PwC report shows the UAE has entered the global top 15 for AI hiring as soaring demand for AI skills drives recruitment, salaries and workplace transformation, reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United Arab Emirates has cemented its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing artificial intelligence (AI) hubs, with soaring demand for AI-skilled professionals propelling the country into the global top 15 for AI hiring, according to the latest PwC 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer.
The report paints a picture of an economy rapidly embracing AI across virtually every sector, with businesses no longer viewing artificial intelligence as an emerging technology but as a core business capability. From finance and healthcare to energy and professional services, employers are increasingly seeking workers who can harness AI tools to improve productivity, streamline operations and drive innovation.
According to PwC, the UAE has climbed from 21st to 13th place globally for AI-related hiring over the past four years, reflecting the country’s ambitious push to become a leading digital economy.
The share of UAE job advertisements requiring AI skills has more than tripled, rising from just one per cent in 2021 to 3.2 per cent in 2025. During the same period, AI-related vacancies increased dramatically from around 4,600 to more than 12,200 positions, with approximately 2,700 new AI jobs created in the past year alone.
The findings suggest businesses are accelerating investment in AI capabilities as digital transformation becomes central to long-term competitiveness.
PwC said one of the most significant changes is that companies are no longer recruiting AI talent solely to develop sophisticated algorithms or machine-learning systems. Instead, employers increasingly want professionals who can use widely available AI platforms to improve everyday business performance.
As a result, AI literacy is rapidly becoming an essential workplace skill rather than a specialist technical qualification.
The report found that demand for so-called “AI User” roles grew by 28 per cent over the past year, with organisations seeking employees capable of integrating AI into routine business functions.
Recruitment is expanding well beyond technology departments and now includes professionals working in finance, marketing, human resources, consulting and business operations, reflecting AI’s growing influence across corporate decision-making.
The growing competition for AI talent is also pushing salaries higher.
PwC found that professionals with AI expertise command substantial wage premiums compared with colleagues performing similar roles without AI skills. The biggest salary increases were recorded in financial services, where AI-skilled employees earn up to 92 per cent more, while workers in the technology, media and telecommunications sector receive premiums of around 50 per cent.
The report attributes these higher salaries to an ongoing shortage of qualified AI professionals combined with rapidly expanding employer demand.
Beyond recruitment, PwC says AI is transforming the skills employers expect from their workforce.
Occupations exposed to AI are evolving significantly faster in the UAE than the global average. The report gives the UAE an AI skills transformation score of 7.22, well above the global benchmark of 4.47, indicating that workers are being required to update their capabilities at a much faster pace.
Routine administrative tasks are increasingly being automated, while employers are placing greater value on human skills such as creativity, judgement, critical thinking and complex problem-solving.
AI adoption is also spreading across virtually every major industry.
While the technology, media and telecommunications sector remains the country’s most AI-intensive industry, hiring has also accelerated across energy, healthcare, financial services, consumer industries and professional services.
Energy, utilities and resources accounted for nearly one-fifth of all UAE job advertisements, while professional services represented almost 17 per cent, highlighting the broad reach of AI-enabled transformation across the economy.
Despite growing automation, the report argues that AI is enhancing rather than replacing jobs.
Globally, companies with the highest levels of AI adoption recorded productivity growth around 40 per cent higher than organisations with limited AI integration. These businesses also experienced stronger employment growth and rising wages, suggesting that AI is being used primarily to empower employees rather than eliminate roles.
PwC concludes that the UAE’s rapid AI adoption is reshaping the labour market and redefining workplace skills. As businesses continue embedding artificial intelligence into their operations, AI proficiency is emerging as a critical employability advantage, positioning the UAE among the world’s leading destinations for AI-driven careers and digital innovation.
