The United Arab Emirates has remained the world’s leading country in artificial intelligence adoption, with 73.3% of its working-age population using generative AI.
According to Microsoft’s latest Global AI Diffusion Report for Q2 2026, the figure is up from 70.1% in the first quarter. This shows the UAE’s strengthening lead over other countries. Singapore ranked second at 64.3%, while the global average stood at 18.8%.
Microsoft’s report measures generative AI usage among people aged 15 to 64. The UAE’s latest score puts it ahead of Singapore and well above the global average.
The figures reflect growing use of generative AI tools across the country. However, the ranking measures individual adoption rather than the share of businesses using AI or the number of jobs automated by the technology.
The report also found that Qatar recorded an adoption rate of 43.5%, while Saudi Arabia reached 31.4%, entering the top 25 economies after climbing five places.
Microsoft calculates AI diffusion using aggregated, anonymized telemetry, adjusted for differences in operating systems, device market share, internet access, and population.
The metric estimates the share of working-age people who used a generative AI product during the reporting period. It is not a census of all residents, an employer survey, or a measure of daily AI usage.
Microsoft has also acknowledged limitations in its AI product coverage. The company plans to include more tools in future reports, which could increase measured adoption rates across economies. Some increases may reflect broader measurement rather than a sudden rise in actual usage.
Also Read: UAE AI Adoption Jumps to 72% as Businesses Accelerate AI Use: AWS
The UAE’s leading position highlights widespread access to generative AI, but adoption alone does not establish whether organizations are achieving productivity gains or using the technology safely.
Businesses still need to address employee training, data protection, and oversight when integrating AI into workplace processes. High adoption rates also do not automatically mean workers are permitted to use AI tools for professional tasks.
For companies, the next challenge is turning widespread AI use into measurable business outcomes while managing risks from inaccurate outputs and data security.
The latest figures reinforce the UAE’s leadership in generative AI adoption. Usage rose from 70.1% in the first quarter to 73.3% in the second quarter of 2026.
However, the ranking measures how widely people use generative AI, not its effectiveness. The next phase will depend on how businesses and public institutions translate adoption into improved services, productivity, and responsible use.