AI-Driven Jobs Growth in UAE by 2030

ServiceNow has forecast that more than 1.03 million jobs will be created in the UAE by 2030 as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies become embedded across the economy, underlining the scale of the country’s ambitions to position itself as a global AI hub. This prediction comes amid sustained public and private sector investment in AI-led transformation, driven by initiatives such as the UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, the establishment of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, and the rapid adoption of cloud platforms, automation, and data-driven services across government and industry.

According to ServiceNow, the majority of these new roles will not be traditional “AI jobs” focused solely on data science or machine learning. Instead, they will span a broad range of functions, including IT service management, cybersecurity, workflow automation, digital operations, and business roles augmented by AI-enabled tools. This shift illustrates how AI will increasingly act as a productivity layer across organizations, reshaping existing jobs and creating demand for new skills.

The forecast aligns with findings from ServiceNow’s Enterprise AI maturity index 2025, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, which shows that organizations globally are accelerating AI investment despite struggling to deploy it effectively at scale. The study revealed that overall enterprise AI maturity declined year-on-year as innovation outpaced governance, skills development, and leadership alignment. However, in the UAE, organizations stand out for their intent to invest. Survey respondents in the country were among the most likely globally to say they expect to increase AI spending over the next fiscal year, reflecting strong confidence in the economic potential of AI and automation.

The UAE also ranked highly for perceived availability of AI-related talent compared to European markets such as France, Italy, and Spain. ServiceNow observed that this appetite for investment is being reinforced by the UAE’s national focus on digital government, smart cities, and AI-enabled public services. Programs aimed at digitizing citizen services, modernizing infrastructure, and deploying advanced analytics across sectors such as finance, energy, aviation, and logistics are creating demand for platforms that can connect data, workflows, and automation at scale.

However, the research underscores challenges such as data security and governance, which were identified as major barriers to realizing AI’s full value in the UAE, mirroring concerns seen in other advanced digital economies. As organizations experiment with generative and agentic AI technologies, many lack the necessary guardrails to manage risk, ensure compliance, and measure return on investment.

ServiceNow’s study emphasizes the growing importance of what it terms “AI pacesetters,” organizations that outperform peers by adopting a platform-based approach, embedding AI into end-to-end workflows, and prioritizing governance and leadership. Such organizations are more likely to report improved productivity, faster innovation, and increased margins from their AI investments.

Agentic AI is highlighted as a key emerging trend. While adoption remains at an early stage, ServiceNow believes such technologies could play a significant role in sectors critical to the UAE economy, including cybersecurity operations, infrastructure management, and customer service.

Furthermore, the report stresses that human capital will be central to the UAE’s AI-driven growth. While automation will streamline routine tasks, organizations will need to invest heavily in reskilling and upskilling employees to work effectively alongside AI systems. Roles focused on AI governance, workflow design, change management, and ethical oversight are expected to become increasingly important.

ServiceNow concludes that the UAE’s combination of national strategy, regulatory support, and willingness to invest positions it well to capture economic value from AI. However, the realization of the forecasted 1.03 million new jobs will depend significantly on how effectively organizations translate ambition into execution, balancing innovation with governance, and technology deployment with workforce transformation.