Imagine an AI assistant that notices your child left a school PE kit on a train, quietly contacts the bus and metro lost-and-found desks on its own, tracks the item down, and arranges for it to be shipped home, all without a single extra instruction from you. According to Robin Forbes, global CEO of R/GA, this is a preview of what he calls the “personal agents” era, where personal AI agents act as an individual’s own staff, sourcing information and handling tasks on their behalf.
It is a genuinely exciting glimpse into a future built around personal AI agents, and one the UAE seems especially well positioned to embrace.
From Digital-First to AI-First
Forbes explained that personal AI agents will soon form a network acting on our behalf, sourcing information, handling transactions, and generally making daily life easier. He pointed to Meta’s Muse agent as an early sign of this shift, noting it reportedly drew 2.5 million downloads in the US within just two weeks of launch, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to release their own versions soon.
This comes as companies across the UAE increasingly move from a digital-first approach to a genuinely AI-first one, reflecting just how quickly artificial intelligence’s role is growing.
Forbes shared these thoughts as R/GA formally announced the establishment of its Abu Dhabi business, marking the culmination of a decade-long regional relationship. Over the years, R/GA has worked with organisations including G42, Wio Bank, National Bank of Kuwait, Banque Saudi Fransi, and Emirates NBD on digital products and AI-driven customer experiences.
A Major Stage for AI in Abu Dhabi
This announcement arrives alongside a large-scale event. AI Everything Abu Dhabi 2026 will take place on October 6 and 7 at the ADNEC Centre, bringing together:
- More than 400 AI infrastructure builders, model makers, unicorns, and startups
- Over 200 investors representing $91 billion in assets under management
- Governments, academia, and tech executives from 60 countries
- More than 180 speakers across the summit programme
More than 50 UAE government entities are taking part, led by the Department of Government Enablement, Abu Dhabi, as Host Partner, representing what is described as the largest showcase of public-sector AI use cases at the event.
A Bold Vision for AI-Native Government
At the summit, Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of DGE, and Wesam Lootah, Director General at DGE, will bring Abu Dhabi’s approach to AI-native government into sharp focus. Lootah shared a genuinely ambitious statement: Abu Dhabi is on track to become the world’s first such government next year, with evidence already visible in how public services are being redefined for millions of people and businesses.
He described the initiative as an invitation for the world to examine Abu Dhabi’s approach and see what intelligent governance can look like at scale.
A National Ambition, Not Just a Private Push
Bertrand Morin, Executive Director for MENA at R/GA, explained that the UAE government’s mandate to become fully AI-powered will trickle down to all parts of society, meaning AI adoption here is likely to be far broader than in many other places.
Forbes contrasted this with the US, where he noted activity tends to come more from the private sector, while the UAE benefits from a bigger national ambition driven directly by government. Morin compared this shift to earlier industrial revolutions led by Britain, France, and the US, suggesting the UAE and the wider region want to be at the forefront of this new AI revolution.
A Flagship Project Worth Noting
R/GA‘s flagship regional project, Alpha.G42.ai, is a generative web platform built for G42 that adapts its entire structure, not just its content, to each user in real time. Faheem Ahamed, Group Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at G42, explained that this reflects a shift where the interface between an organisation and its audience no longer needs to stay fixed, and can instead become generated, intelligent, and responsive to intent.
Forbes shared that R/GA chose Abu Dhabi because of its sovereign ambition and the AI infrastructure being built there, also noting that recent US-UAE AI agreements, including data centre investments involving Microsoft and Oracle, have informed the company’s expansion strategy.
Why This Shift Deserves Appreciation
The rise of personal AI agents deserves appreciation for several reasons:
- It reflects genuine, government-backed ambition rather than isolated private efforts
- It brings global companies and investors together in one focused event
- It treats AI adoption as something that benefits everyday people, not just businesses
- It builds on a decade of real, working partnerships rather than a sudden announcement
Conclusion
The rise of personal AI agents, paired with the UAE’s genuine ambition to build intelligent, future-ready public services, paints an encouraging picture of where daily life could be headed. With strong government backing, major global partnerships, and events like Ai Everything Abu Dhabi bringing the world together, this move toward personal AI agents and smarter services feels thoughtfully planned rather than rushed.
If your organisation wants guidance on preparing for a future driven by personal AI agents, Horizontal8 is here to help. Reach out to Horizontal8 today, and let’s talk about building a considered AI strategy together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are personal AI agents?Â
They are AI systems designed to act as an individual’s own staff, sourcing information and handling tasks or transactions on their behalf.
What is AI Everything Abu Dhabi?Â
It is a major AI summit and expo taking place on October 6 and 7, 2026, at the ADNEC Centre, bringing together AI companies, investors, and government leaders from around the world.
What does it mean for Abu Dhabi to become an AI-native government?Â
It means public services are being redesigned around AI from the ground up, with Abu Dhabi aiming to achieve this status by next year.
What is R/GA’s connection to the UAE?Â
R/GA has worked with UAE organisations like G42, Wio Bank, and Emirates NBD for a decade, and has now formally established its own Abu Dhabi business.
What is Alpha.G42.ai?Â
It is a generative web platform built by R/GA for G42 that adapts its entire structure, not just its content, to each user in real time.