Cyprus approves its National AI Strategy 2026-2032: three in four businesses using AI, and no new legal obligations

What happened

According to the Deputy Minister's statement, as reported by the Cyprus News Agency, Politis and Tothemaonline on 10 November 2026, the aim is for Cyprus to be recognised as the leading AI hub in the Eastern Mediterranean by 2032. The measurable targets are AI use by 75% of enterprises (from 9.3% in 2025), at least 3,000 specialised AI professionals by 2032 and, under a scenario, up to 15% higher productivity and up to 12% higher GDP. The statement puts the 75% target in 2032, while Cyprus Mail reported on 11 November that the final executive summary and KPI table set it for 2030.

Public administration comes first, to cut bureaucracy and speed up procedures. Five economic sectors follow: financial services and FinTech, health, tourism and hospitality, legal services, and shipping. Twelve flagship programmes are proposed to 2032, to be detailed with the ministries concerned through a rolling three-year action plan that will also set the funding sources. On skills, the strategy includes the FutureAI CY microcredentials programme with a pilot target of 1,000 workers, dedicated training for civil servants and a National AI Skills Observatory.

Cyprus Mail, which read the final 120-page text, reports that micro-enterprises will get practical support: vouchers, implementation grants, cloud and computing credits, staff training and integration help. Private organisations other than SMEs are encouraged to draw up AI adoption plans. A National AI Compliance Framework will offer guidance and readiness support but will not certify or approve systems. According to the same report, funding needs are not quantified and will be set in a future action plan.

“creates no new legal obligations for private organisations”

What it means for an office in Cyprus

For an office in Cyprus, the strategy changes nothing in law from tomorrow. Obligations come from the EU AI Act, where the Article 4 AI literacy duty has applied since 2 February 2025, and from the Cyprus AI bill that is still pending. What the strategy does show is where the money is heading: if the state wants to move from 9.3% to 75% AI use among enterprises, support schemes will be aimed at firms that have not started yet.

Legal services and financial services are named among the five priority sectors, so law firms, accountants and corporate service providers are likely to see targeted programmes. That is our own assessment: no amounts, criteria or dates have been announced for the vouchers and grants, and everything depends on the action plan. The practical conclusion is that offices which have already written down how they use AI and trained their staff will be ready to apply as soon as a scheme opens. Staff training is already subsidised today by the HRDA, so there is no need to wait. This article is not legal advice.

What to do

• Write down on one page which AI tools the office uses today, who uses them and for which tasks: that is your starting point against the national target
• Do not wait for the strategy's vouchers to train staff: AI courses can already be subsidised by the HRDA
• Keep a record of staff AI literacy (Article 4 of the AI Act), since any future support scheme is likely to ask for it
• If you run a law, accounting, hospitality or shipping office, watch the three-year action plan and the flagship programmes for your sector
• Prepare a short list of two or three tasks you want to automate, so you have a ready project when implementation grants open