Dubai just gave artificial intelligence a face and a family. The city launched the world’s first AI-powered Emirati family this week by putting virtual characters in charge of government messaging. These digital family members will chat with residents, explain services, and share official updates through social media and apps.
The project starts with “The Girl,” a young virtual character wearing modern traditional dress. She appears in a park setting, inviting Dubai residents to vote on her name from three choices: Dubai, Mira, or Latifa. More family members, a father, mother, and brother will join soon to complete the digital household.
AI Characters Replace Traditional Government Announcements
Digital Dubai, the city’s technology arm, created these characters to make government communication feel more personal. Instead of reading dry policy updates or service announcements, residents can now interact with AI family members who speak multiple languages and adapt their messages to different audiences.
The virtual family members use advanced AI and data technologies to respond to questions and provide information about Dubai’s digital services. They can hold conversations, remember previous interactions, and tailor their responses to individual users’ needs and cultural backgrounds.
“The goal is to humanize digital communication and make government services more accessible to residents of all ages and nationalities,” according to Digital Dubai officials. The initiative connects with Dubai’s broader strategy of using technology to improve daily life for its nearly four million residents.
Dubai Ranks Fourth Globally in AI City Development
This virtual family launch comes as Dubai climbs the international rankings for AI adoption. The 2025 Global AI Cities Index placed Dubai fourth worldwide, ahead of traditional tech hubs like San Francisco. Only Singapore, Seoul, and Beijing ranked higher.
Dubai stands as the only Middle Eastern city in the top 10, alongside Abu Dhabi. The ranking considers factors like AI innovation, infrastructure readiness, and integration across city services. Dubai scored particularly well for its AI applications in transportation, healthcare, and public safety.
The emirate has invested heavily in AI infrastructure since 2017’s Smart Dubai Initiative. Current projects include autonomous vehicle programs, AI-powered traffic management, and predictive healthcare systems. The government aims to make Dubai the world’s smartest city by 2030.
Virtual Characters Transform Public Service Delivery
These AI family members serve multiple purposes beyond simple information sharing. They can deliver public announcements, explain policy changes, and guide residents through complex government processes. The characters adapt their communication style based on the user’s age, language preference, and cultural background.
Children and families can interact with the virtual characters through games and educational content. Adult users receive more detailed information about services, permits, and city initiatives. The system tracks user preferences to improve future interactions and personalize responses.
The AI family also bridges language barriers in Dubai’s multicultural environment. Characters can communicate in Arabic, English, and other languages commonly spoken in the UAE. This multilingual capability ensures government information reaches all resident communities effectively.
Global Governments Explore Digital Communication Methods
Dubai’s virtual family follows other international experiments with AI-powered government communication. Kuwait introduced Fedha, the Arab world’s first AI news presenter, in 2023. Singapore uses AI chatbots for citizen services, while Estonia deploys virtual assistants for digital government processes.
However, Dubai’s approach differs by creating complete family units rather than single characters or chatbots. This family structure resonates culturally with Emirati society, where family connections hold deep significance. The approach also allows for more complex storytelling and emotional engagement than traditional AI assistants.
The virtual family concept could influence how other governments approach digital communication. Early user engagement data will show whether residents prefer interacting with AI characters over traditional government websites and call centers.
Public Participation Shapes Character Development
Digital Dubai encourages public involvement in developing these virtual characters. The naming campaign for “The Girl” generated thousands of social media interactions within days of launch. This participatory approach helps ensure the characters reflect community preferences and cultural values.
Future character releases will likely include similar public engagement opportunities. Residents may influence character personalities, storylines, and the types of services each family member specializes in explaining. This collaborative development process builds community ownership of the digital initiative.
The success of this naming campaign demonstrates public appetite for interactive government technology. Traditional government announcements typically generate limited public response, while the virtual family launch sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms.
Technology Integration Supports Smart City Goals
The AI family integrates with Dubai’s existing smart city infrastructure, including the Dubai Data Initiative and blockchain-based services. Characters can access real-time information about traffic, weather, events, and service availability to provide current, relevant responses to user questions.
This integration allows the virtual family to function as a comprehensive information gateway. Users can ask about anything from metro schedules to permit applications and receive accurate, up-to-date responses. The system connects to multiple government databases and service platforms.
The initiative also supports Dubai’s paperless government strategy by encouraging digital service adoption. Virtual family members can guide users through online processes, reducing reliance on physical government offices and paper-based procedures.
