Neesha Salian

19 April, 2026

Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes

Article Summary

Stanford's AI Index Report 2026 highlights the UAE's strong position as a leading AI hub. High AI adoption rates, significant talent inflow, and robust institutional support are key factors. The National AI Strategy 2031, including mandatory AI education, is boosting skills. The UAE outperforms expectations relative to its GDP, showcasing its commitment to AI advancement.

The UAE ranks among the leading global hubs for artificial intelligence, supported by strong adoption, rising talent inflows and expanding institutional backing, according to the AI Index Report 2026 issued by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI).

The report said the UAE continues to outperform expectations in AI adoption relative to its GDP per capita, placing it alongside markets such as Singapore in global comparisons.

It added that more than 80 per cent of employees in the UAE regularly use AI tools at work, with reported high levels of trust in the technology.

The UAE also ranked among the fastest-growing countries in AI engineering skills, with technical capability expanding faster than general AI awareness, the report said.

On talent flows, AI expertise in the country more than doubled between 2019 and 2025, while net talent inflow stood at about 4.40 per 10,000 LinkedIn members, placing it among global leaders in attracting AI professionals.

AI-related job postings accounted for around 2.87 per cent of total listings in 2025, reflecting rising demand for AI-skilled workers across sectors.

UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031 is a key driver

The report highlighted the UAE’s push to embed AI into education through its National AI Strategy 2031, with AI education made mandatory across all school levels from the 2025-2026 academic year.

The curriculum includes fundamentals such as data, algorithms, innovation and ethics.

It also pointed to Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute as a key regional research hub, citing its work in advanced AI systems including the Falcon model series.
The report concluded that the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global centre for artificial intelligence, driven by adoption, policy integration and workforce development.