Artificial intelligence is playing a much bigger role in workplace decisions across the UAE. A new survey commissioned by HireRight shows that employers are increasingly using AI not only for recruitment but also for promotions, employee exits, and workforce planning. The findings suggest that HR teams are adopting AI across the entire employee lifecycle while continuing to rely on human oversight for critical decisions.
As reported by a YouGov survey conducted for HireRight, 42 percent of UAE employers use AI in decision-making on promotion, which is the highest percentage among all markets involved in this survey. Additionally, 31 percent claimed that AI is used to help make decisions on dismissing employees, whereas only 14 percent did not use AI in any HR activities.
It follows from the report that AI is starting to be a part of regular HR activities, rather than staying confined to recruitment and CV screening.
| HR Function | Survey Finding |
|---|---|
| AI used for promotion decisions | 42% |
| AI used for employee termination decisions | 31% |
| Organizations not using AI in HR | 14% |
| HR leaders confident identifying AI-generated CVs | 67% |
| Employers with a positive view of candidates using AI | 44% |
| Employers with a neutral view of candidates using AI | 44% |
This survey also reveals the increasing stress for recruitment specialists. 32% of respondents cited searching for suitable candidates as their top recruiting challenge, and an equally large share stated that they struggled with the large number of applications. Also, almost 31% of respondents faced the issue of meeting the salary expectations of applicants.
Nevertheless, the attitude towards the use of AI-based applications by employees is becoming more favorable. Almost 70% of HR leaders think that they can detect resumes created by artificial intelligence, and most employers are either supportive or indifferent to the use of AI by candidates.
According to the report, 63% of HR and recruitment professionals have discovered identity fraud within their candidates and employees in 2025, and it is one of the highest rates in any of the surveyed markets. Often, an employer finds out about the presence of fraud only after some theft or misconduct has been committed.
This leads to an increased focus of employers on background verification, screening of their employees, and identity checking, along with AI-based recruitment solutions.
Also Read: Why the UAE is Becoming a Global AI Career Hub: Strategy, Jobs & Opportunities Explained
According to James Randall of HireRight, although AI is becoming a crucial HR tool, it cannot replace sound judgment by itself. Companies have begun integrating AI with background checks and human input for better recruiting, lower risks of fraud, and improved workforce safety.
These results demonstrate the growing trend in the management of workplaces within the UAE, whereby AI becomes more than just an assistant during the recruitment process. Nevertheless, the findings show that effective workforce management would require the integration of technology with human expertise in decision-making.