The United Arab Emirates has been recognised as one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence hubs, according to the AI Index Report 2026 published by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. The report highlights the UAE’s strong performance across global benchmarks, including AI strategy, governance, skills development, workforce readiness, and adoption.
The UAE stands out for exceeding expectations relative to its GDP per capita, placing it alongside top-performing AI nations such as Singapore. A key finding shows that over 80 percent of employees in the country actively use AI tools in their workplaces, reflecting high trust levels and rapid integration of AI into everyday professional environments.
The report also points to significant progress in talent development, noting that AI workforce concentration in the UAE has grown by more than 100 percent between 2019 and 2025. The country ranks strongly in net talent inflow, estimated at approximately 4.40 per 10,000 LinkedIn members. AI-related job postings now represent around 2.87 percent of total listings in 2025, underscoring rising demand for skilled professionals.
In education, the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031 has made AI a compulsory subject across all school levels starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, covering essential areas such as data, algorithms, innovation, and ethics.
In the research sector, Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute is recognised for its global contributions to advanced AI development, particularly through its work on Falcon AI models.
Overall, the report concludes that the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in AI adoption, innovation, and talent growth.
