World Bank: UAE Among the Most Exposed to AI Replacing Jobs in the Region
A World Bank report says the UAE and Jordan have the largest share of jobs at risk of AI substitution in the region, though the risk covers no more than about 10% of jobs. 13–20% could become more productive.
UAEIn brief
- The World Bank says the UAE and Jordan have the largest share of jobs at risk of AI substitution in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region.
- Across the region, AI substitution risk covers no more than about 10% of jobs.
- Between 13% and 20% of jobs could become more productive with AI, but the bank says this is not guaranteed.
- Above-average AI use in the UAE covers 9 of 22 occupation groups, including management, sales, and arts and media.
| Country | UAE |
|---|---|
| Organization | World Bank – MENAAP Economic Update, October 2026 |
| Official source | Khaleej Times – reporting the World Bank's October 2026 MENAAP Economic Update ✓ khaleejtimes.com |
The World Bank says the UAE and Jordan have the largest share of jobs at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence in the region. The finding comes from its October 2026 Economic Update for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP), as reported by Khaleej Times on 11 October.
The key findings
| Finding | Figure |
|---|---|
| Jobs at risk of AI substitution, region-wide | No more than about 10% |
| Jobs that could become more productive with AI | 13% to 20% |
| Countries with the largest share at risk | UAE and Jordan |
| Countries with the smallest share at risk | Afghanistan and Pakistan |
The bank says richer economies are more exposed because more of their jobs are in cognitive, office-based work that generative AI handles well. It also warns that the productivity gains are "far from guaranteed".
AI is already widely used in the UAE
- The UAE shows above-average AI use in 9 of 22 occupation groups, including management, sales, arts and media, and some food preparation and personal care roles.
- The value of work done or assisted by AI tools, relative to the size of the economy, is highest in the Gulf. The UAE's level is close to Germany's and the UK's.
To estimate AI use, the bank analysed a published sample of one million conversations with Anthropic's Claude AI assistant. It notes that these users may be more educated than the general population, which could overstate the gains.
Since ChatGPT launched
Compared with the least exposed skills, jobs that rely most on AI-replaceable skills have:
- lost 9.8% of their value, and
- seen 12.1% fewer new workers entering them.
What it means for workers in the UAE
- Most jobs are not at risk of being fully replaced. The bigger change is in how work is done.
- Learning to use AI tools in your field can make you more productive and more employable.
- Human skills still count. Communication, judgement and customer-facing work are harder to automate.
Related: UAE hiring rebounds 4% in Q3 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Will AI take jobs in the UAE?
The World Bank says the UAE has one of the largest shares of jobs exposed to AI substitution in the region, but across the region the risk covers no more than about 10% of jobs. Between 13% and 20% of jobs could instead become more productive.
Why is the UAE more exposed to AI than other countries?
Higher-income economies have more jobs in cognitive occupations that generative AI handles well, so a larger share of their work is exposed.
Which countries are least exposed to AI job loss in the region?
According to the report, Afghanistan and Pakistan have the smallest share of jobs at risk of substitution by AI.
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