UAE leads global AI race with sharp growth in skills, jobs and governance
Strong governance frameworks and national strategy accelerate digital transformation progress
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been recognised as one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence hubs in the AI Index Report 2026 issued by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centred AI (HAI).
The report highlights rapid progress across governance, skills and adoption.
It places the UAE among top global performers, reflecting strong institutional backing and widespread integration of AI across the economy.
AI leadership
The report places the UAE among the top countries for institutional support in AI strategy, awareness and governance, highlighting a structured national approach to emerging technologies. AI adoption exceeds expectations relative to GDP per capita, alongside Singapore in global benchmarks.
More than 80 percent of employees regularly use AI at work, supported by strong trust. The UAE is also one of the fastest-growing markets for AI engineering skills, with technical expertise rising faster than general awareness.
Education drive
Under the National AI Strategy 2031, the UAE is expanding integration across education and employment. AI education becomes mandatory from the 2025-2026 academic year across all school levels, covering data, algorithms, innovation and ethics. The approach aims to build future-ready digital skills aligned with global demand. In the labour market, AI-related job postings reached 2.87 percent of total listings in 2025, placing the country among global leaders in AI workforce demand.
In talent metrics, AI concentration rose more than 100 percent between 2019 and 2025, while net talent inflow stood at about 4.40 per 10,000 LinkedIn members. Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute is highlighted as a leading global research centre, particularly for work on Falcon AI models, strengthening the country’s research ecosystem and international standing.