Dubai’s technology week is turning public services into an AI showcase, with government departments rolling out ambitious projects that blend automation, data, and real-time decision making.

ai drones and AI agents reshape UAE services

While drones are familiar for inspection or delivery, the UAE’s display points to a broader use case—ai drones acting as first responders and AI agents guiding citizens through routine tasks in seconds.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is leading the charge by embedding AI copilots inside its apps. Khalid Bin Kalban described an experience where a user can simply speak to a virtual agent to pay a bill or report an issue, trimming hours into moments. This shift translates into tangible outcomes: faster service, higher satisfaction, and a clearer path for staff to focus on complex problems rather than repetitive tasks.

Dubai Police unveiled Dubiometrics, a multimodal identification system that goes beyond facial recognition and fingerprints. Dr. Hamad Mansoor Al Awar explained that gait, ear shape, body measurements, and hand geometry are integrated so officers can identify individuals even when a person wears a mask or stands in low light. This approach extends the city’s biometric infrastructure to field investigations, enhancing situational awareness but also raising questions about privacy and oversight. In practice, DubaiMetrics supports predictive policing and smarter patrol routing, enabling detectives to build a fuller picture when visual data is limited.

Continuing the theme, the drone boxes program positions Dubai Police to reach incidents in minutes, not hours. Engineer Mohammed Omar Al Muhairi described a network of 15 autonomous units that can take off, assess a scene, and guide responders while patrols converge. Dubai claims the boxes have helped cut response times by more than 30 percent in some scenarios, a metric that matters for emergencies and public safety alike. For industry observers, the takeaway is clear: first-responder workflows are moving toward edge-enabled AI that can act before humans arrive on the scene.

According to Gulf News, the Gitex display sits within Dubai’s broader Digital Strategy 2030, a framework that seeks to make AI a staple of everyday governance rather than a niche technology. The implications reach beyond hype: utilities, police, and city services are experimenting with real-time data, automated decision-making, and citizen-centric interfaces that can scale across sectors. For practitioners, the key is interoperability. Systems must share data safely, while operators need clear governance around data privacy and audit trails.

Why this matters for the industry

Public utilities and public safety are among the most demanding tests for AI. The DEWA example shows how customer-facing AI can improve service levels while also boosting internal productivity. When copilots handle routine interactions, human agents can focus on complex inquiries or grid optimization. The Dubai Police use of multimodal biometrics illustrates a trend toward resilient identification methods that work in challenging conditions—an important capability as cities intensify surveillance and analytics. Yet these advances come with privacy, civil rights, and regulatory questions that will shape future deployment. Regulators in the UAE and elsewhere will scrutinize transparency, data handling, and redress mechanisms as these tools scale.

For readers and practitioners, the practical takeaway is to plan for multimodal data and policy guardrails. If you are a city planner, consider how to stitch AI copilots, mobile apps, and emergency services into a cohesive user journey. If you are a drone fleet operator, the success of the drone boxes program demonstrates the value of autonomous takeoff and rapid deployment in dense urban settings. And for vendors, the message is clear: customers want interoperable, secure AI that can adapt to local laws and cultural expectations.

Conclusion

The Gitex showcase underscores a shift: AI-driven public services are moving from pilot projects to everyday tools. In the UAE, ai drones, biometrics, and rapid-response drone boxes illustrate how cities can balance efficiency with security, while raising important policy questions to watch in 2026 and beyond.