According to research by Robert Walters, nearly eight in 10 UAE professionals have taken on responsibilities beyond their original roles over the past year. Reports says as companies adjust to changing business demands, professionals are doing other roles.
The survey found that 79% of employees were handling additional duties outside their formal job scope. This shift shows how organizations are distributing responsibilities across teams to respond to evolving workplace needs.
Oli Sanford-Scutt, Senior Director at Robert Walters Middle East, described the trend as the growth of ‘shadow workloads.’ These workloads often develop informally and are not always reflected in job titles, pay structures or career growth plans. Around 49% of professionals surveyed stated that they were working longer hours to manage increased responsibilities. Another 25% said they were delegating tasks where possible.
Only 17% of employees had discussed their expanded roles with managers, suggesting many workers are absorbing additional duties without formal discussions about workload expectations. Robert Walters said, “The UAE’s business environment moves fast, and organizations have had to adapt quickly.” He added that broader roles showed employee flexibility, though companies need systems to recognize and manage growing responsibilities.
Artificial intelligence is becoming an important part of how employees manage wider responsibilities. The survey showed that 73% of UAE professionals were using AI tools for tasks that previously required skills outside their usual roles. Robert Walters emphasized that AI adoption is helping employees improve productivity and develop capabilities in new areas of work. The UAE workforce is among the most technology-focused in the region, according to Sanford-Scutt. However, he said businesses need clear strategies for AI adoption.
Productivity improvements should help reduce pressure rather than result in employees receiving more tasks without support. The research also says around 43% of professionals said they frequently experienced tiredness, lower concentration or emotional exhaustion after demanding periods. Another 31% said they faced these challenges occasionally. Andrew Powell, Chief Commercial Officer at Robert Walters, said wider roles can help employees build new skills when companies provide proper recognition and support. He highlighted that organizations need to identify where workloads are increasing and consider steps such as redistributing tasks, investing in productivity tools or bringing temporary support.
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