance models toward systems that continuously learn and adapt.

This Policy Council Proceedings presents the outcomes of the Patterns of Progress MENA Roundtable Discussion, hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government's

Center for Future of Government in collaboration with Google MENA. The dialogue brought together government officials, international organizations, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, and academic experts to examine how regulatory experimentation and institutional learning can strengthen AI governance.

Participants explored mechanisms for safe experimentation, adaptive measurement frameworks, AI-enabled evidence synthesis, and institutional structures that promote continuous learning while maintaining accountability and public trust. The discussions resulted in practical policy recommendations across four thematic areas: institutional design for learning, measurement reform, AI-enabled governance infrastructure, and culture, incentives, and capability development.

The proceedings provide actionable insights for policymakers seeking to build resilient governance systems capable of adapting to rapid technological change while ensuring responsible AI adoption.

The purpose of this policy brief is to determine how governments can embed the human-in-the-loop (HITL) principle to advance more responsible AI. With the introduction of AI agents, exponential data growth, faster computing hardware, and complex, interconnected third-party developers, the ability for humans to manage or interfere with AI’s autonomous decisions is decreasing. The paper highlights key challenges of HITL from definition to implementation. The research focuses on the lifecycle of an AI system and human actors along the value chain. It identifies gaps that are opportunities for policymakers to step in for AI good governance. Further, the recommendations provide guidelines for governments, industry, society, nonprofits, and academia on how to work together to build, fund, endorse, adopt, deploy, use, and decommission responsible AI with adequate human agency. The policy refers to governments researching, working with, contracting with, endorsing, deploying, or vetting AI systems within their jurisdictions.

Physical climate risks constitute one of the most significant and complex threats to human wellbeing, economic stability, and infrastructure resilience in the coming decades. For the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries —Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—these risks are projected to increase in severity and frequency. Recent events, such as the April 2024 floods across the Arabian Peninsula, show that extreme weather events are already a reality. Without effective prevention and response measures, these events threaten lives, livelihoods and ecosystems and impose significant economic losses and operational disruptions.

While the GCC countries have actively engaged in international climate efforts and are increasingly addressing climate change transition risks through economic diversification and low-carbon strategies, the physical dimensions of climate-related risk remain comparatively underexamined. This policy report fills that informational gap by providing a targeted analysis of climate-related physical risks in the GCC. It aims to support policymakers in identifying strategic responses to enhance climate resilience, with an emphasis on policy and financing options. Drawing on literature review and expert interviews, the report assesses current vulnerabilities, adaptation measures and finance options, and offers practical recommendations to strengthen adaptation across the region.
 

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represents a significant neurological health challenge affecting thousands of patients across the UAE, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Access to Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs), which are crucial for managing MS progression and improving patient outcomes, remains inconsistent across geographic and socioeconomic lines. This policy dialogue, organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government in collaboration with regional health authorities and patient advocacy groups, examined the multifaceted barriers to DMT access and explored strategic solutions for creating equitable healthcare delivery models.
The dialogue brought together neurologists, healthcare administrators, insurance representatives, patient advocates, and policymakers from across the UAE, GCC states, and the broader EMR region to examine current access patterns, identify systemic barriers, and develop targeted interventions. Participants emphasized the critical need for coordinated regional approaches that address geographic disparities, insurance coverage gaps, and socioeconomic inequalities while leveraging technological innovations and cross-border collaboration.
Key findings reveal significant disparities in DMT access between urban and rural areas, with patients in remote emirates and regions facing substantial barriers, including limited specialist availability, transportation challenges, and inadequate insurance coverage for high-cost therapies. The dialogue concluded with a consensus that transforming MS care requires shifting from fragmented, location-dependent services toward integrated, patient-centered models supported by telemedicine capabilities, standardized treatment protocols, and enhanced regional cooperation.