UAE Tops Global Rankings for Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
The UAE has secured the top global ranking for artificial intelligence adoption in the workplace, marking a historic milestone in its digital transformation. According to a recent international report, 59.4% of the UAE’s working population now uses AI tools daily—outpacing nations such as Singapore, Norway, and Ireland. This figure highlights the UAE’s rapid progress in integrating technologies like Copilot, ChatGPT, and Midjourney across diverse sectors.
The report categorizes the UAE among global “Leaders of Adoption,” a title reserved for countries shaping the evolution of artificial intelligence through regulation, education, and innovation. Alongside Singapore and Norway, the Emirates stand out for building ecosystems that enable AI advancement supported by legislation, skilled professionals, and robust infrastructure.
Decade of Vision and Innovation
The UAE’s success stems from a decade-long strategy aimed at embedding AI across government, education, and industry. Guided by the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, this initiative laid the foundation for digital legislation, advanced data centers, and talent development. The establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence further strengthened the country’s leadership in this field.
Additionally, several key factors accelerated adoption: progressive laws encouraging innovation, major investments in cloud infrastructure, and a thriving environment for startups. Moreover, government-led training programs continue to equip citizens with advanced digital skills, ensuring the nation’s workforce remains competitive and future-ready.
AI has already transformed essential sectors such as energy, healthcare, and transportation, significantly improving efficiency and decision-making. As a result, the UAE now stands as one of the fastest-evolving AI markets globally.
Global Impact and Regional Challenges
Despite the UAE’s achievements, regional disparities remain evident. Within the Middle East, countries like Qatar (35.7%), Saudi Arabia (23.7%), Kuwait (17.7%), and Egypt (12.5%) lag behind. In contrast, South Asian and Sub-Saharan African nations face even lower adoption rates, often due to infrastructure and language barriers. Nearly four billion people worldwide still lack the connectivity needed to access AI tools effectively.
To help close this gap, a new AI research lab has opened in Abu Dhabi to support sustainability, public health, and disaster response initiatives. The move builds on ongoing collaborations aimed at strengthening cloud and AI infrastructure across the Emirates.
Globally, over 1.2 billion people now use AI, making it the fastest-adopted technology in human history. Yet, few nations have integrated it as deeply as the UAE. With an AI market valued at USD 3.47 billion in 2023 and projected to grow by 43.9% annually through 2030, the UAE’s model proves that long-term vision, infrastructure investment, and human capital development can turn technology into a national strength.
