Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) has concluded a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to build an institutional framework focused on artificial intelligence governance, workforce qualification, and identifying priority use cases.
Signing a joint framework to explore artificial intelligence applications
Executive leadership statements and identifying priority scenarios
Training and qualification programs and the division of roles between the two parties
Data governance and institutional security in the UAE energy sector
Requirements for responsible institutional transformation in the UAE energy sector
Distinguishing between exploratory memorandums of understanding and completed execution contracts
Frequently asked questions
Signing a joint framework to explore artificial intelligence applications
Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (“Emarat”) has signed a memorandum of understanding with “Microsoft” to study how to employ artificial intelligence tools to support employee productivity, knowledge work, operational processes, and secure digital transformation. The Emirates News Agency (“WAM”) documented the official announcement late in the evening on October 28, 2026.
The new event represents the signing of a framework for exploration, regulatory preparation, and institutional setup, rather than the completion of a comprehensive deployment of artificial intelligence systems across the entire organization.
Executive leadership statements and identifying priority scenarios
Emarat CEO Borhan Al Hashemi framed this cooperation within the context of preparing personnel, technology, and operational practices to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly. Meanwhile, Microsoft executive Keithan Barbu emphasized the importance of training, governance, and developing methods for completing work.
The two organizations plan to identify priority business scenarios and evaluate areas where smart agents and automation can provide practical utility, such as assistance in document preparation, information retrieval, and institutional collaboration, without the statement specifying a contract value or measured financial results.
Training and qualification programs and the division of roles between the two parties
Under the memorandum, “Microsoft” intends to provide technical guidance on artificial intelligence tools and cybersecurity practices, along with educational materials, workshops, or potential awareness sessions. In return, “Emarat” is expected to lead internal communication efforts, coordinate training, and integrate these initiatives into existing employee development programs.
The use of phrases such as “will explore” and “intends” reflects the preliminary nature of the agreement, meaning the planned training sessions should not be presented as completed certifications for the entire workforce.
Data governance and institutional security in the UAE energy sector
The governance pillar in the memorandum focuses on data protection, responsible use, and institutional readiness, as the employee assistant operates on broader internal information than public chatbots, making identity and access management a vital issue.
This agreement shows that a major energy company in the United Arab Emirates is treating artificial intelligence adoption as an integrated institutional program encompassing people and governance rather than mere software procurement, while the next steps will involve launching pilot projects and measuring their actual impact.
Requirements for responsible institutional transformation in the UAE energy sector
The memorandum of understanding signed between Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (“Emarat”) and “Microsoft” reflects an advanced institutional realization that the successful adoption of artificial intelligence in major national companies is not achieved merely by acquiring software licenses, but requires establishing a strict governance framework and qualifying employees to safely handle smart agents.
With the memorandum focusing in its current stage on exploration, identifying priority business scenarios, and awareness workshops, the actual operational utility will take shape in later stages upon launching pilot projects and measuring their impact on operational efficiency and institutional data security.
Distinguishing between exploratory memorandums of understanding and completed execution contracts
Official documentation issued by the Emirates News Agency (“WAM”) highlights the preparatory nature of the agreement signed between “Emarat” and “Microsoft”, where the first phase focuses on studying technical infrastructure readiness, developing human skills, and setting responsible use controls.
This phased approach is set to provide the organization with a clear vision regarding the highest-value use cases in knowledge work, customer service, and operations management before transitioning to widespread deployment of smart systems.
This institutional framework gains double importance in the UAE energy and fuel distribution sector, where operational processes and supply chains require high precision and secure integration between cloud systems and internal databases, while ensuring all employees adhere to standards of digital governance and information protection.
Frequently asked questions
Question: What is the goal of the memorandum of understanding between Emarat and Microsoft?
Answer: The memorandum aims to explore how to employ artificial intelligence tools to support employee productivity, develop business operations, and drive secure digital transformation.
Question: What did Emarat CEO Borhan Al Hashemi state regarding the agreement?
Answer: Borhan Al Hashemi affirmed that the cooperation aims to prepare personnel, technology, and operational practices to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly.
Question: What role will Microsoft provide within this framework?
Answer: Microsoft will provide guidance on artificial intelligence tools and security practices, in addition to educational materials and potential awareness workshops.
Question: Does the memorandum of understanding include an announcement of a financial contract or completed system deployment?
Answer: No, the memorandum represents an exploratory and preparatory framework to identify priority use cases and train personnel.
