Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Governance and Regulation

Publication Date

3-25-2026

Abstract

Public procurement represents a substantial share of national economies and is increasingly shaped by the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). The research problem addressed in this study concerns how AI can be integrated into public procurement systems without undermining core principles of transparency, accountability, and legality. The purpose of the paper is to examine the transformative potential of AI in public procurement while identifying the legal, institutional, and ethical challenges it generates. Methodologically, the study adopts a comparative analytical approach based on procurement laws, government reports, and peer-reviewed scholarship, focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Estonia, and South Korea. The findings indicate that AI can significantly enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in procurement processes, particularly through automation and real-time data disclosure (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2025). At the same time, persistent challenges emerge, including insufficient AI-specific legal frameworks, limited algorithmic explainability, and risks of bias and exclusion (Sharifmousavi et al., 2024). The paper concludes that effective AI adoption in public procurement depends primarily on institutional readiness and hybrid governance models that combine algorithmic tools with meaningful human oversight. The study is relevant for policymakers and regulators seeking to balance innovation with legitimacy, particularly in the Arab context, where coordinated legal reform and open data standards remain essential.

ISSN

2220-9352

Publisher

Virtus Interpress

Volume

15

Issue

2

First Page

178

Last Page

188

Disciplines

Business

Keywords

Accountability, Artificial Intelligence, Good Governance, Innovation, Sustainability, Transparency

Scopus ID

105033886673

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series

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