Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has been ranked as the top country in the Middle East and 16th worldwide for AI talent density, according to the Global AI Competitiveness Index Report issued by the International Finance Forum (IFF).
The report identified the UAE and Saudi Arabia (19th) as the primary drivers of AI development in the Middle East with global AI talent shares of 0.7% and 0.4%, respectively.
The world currently has about three million AI talents – of which technical research and development experts account for 32.6%, according to the study.
About one-third of global AI talents are in the US, while China ranks second with a proportion of 24.4%.
The report predicted that the world would see a growth of over 2.8 million people in global AI talent by 2030, marking a 100% increase in just five years.
“AI talent may grow even faster in the coming years due to the high demand for talent by companies and research institutes,” it noted.
The report also revealed that the industry has extremely high academic requirements, as over 88% of global AI talents hold a master’s degree or higher.
Moreover, 18.1% of individuals in the industry hold a doctoral degree; 1.4% have postdoctoral work experience; and 10.3% have a bachelor’s degree.
More than 34% of AI talents majored in computer science, and over 10% of them graduated in information technology, electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information systems.
According to Coursera’s 2025 Global Skills Report, issued in June, the UAE is positioning itself for a tech-driven future, with 87% of employers prioritising technological literacy, AI, and big data.
The report also revealed that 13% of the UAE’s labour force is actively training on Coursera, with GenAI enrolments surging 344% year over year, outpacing regional averages.
The UAE’s leadership is investing heavily in AI human capital as a cornerstone of its future knowledge-based economy.
Earlier this year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that AI would be introduced as a subject across all stages of government education in the UAE, starting the next academic year.
In 2024, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, launched the “One Million Prompters” initiative, aiming to upskill one million people in prompt engineering over the next three years.
Flagship institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) are also playing pivotal roles in cultivating the next generation of AI talent.
According to PwC, AI is expected to add $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with $96 billion of that impact in the UAE alone.
