Abu Dhabi Officials Sell A Future Where Residents “Never Think” About Government Again

Abu Dhabi is automating routine government decisions like car registration renewal, backed by unusually high public trust.

Fortune quotes Ruba Al Hassan on automatic car registration renewal: “I don’t ever have to think about my car registration ever again,” with automatic passport renewal as the next target. Edelman’s 2026 Trust Barometer finds 86% of UAE respondents trust their government to do the right thing, versus 53% across 28 other countries. AutoGov is optional, but it is unclear whether patients can refuse AI analysis of health records while still allowing their use for treatment.

Reported by: Fortune

Norm's Take

The system that thinks for you also decides for you.

Before you automate decisions for people who trust you, build:

  1. Opt-outs designed on purposeMake refusing easy to find. High trust means few will go looking.
  2. Visible override pointsShow people where a human can step in, before they need it.
  3. Consent that separates usesSaying yes to a service should not mean yes to AI analysis of the data.

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Analysis and opinion, not investment or legal advice. © 2026 Norm E. Murray. All Rights Reserved.

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Norm E. Murray, AI Leadership Advisor
About the author
Norm E. Murray
AI Leadership Advisor · Psychologist · Economist
Norm advises CEOs, boards and senior leaders on the psychology and economics of AI adoption: what AI does to leaders and organizations, not just what it does. He has led global businesses across multiple continents and writes The Norm Report for executives navigating the AI shift.
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Norm’s Edge is analysis and opinion intended for senior executive and board-level audiences. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment, compliance or regulatory advice. Stories are drawn from third-party reporting that may be unconfirmed. Readers should seek independent professional counsel before making decisions based on any content published here. Norm E. Murray does not accept any liability for actions taken in reliance on this analysis.

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