Majority of Employees in UAE Express Willingness to Accept Wage Reductions for Possession of AI Expertise, According to Poll
Professionals in UAE and Saudi Arabia Willingly Embrace AI for Long-term Career Resilience
A significant trend is emerging in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where a majority of professionals are willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for acquiring or strengthening their AI skills. According to a recent survey by Oliver Wyman, 67% of professionals in the UAE and 70% in Saudi Arabia are willing to make this sacrifice, significantly exceeding the global average of 41%.
This strategic focus on future-proofing careers reflects the workers' awareness of the widespread adoption of AI and its disruption of traditional job roles. Professionals view AI capabilities as essential for maintaining employability and relevance in evolving labor markets, effectively "co-investing" in their professional future rather than making mere sacrifices.
This trend is reshaping employment patterns in the region. Many professionals prioritize AI skill enhancement and career development over short-term financial gains, signaling changing values around compensation and employability. The regional prioritization of long-term career resilience through AI upskilling is evident.
The impact of this trend on the workforce includes several key aspects. Firstly, both countries are heavily investing in AI education and workforce initiatives, leading to a 28% rise in AI-related jobs regionally and accelerating demand for AI-literate talent.
Secondly, UAE business leaders increasingly trust AI not just for operational decisions but also for talent management functions such as salary setting, hiring, and performance management. This growing integration of AI into HR processes may influence compensation structures and workforce dynamics.
Thirdly, despite the willingness to accept pay cuts for AI skills, the tech sector in the Gulf remains among the highest paying, offering competitive salaries particularly for senior and specialized roles.
The survey, which surveyed over 16,000 professionals across 18 countries, also reveals that 61% in the UAE and 62% in Saudi Arabia would endorse full automation if paired with a universal basic income or social welfare compensation, versus 40% globally.
Jad Haddad, Global Head of Quotient - AI by Oliver Wyman, suggests that companies that provide robust training and trustworthy internal tools can convert this enthusiasm into productivity and growth. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing trust, skills, and policies that support human-AI collaboration in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Haddad's statements highlight the need for trust, skills, and policies that support human-AI collaboration in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He also calls for responsible AI use and a balanced approach to automation in the region.
The workforce in Saudi Arabia and the UAE recognizes the balance between embracing AI-led economic accelerators and ensuring protections that uphold workforce creativity, equity, and job satisfaction. Employees in both countries demonstrate a greater acceptance of AI's involvement in their job roles and a heightened awareness of its potential impact on job security.
In conclusion, professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are consciously accepting lower immediate pay to build stronger AI competencies, reflecting a forward-looking workforce strategy. This is reshaping employment patterns by accelerating AI skill adoption, influencing compensation trends, and embedding AI deeply within talent and business management practices across the region.
- The widespread adoption of AI in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is leading professionals to prioritize AI skill enhancement for long-term career resilience.
- The survey results indicate that a majority of professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are willing to make salary sacrifices to acquire or strengthen their AI skills.
- The workforce in these countries is moving towards a greater acceptance of AI's involvement in their job roles, with a heightened awareness of its potential impact on job security.
- The regional prioritization of long-term career resilience through AI upskilling is prompting an increase in AI-related jobs, accelerating demand for AI-literate talent.
- UAE business leaders are integrating AI into HR processes, including salary setting, hiring, and performance management, which may significantly influence compensation structures and workforce dynamics.
- The tech sector in the Gulf remains competitive, offering high salaries for senior and specialized AI roles, despite professionals being willing to accept pay cuts for AI skills.
- Jad Haddad, Global Head of Quotient - AI by Oliver Wyman, stresses the importance of prioritizing trust, skills, and policies that support human-AI collaboration for productivity and growth, as well as responsible AI use and a balanced approach to automation in the region.
