A joint research report by US and UK institutions indicates that Gulf countries will need over 1.5 million additional workers in the next decade, despite the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.
The study challenges the common belief that AI reduces employment, showing instead that automation and AI are reshaping job roles and creating new opportunities rather than eliminating positions.
In the United Arab Emirates, workforce demand is projected to grow by around 12% by 2030, driven by sectors such as construction, tourism, logistics, healthcare, renewable energy, and technology. Large infrastructure projects, population growth, and economic diversification are expected to further increase labour needs.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia is likely to see a strong rise in employment, with workforce demand expected to increase by about 11% under Vision 2030 reforms, which aim to reduce reliance on oil and strengthen the private sector.
The report concludes that while AI and automation will transform workplaces, human skills will remain critical to sustaining economic growth across the Gulf region.
