Business leaders in the UAE are some of the most confident in the world about the future prospects for their organisation, according to KPMG’s latest global CEO survey.
Geopolitical, economic and technological volatility has dented the optimism of CEOs across the world – the survey shows that business leaders’ confidence in the global economy has fallen to its lowest level in five years. Even so, CEOs in the UAE are more confident than their global peers about the outlook for their companies and the prospects for the national and global economy.
The report points out that the International Monetary Fund’s regional economic outlook ‘highlights continued resilience in GCC non-oil activity, supported by infrastructure spending, foreign investment and steady inflation around 2%’. This is boosting the optimism of UAE CEOs, who are investing in technology and talent with the intention of creating resilient and agile organisations that are prepared for global uncertainty.
AI-ready
One of the most striking contrasts between the views of CEOs based in the UAE and their global counterparts can be found in their take on AI. Some 52% of UAE CEOs have made AI integration a top strategic priority, almost 20 percentage points above the global average of 34%.
This is an indication, says the KPMG report, that the UAE’s private sector is ‘one of the most AI-ready in the world’. An overwhelming majority of UAE CEOs, 92%, are confident their organisations can deploy AI responsibly under well-defined governance frameworks, and 74% expect to realise returns on their investment in AI within one to three years.
Globally, KPMG found that 71% of CEOs now see AI as a top investment priority, a significant increase from a year ago (64%). More than two-thirds (69%) are allocating between 10% and 20% of their budget to AI.
Workforce strategy
The report argues that UAE business leaders are among the world’s most proactive in linking workforce strategy to AI adoption, with 84% expecting to increase headcount over the next three years and 72% investing in retraining high-potential employees. Meanwhile 80% say AI has already reshaped how they approach training and career development, embedding continuous learning and digital literacy into corporate culture.
Four out of five say their organisation is redesigning roles to integrate AI collaboration. ‘This dual focus on growth and transformation reflects an understanding that human capital is both the driver and the beneficiary of technological progress,’ adds the report.
Sustainability
Innovation, AI and sustainability are closely linked in the UAE, where 44% of CEOs say that they are aligning sustainability goals with business strategy. In particular, many highlight how AI-enhanced data management is improving the precision and credibility of sustainability reporting and enhancing trust in ESG performance metrics.
The report notes that sustainability means more than compliance to UAE’s businesses, and represents a strategic opportunity for growth. Environmental and technological priorities reinforce each other, illustrating how digital innovation can accelerate transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy.
Globally, CEOs are increasingly confident of achieving their net-zero goals. The complexity of decarbonising supply chains and a lack of suitable talent are seen as the biggest hurdles to overcome here.
Many CEOs see the potential for AI to support their decarbonisation and sustainability efforts and UAE-based leaders agree, with 76% saying that AI will help drive decarbonisation, resource efficiency and performance transparency.
More information
Find out more about AI, sustainability and talent trends in ACCA’s virtual conference Accounting for the Future, available on demand and offering up to 21 units of CPD
