Policy Requirements for Responsible AI Adoption in UAE Forensic Science Institutions

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is increasingly relevant to forensic science because modern investigations involve large volumes of digital, biometric, chemical, visual, and documentary evidence. In the United Arab Emirates, AI adoption in forensic science aligns with national priorities for digital transformation, smart governance, public security, and AI-enabled government services. However, forensic science is a high-stakes domain in which technological efficiency must be balanced with legal admissibility, scientific validity, ethical responsibility, professional accountability, and public trust. This paper argues that responsible AI adoption in UAE forensic science institutions requires more than the acquisition of advanced tools. It requires a coherent policy framework that connects governance, validation, legal and ethical compliance, professional capability, stakeholder coordination, transparency, procurement standards, and continuous evaluation. Drawing on forensic AI literature, public-sector AI governance, and the UAE policy context, the paper identifies key policy requirements for responsible AI adoption in forensic institutions. It then organises these requirements into a five-pillar framework: AI governance and accountability, validation and scientific reliability, legal, ethical and evidential compliance, professional capability and human oversight, and stakeholder engagement and institutional coordination. The paper concludes that AI can support forensic capability in the UAE only when it is embedded within institutional systems that promote accuracy, fairness, accountability, transparency, and legally defensible practice.