UAE emerges as leading AI hub in Stanford AI Index 2026

The United Arab Emirates has been identified as a major global center for artificial intelligence, according to the latest AI Index Report 2026 released by Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.

The report highlights the UAE’s strong standing in institutional readiness for AI, citing robust national strategies, governance frameworks and growing public awareness as key drivers behind its performance.

It places the UAE among top-performing countries across several indicators, including workforce skills, job creation, adoption rates and talent development, reflecting a broad-based expansion of AI capabilities.

The study notes that AI adoption in the UAE exceeds expectations relative to income levels, placing it alongside Singapore as a standout performer. The country also maintains consistent global rankings in overall AI competitiveness.

Workplace usage is particularly high, with more than 80% of employees regularly using AI tools and expressing strong levels of trust in the technology, according to the report. It adds that growth in AI engineering expertise has been especially rapid, outpacing general awareness trends.

In terms of talent, the UAE has seen a sharp rise in AI professionals, with concentration more than doubling between 2019 and 2025. The country also ranks strongly in global talent inflows, reflecting its attractiveness to skilled professionals.

Demand for AI-related roles remains robust, with such positions accounting for roughly 2.9% of all job postings in 2025—one of the highest shares globally.

The report also points to policy initiatives underpinning this growth, including the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031, which integrates artificial intelligence into education systems. AI learning has been made mandatory across all school levels from the 2025–2026 academic year, covering core areas such as data, algorithms, innovation and ethics.

At the research level, the report highlights contributions from Abu Dhabi-based institutions, particularly the Technology Innovation Institute, which has gained recognition for its work in applied AI, including the development of Falcon models.

Overall, the report finds that the UAE continues to outperform expectations in AI adoption and capability-building, reinforcing its position as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence.