3-Year Vision: Dubai Finance Unlocks the Power of AI and Digital Twin Technologies

Dubai Finance (DOF) is using AI and digital twin technologies as part of developing its 2027–2029 Strategic Plan, marking a notable shift toward more data-driven and scenario-based strategic planning in government finance. 

The technologies are being incorporated into multiple stages of the strategic planning process. AI and digital twin technologies are being built directly into the core of the planning process, from the earliest research stages right through to setting final priorities and performance indicators.

Where AI and Digital Twin Technologies Fit Into the Process

According to DOF, AI and digital twin technologies are being used to support several stages of the strategic planning process, including environmental analysis, trend identification, scenario development, and the evaluation of alternative assumptions. That includes analysing internal and external environments, spotting emerging trends early, and building out future scenarios before decisions are finalised. Assumptions and alternative options are tested in advance, and only then are priorities, objectives, initiatives, and performance indicators defined.

This structured, evidence-first approach reflects a broader shift many governments are making: relying less on fixed forecasts and more on continuously updated, data-backed strategic planning.

Digital Twins: Exploring Strategic Scenarios Before Decisions Are Made 

One of the more distinctive elements of the initiative is the use of digital twin technology to support scenario modelling within the strategic planning process. DOF can explore different assumptions and potential scenarios, allowing decision-makers to compare alternatives before finalising priorities and initiatives. 

This simulation-driven approach allows decision-makers to evaluate potential challenges and trade-offs earlier in the planning process. 

Why This Matters for Fiscal Sustainability

Aref Abdulrahman Ahli, Executive Director of the Planning & General Budget Sector at DOF, explained that combining AI with digital twin modelling allows the department to move away from planning based purely on expectations, toward a more proactive and adaptive approach. By testing multiple alternatives and understanding their likely impact in advance, resources and priorities can be directed more efficiently, a direct contribution to long-term fiscal sustainability.

This is a meaningful distinction. Compared with planning approaches built around a fixed set of assumptions, a more dynamic model can make it easier to evaluate alternative scenarios and refine priorities as conditions change. A more dynamic, technology-supported model allows adjustments to happen earlier and with better information, which matters a great deal when the goal is lasting fiscal sustainability rather than short-term fixes.

Strategy as a Living System, Not a Fixed Document

Fatma Buti Al Suwaidi, Director of the Strategy & Corporate Performance Division at DOF, described the 2027–2029 plan as treating strategy as something that can be continuously tested and refined, rather than a static document built around one fixed view of the future. Advanced analysis, simulation, and foresight tools support this approach, while human expertise and institutional judgement remain central to decision-making.

That balance is worth noting. AI and digital twin technologies are being used to expand the range of scenarios and variables under consideration, not to replace the people responsible for interpreting them.

Strengthening Dubai’s Government Financial Sector

Ultimately, DOF’s goal is to build an advanced strategic planning model that brings together AI, foresight, scenario analysis, and digital twin technologies under one coherent framework. The intended outcome is a more prepared, adaptable government financial sector, one better equipped to handle economic shifts, respond to emerging risks, and support Dubai’s broader long-term objectives.

It’s a good example of how strategic planning is evolving: less about producing a single fixed roadmap, and more about building the capacity to adapt intelligently as conditions change.

Looking Ahead to 2027–2029

As the 2027–2029 plan takes shape, this approach positions Dubai Finance as an example of how AI, scenario analysis, and digital twin technologies can be incorporated into public-sector strategic planning when it comes to applying AI and digital twin technologies to real government decision-making. If it works as intended, it should mean sharper forecasting, more resilient fiscal sustainability, and a government financial sector that’s genuinely built to adapt rather than simply react.

The initiative also reflects a broader shift toward using AI, modelling, and data-driven scenario analysis to support strategic decision-making beyond routine automation. 

This kind of thinking isn’t limited to government finance. At Horizontal8, we see similar value in helping organisations use data and modelling to plan with more confidence, rather than reacting after the fact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are AI and digital twin technologies being used for at Dubai Finance? 

They’re being used to support the 2027–2029 Strategic Plan, helping DOF analyse trends, build future scenarios, and test decisions before they’re finalised.

How does digital twin technology help with strategic planning? 

It allows DOF to simulate strategic thinking and decision-making, testing different options and scenarios in a virtual environment before committing to a real-world approach.

Who is leading this initiative at Dubai Finance? 

The initiative involves DOF’s Planning & General Budget Sector and its Strategy & Corporate Performance Division, led by Aref Abdulrahman Ahli and Fatma Buti Al Suwaidi, respectively.

How does this support fiscal sustainability? 

By testing alternatives and their potential impact in advance, DOF can direct resources and priorities more efficiently, reducing waste and improving long-term fiscal sustainability.

Does AI replace human judgement in this process? 

No. Human expertise and institutional judgement remain central to decision-making; AI and digital twin technologies are used to expand the range of scenarios considered, not to replace people.