85% of UAE workers use AI, but 67% fear job losses

Eighty-five percent of UAE workers use AI at work, but 67 percent fear it could cost them their jobs, The National reported. The Oliver Wyman Forum report draws on 5,285 people surveyed over five years. It found employers have not explained their AI plans.

How many UAE workers use AI at work?

UAE workers lead the world in workplace AI use. The 85 percent rate is well above North America at 72 percent and Europe at 66 percent. Nearly half of UAE employees use AI daily, against 21 percent in the international sample. More than 60 percent use it at least three times a week.

The findings are part of “300,000 Voices: UAE Edition.” The report examines how people in the country approach work, health, money and technology. Oliver Wyman Forum, the think tank of management consultancy Oliver Wyman, conducted the research. A separate survey of 503 people was carried out in April 2026.

Workers reported better productivity. Some said AI also improved their work-life balance. Many learn through practice and share tips informally, more often without formal guidance.

Why do UAE employees worry about AI replacing their jobs?

Of UAE employees, 67 percent worry about AI-related job losses. Yet 42 percent said they would prefer an AI colleague or manager over a human one.

Respondents said employers have not made their AI strategy clear. Only 26 percent of executives agreed their company had explained a clear AI vision and kept staff informed. Among front-line employees, the figure was 6 percent. Only 29 percent of non-managerial staff believe their organization is ready to adopt AI at scale.

Mona Hammami, partner and head of the UAE at Oliver Wyman, said employers should explain how AI will affect roles. They should also spell out the skills staff will need and how they will be supported. “High adoption alone does not resolve concerns about job security,” she said.

Hammami said job fears are pushing many workers to master AI to protect their positions. She added that part of the worry comes from employers not explaining why they use it. She called fears of widespread job losses a perception rather than reality. Like the industrial revolution and the internet, she said, AI will also create jobs.

Are UAE employees satisfied with their jobs?

Most are, but few feel fulfilled. Three quarters of UAE employees said they were generally satisfied with their work, compared with 66 percent internationally. Only a quarter said they felt fulfilled.

Pay and balance drew weaker responses. Just 23 percent said their pay was satisfactory. Twenty-six percent said they had a good work-life balance.

How are UAE residents using AI for health?

Eight in 10 UAE respondents use AI for health-related purposes. These include finding healthcare providers and deciding where to seek care.

Those users were less likely to start with a primary care doctor. Twenty-seven percent did so, compared with 38 percent of non-users. They were also more likely to check symptoms online and seek medical information from health influencers.

Income shaped how people looked after themselves. Sixty-six percent of higher-income respondents exercised regularly, compared with 49 percent of lower earners. Thirty-seven percent of higher earners used therapy, against 24 percent of lower earners. The study defines lower-income households as those earning less than Dh100,000 a year and higher-income households as those earning more than Dh300,000.

Do UAE residents use AI to guide investing?

Many do, across income groups. Sixty-four percent of lower-income respondents and 65 percent of higher-income respondents use AI to guide investing. Nearly half of lower-income respondents, at 48 percent, invest in the stock market, compared with 28 percent internationally.

Confidence in the economy differed. Half of higher-income respondents expected conditions to improve over the next six months, compared with 34 percent of lower earners. Twenty-seven percent of lower earners expected conditions to worsen, against 11 percent of higher earners.

Respondents also felt pressure to earn. Four in 10 said they needed to make money to feel successful. Internationally, the figure is a third.

How has regional uncertainty affected well-being in the UAE?

The April 2026 survey of 503 UAE respondents found signs of emotional strain during regional uncertainty. Seventeen percent reported a decline in mental well-being. Younger people showed the most strain, with at least a quarter of Gen Z respondents reporting anxiety, irritability and emotional instability.

Most stayed optimistic about their finances. Sixty-two percent felt optimistic about affording everyday purchases. Sixty percent felt that way about finding work if needed, and 59 percent about improving their personal finances.