UAE explores AI-driven center to predict humanitarian crises

The United Arab Emirates is exploring an AI-powered humanitarian aid predictive center to forecast crises before they unfold, Khaleej Times reported.

The proposal was discussed at a roundtable in Abu Dhabi hosted by the Office of Development Affairs at the Presidential Court. Officials and humanitarian experts examined whether such a center could improve early intervention worldwide.

What is the UAE's humanitarian aid predictive center?

The humanitarian aid predictive center is a proposed hub that would use artificial intelligence to identify emerging crises before they escalate.

It would forecast risks, assess future needs and help coordinate international relief efforts. Rather than creating a new aid agency, the UAE says the center would connect existing humanitarian capabilities, including data, logistics, finance and diplomacy.

Why is the UAE pushing for AI in humanitarian aid?

UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama said AI could reshape humanitarian work by identifying risks earlier and strengthening coordination among relief organizations. For frontline responders, the push comes from practical experience. Saeed Al Mazrouei of the Emirates Red Crescent recalled difficulties during the Mexico earthquake response, where incomplete and unreliable information delayed aid delivery and forced teams to source supplies from neighboring countries.

"That experience showed us the urgent need for better technology," he said. Aid agencies say such information gaps remain common despite major advances in predictive tools. "So many humanitarian disasters are predictable, yet too often the response comes only after the crisis begins," said Greg Puley of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

How could early warning systems reduce humanitarian costs?

UAE officials say their goal is to move the humanitarian system from reacting to crises toward anticipating them. "Every dollar spent preventing a crisis can save several more in emergency response," said Rashed Al Hemeiri of the UAE Aid Agency. He added that early action could also reduce displacement, hunger and disease.

Participants at the roundtable said the predictive center could help reduce fragmentation in the sector. Organizations often duplicate data analysis and planning efforts, slowing down coordinated responses to the same crisis.

What are the limits of AI in predicting crises?

Experts cautioned that AI models still face significant limits. Patrick Brock of the World Bank-UNHCR Joint Data Center said medium-term forecasting can support planning but remains weak at predicting sudden shocks. This means AI may help anticipate slow-building crises, such as droughts or displacement trends, more reliably than sudden disasters like earthquakes.

The Abu Dhabi roundtable is expected to produce recommendations and a white paper as part of a feasibility study. That study will determine whether the humanitarian aid predictive center should ultimately be established.