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Workplace Study Reveals Middle Eastern AI Use Is Skyrocketing
The recent findings reveal that 56% of Middle East tech professionals are using AI — a figure higher than anywhere in Europe.
Workforce solutions and recruitment specialists Hays have published a wide-ranging study of 5014 tech professionals and 6178 employers spanning 20 countries.
The company’s Tech Talent Explorer report contains plenty of interesting data, but perhaps the most significant findings concern the growing use of AI. The study reveals that the Middle Eastern tech space is far more progressive than its European counterpart, with greater numbers of tech professionals in the MENA and GCC countries using AI than those in Europe. In addition, more Middle Eastern organizations offer AI support and training than almost anywhere else covered in the research.
Commenting on the study’s findings, Oliver Kowalski, Regional Managing Director of Hays Middle East, said:
“Of course, AI has its risks, but it is here to stay and those that embrace it will reap its rewards. This new data brings to light a competitive advantage for companies in the Middle East looking to hire developers, data and infrastructure professionals, cyber security talent, and other tech specialists. It shows these people’s thirst for AI training, for working on innovative projects with the latest iterations of technologies”.
Key Statistics:
- 56% of Middle Eastern tech professionals use AI tools. In Italy, the figure is just 28%, while France only manages 29%.
- 68% of GCC tech professionals associate AI with increased efficiency and productivity, with 50% already using AI tools to aid communication.
- 66% of all software developers use AI to generate or debug code.
- 82% of all the tech professionals surveyed desire more AI training, with the Netherlands and Spain topping the poll at 92% and 89%, respectively.
- Only 30% of all employers surveyed currently recommend using AI.
- Only 24% of GCC tech professionals have received AI training or support, but that figure is still higher than in all European countries (apart from The Netherlands, at 27%).
Also Read: The Most AI-Proof Career Opportunities In The Middle East
The study is freely available as an interactive report — The Tech Talent Explorer — which also compares salaries and “talent attraction factors” for tech professionals across both Europe and the Middle East.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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