Artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed the governance landscape—not only by reshaping policy-making processes but also by augmenting state capabilities in surveillance and policing, while simultaneously fostering innovative approaches to both repression and resistance. In authoritarian regimes, the integration of AI into governance frameworks has reconfigured traditional mechanisms of control, thereby enabling more sophisticated and anticipatory forms of monitoring and suppression. These technological advancements have also precipitated significant changes in digital political activism, compelling both state and non-state actors to adapt to an environment where information flows and power dynamics are continuously evolving. This research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and authoritarian governance in the Middle East, focusing on Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As AI technologies such as facial recognition, predictive policing, and digital censorship become increasingly integrated into state apparatus, they enable autocratic regimes to enhance surveillance and control, both online and offline. This study develops a creative framework for understanding AI-driven authoritarianism, illustrating how AI both strengthens repressive mechanisms and catalyzes new forms of resistance. The research explores how these technologies shape civil liberties, regional security, and social mobilization, while highlighting the dual-edged nature of AI in both consolidating power and empowering opposition movements. By analyzing case studies, digital surveillance, expert interviews, and social media data, the study examines the practical applications of AI in authoritarian control, as well as the emergence of digital activism in response. The findings offer insights into the evolving dynamics of power, repression, and resistance in the digital age. This research contributes to understanding the broader implications of AI for governance, human rights, and democratic movements, offering policy recommendations for balancing AI’s potential for control and empowerment in an increasingly digitized world.