SAS has made its AI Navigator software available in the UAE, giving companies a new way to keep track of the artificial intelligence tools they use. The launch, announced on 4 November 2026, is aimed at businesses that are adopting AI quickly but struggling to govern it. The tool is offered as a subscription service through Microsoft Marketplace, with six months of free access for customers.
SAS AI Navigator gives AI, data, compliance and risk leaders one inventory of their AI assets, including large language models, AI agents, open-source tools and proprietary models. It covers the full journey of an AI system, from experimentation and deployment through to retirement, without asking organisations to change how they build AI.
What SAS AI Navigator does for companies using AI
Most companies now use AI in many places at once, from chatbots and document tools to models built in-house and bought from vendors. Keeping track of all of it, and proving it is being used responsibly, has become a job in itself. SAS AI Navigator pulls that information into one place, documents internal policies and external regulations, and helps organisations manage AI transparently.
The tool also offers ready-to-use policy packs from partners including Protiviti and Asenion, which help companies apply compliance guidelines and risk classifications to their AI use cases. It is a standalone service that works for new and existing SAS customers alike, and it sits alongside the company’s wider AI governance portfolio, which includes SAS Model Manager and SAS Model Risk Manager.
Why governance is the weak spot in UAE AI adoption
The launch comes as the UAE pushes AI adoption under its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031. But adoption has moved faster than oversight in many organisations. According to SAS’s 2026 Data and AI Impact Report, with research from IDC, organisations that establish trust are 15 times more likely to achieve strong returns on AI.
The report’s UAE findings show where the gaps are. Around 62.2 percent of organisations say data quality and governance are key factors in whether AI can be relied on.
And 41.1 percent say insufficient explainability, which means staff cannot see why an AI system gave a particular answer, is the leading reason employees override AI recommendations. That is the problem SAS AI Navigator is built to fix.
Reggie Townsend, vice president for AI ethics, governance and social impact at SAS, put it simply: trustworthy AI does not happen by accident. It requires intention, transparency and the right governance structures from the start.
How the tool fits into Microsoft Marketplace and Azure
SAS AI Navigator is available through Microsoft Marketplace, which means companies can buy and run it as a cloud service without new infrastructure. Its availability there builds on SAS’s long-standing partnership with Microsoft, and it supports governance across environments including Microsoft Azure.
Michel Ghorayeb, managing director of SAS UAE, said that as AI adoption accelerates across the UAE, organisations need to ensure innovation is matched by strong governance and accountability. The product itself was launched globally by SAS in September 2026, and the UAE availability announced on 4 November brings it to local customers.
What six months of free access means for UAE firms
Customers will receive six months of free access to SAS AI Navigator, which lowers the barrier for companies that want to test AI governance before committing. For smaller firms and teams just starting to formalise their AI use, that trial period is a chance to build an inventory of models and agents, and to see where the gaps are, before they become a compliance problem.
For the UAE, the launch is another step in a wider shift: from adopting AI quickly to adopting it well. The tools to build AI are now everywhere. The tools to govern it are only just catching up, and SAS is betting that governance will be the next thing every serious AI user has to get right.
