Professionals across the Gulf are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) at a rapid pace. Workers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar report frequent workplace use and relatively low concerns about job losses, according to a new Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report published on September 18, 2026.
The BCG report, titled Strategy Matters More than Tools, highlighted, “ 93% of frontline employees and 95% of managers and leaders across the four Gulf countries use AI several times a week or more.” The findings place the region among the leading markets for workplace AI adoption, alongside India.
The report also highlights the growing role of AI in everyday professional activities. Globally, 74% of frontline employees said they regularly used AI in 2026, below the adoption levels recorded among Gulf workers.
The figures point to widespread engagement with AI across different levels of the workforce. However, frequent use does not necessarily mean that companies have fully integrated AI into their operations or established effective governance systems.
Only 28% of frontline employees and 29% of managers and leaders said they worried that AI could take their jobs. These findings suggest that many workers are engaging with AI without viewing it primarily as a direct threat to their employment.
The Gulf's workplace adoption figures come amid broader growth in AI use. Microsoft's Global AI Diffusion Report, published on September 22, found that the UAE recorded AI usage of 73.3% among its working-age population in June 2026. Saudi Arabia climbed five places to rank 25th globally.The Microsoft findings measure broader AI usage, while BCG focuses on workplace adoption among employees and managers.
Together, the findings highlight the growing role of AI in the region's professional and economic landscape. The next phase will depend on how organisations translate adoption into business outcomes while addressing workforce skills, oversight and responsible deployment.
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