Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Google’s products and services contributed Dh21.8 billion to the UAE economy in 2024, according to a new study by Public First, a research consultancy.
The economic impact, which amounts to over 1% of the UAE’s GDP, underlines the growing role of digital platforms in shaping the country’s non-oil economy.
According to the latest official data, the UAE’s GDP in 2024 stood at Dh1.776 trillion, with non-oil GDP accounting for Dh1.342 trillion. The study found that the contribution from Google’s ecosystem — including Search, YouTube, Play Store, Cloud and Ads — flowed to businesses, developers, publishers, creators, and non-profits across the Emirates.
The study found that 91% of UAE businesses have already integrated at least one AI tool into their workflows, and 87% of businesses view AI as a key economic opportunity. In terms of individual use, 78% of UAE adults reported using AI tools, with 30% using them “regularly”. This is more than double the figure reported in the United States, where just 13% of adults say they use AI chatbots regularly.
“This early embrace of technology reflects the UAE’s strong digital infrastructure, pro-innovation policy environment, and a population that recognises AI as a powerful tool for progress,” the report noted. The UAE’s national AI strategy is credited with helping position the country as a “leading AI destination”.
The research estimates that Google’s products created Dh20 billion in consumer benefits in 2024, the equivalent of Dh683 per month per user. Much of this was driven by time saved, easier access to information, and tools that improve daily life.
A remarkable 63% of adults in the UAE said they had used Gemini, Google’s generative AI assistant, while 38% reported daily usage. Among them, 90% said Gemini made them more productive, and 71% found it easier to use in Arabic compared to other chatbots.
Search and Ads alone contributed Dh20.2 billion in business activity in 2024. Of this, Dh3.6 billion was generated by small and medium businesses (SMBs), with Dh394 million worth of goods and services exported using Google’s tools. UAE businesses overall exported Dh2.2 billion globally using the same platforms.
Android and the Play Store are also part of the value chain. In 2024, they generated Dh455 million in revenue for UAE-based developers and supported Dh418 million in exports. The wider app economy enabled the creation of 30,000 jobs in the country, contributing to the UAE’s broader ambition of building a knowledge-based economy.
Public First’s research also highlights the impact of upskilling initiatives. Since 2018, Google’s Maharat Min Google programme has trained more than 430,000 individuals in the UAE in digital and professional skills. This training support is seen as essential in closing the AI readiness gap: 52% of adults acknowledged they are not currently using AI tools to their full potential, and 95% expressed interest in joining a Google-led skills programme.
The report noted that 97% of public sector workers in the UAE believe AI-enabled tools from Google make them more productive, and 65% say their job would be harder without them.
Among young adults aged 18 to 24, the reliance on Google tools is even stronger. Nearly three-quarters of Gemini users in this age group use it for studying.
Similarly, 81% of Google Search users in the same demographic said their education would have been more difficult without it, while 62% said YouTube helped them learn new things.
Google Maps and Waze also emerged as essential tools for UAE residents. The study found that 89% of adults found these apps useful to avoid getting lost, and 91% said they helped identify the fastest routes. Around 80% use the apps monthly to locate local businesses, and 86% rely on Google reviews before visiting a venue or establishment.
Online shopping trends were also highlighted. Ninety-four percent of adults use Google Search at least once a month to compare prices, and 73% of 18–24-year-olds use it weekly for browsing and shopping online.
The study also projected the long-term economic potential of cybersecurity and AI. Enhanced cybersecurity capabilities — underpinned by platforms like Google Cloud — could help the UAE avoid at least $6.8 billion in cybercrime losses, create over 20,000 jobs, and attract up to $1.4 billion in cumulative foreign direct investment by 2030.
On the startup front, participants in the Google for Startups Accelerator in MENA have raised over Dh3.43 billion, with Dh337 million raised in the UAE alone. These startups have created more than 1,300 jobs regionally and are scaling across the Middle East.
Public First estimates that AI tools could help increase productivity across the UAE by 15%, which is equivalent to freeing up 310 hours per worker per year for higher-value tasks.
Google commissioned Public First to examine how its innovations and products are supporting UAE communities, workers and businesses, as well as the future potential of AI in the country. Public First conducted two surveys — one of 1,110 online adults and another of 389 business leaders, in both English and Arabic — in March 2025.
