More than 80 percent of employees in the UAE now use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the workplace, reflecting one of the highest adoption rates globally, according to the AI Index Report 2026 issued by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI).
The report places the UAE among leading global hubs for AI development, highlighting strong performance in workforce adoption, talent growth, governance, and education, alongside its rapid expansion in AI-related skills and jobs.
High AI usage
The report found that AI use is now a regular part of work life for the majority of employees in the UAE, with usage levels described as high and supported by strong trust in AI systems.
It also noted that the UAE’s level of AI adoption is higher than expected relative to its GDP per capita, placing it alongside countries such as Singapore in global comparisons.
Strong policy support
According to the report, the UAE ranks among top countries for institutional support in AI strategy, awareness, and governance. It consistently performs strongly across global benchmarks covering skills, workforce development, and technology adoption.
The findings also indicate that the country is among the fastest-growing globally in AI engineering skills, with technical expertise expanding faster than general awareness of AI tools.
Talent growth rising
The report highlights a sharp increase in AI-related talent in the UAE, with overall concentration rising by more than 100 percent between 2019 and 2025.
It also records strong net talent inflow, estimated at around 4.40 per 10,000 LinkedIn members. In addition, AI-related job postings accounted for about 2.87 percent of total listings in 2025, placing the UAE among global leaders in demand for AI professionals.
Education and strategy
The AI Index Report 2026 highlights the UAE’s push to embed AI learning across its education system under the United Arab Emirates National AI Strategy 2031.
AI education has become mandatory in schools starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, covering areas such as data, algorithms, innovation, and ethics.
Research and development
The report also recognises Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute as a key global research centre, particularly for applied AI work, including its development of Falcon models.
The report concludes that the UAE continues to exceed expectations in AI adoption and maintains a strong position globally across workforce usage, talent development, and AI governance.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
