UAE Says AI Is Already Reshaping Its Labour Market and Services

The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has stated that artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future but has become a present force reshaping jobs and services across the country.

The framing places the UAE among governments treating AI adoption as an active labour-market policy question rather than a distant prospect. The ministry's message emphasizes adaptation — equipping workers and services for AI-enabled workflows — over warnings of displacement.

The UAE has invested heavily in becoming a regional AI hub, including through dedicated ministries and national strategies. Its approach has tended to emphasize adoption and infrastructure, with less emphasis on precautionary regulation than seen in the European Union.

The official position contrasts with survey evidence elsewhere suggesting modest net labour-market effects so far. A recent survey found only about 3% of workers reported losing a job to AI since 2023, while roughly 6% said they had landed a role that did not exist before AI. The gap between official optimism and measured outcomes is the space to watch.