UAE Businesses Achieve Highest AI-Driven Productivity Gains In EMEA Region, According To IBM Study

A recent IBM study highlights that companies in the UAE are experiencing significant productivity boosts from AI, surpassing other regions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Many businesses anticipate seeing returns on their AI investments within a year. The report, "The Race for ROI," conducted with Censuswide, surveyed 3,500 senior executives across ten countries, including 500 from the UAE.

In the UAE, 77% of respondents reported notable operational productivity improvements through AI, exceeding the regional average of 66%. The study underscores that openness, interoperability, and choice are vital for organisations adopting AI. Transparency in AI systems is crucial for 77% of UAE participants to ensure ethical and responsible technology use.

Interoperability is another key focus, with 78% of UAE executives highlighting its importance for seamless integration of AI tools into existing IT systems. This integration aims to enhance efficiency and adaptability. Around one in five respondents have already achieved ROI from AI-driven productivity initiatives.

Over 44% expect to reach ROI within a year through cost reduction (40%), time savings (49%), increased revenue (41%), employee satisfaction (47%), and improved Net Promoter Score (43%). Additionally, 93% of UAE leaders anticipate that agentic AI will deliver measurable ROI within two years.

The study identifies software development and IT (34%), advertising and marketing (33%), account management (30%), customer service (28%), and procurement (29%) as areas with significant AI-driven productivity gains in the UAE. Executives noted enhanced decision-making (56%) as a top benefit alongside greater operational efficiency (55%).

Augmented workforce capabilities were also highlighted by automating repetitive tasks, contributing to increased productivity. Shukri Eid, General Manager at IBM Gulf Levant and Pakistan, stated: "Across the UAE, we’re seeing clients move from experimentation to execution with AI."

AI as a Growth Engine

Eid further commented on how UAE leaders are linking AI directly to measurable productivity improvements. He noted that when responsibly integrated across people, processes, and platforms, AI becomes a growth engine. These findings position the UAE as a benchmark for AI adoption among EMEA countries.

The study confirms that businesses in the UAE are transitioning from experimenting with AI to executing strategies that yield faster ROI and workforce transformation. The country's approach sets a strong example for innovation and effective use of artificial intelligence.

With inputs from WAM