Study Finds UAE Firms Lose Dh10.6 Million Annually to Insider Incidents, with AI Linked to 29% of Cases.
Dubai: Only 23 per cent of UAE professionals see generative AI as a threat to their long-term job security, according to the Michael Page UAE Salary Guide 2027. Launched on October 27, the report describes a workforce more focused on productivity, innovation and career development than fears of technological disruption.
However, confidence in the future does not necessarily translate into employee loyalty. The research found that 78 per cent of professionals are open to changing jobs, while 51 per cent would be more likely to consider leaving an employer that required them to spend more time in the office. Salary expectations also continue to outpace the budgets allocated by many organisations for pay reviews.
Career progression, workplace flexibility and learning opportunities are increasingly being weighed alongside compensation. The guide benchmarks salaries for more than 500 roles and examines recruitment trends across 18 sectors.
Jon Ede, Managing Director of Michael Page Middle East, described the UAE as “one of the most resilient and attractive talent markets globally”, despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
He said he had observed “encouraging levels of hiring activity and a sustained demand for specialist skills”, adding that “employers are growing more strategic about attracting and retaining talent”.
The guide also highlights the rising cost of employee turnover, noting that replacing staff can be significantly more expensive than retaining them. Companies that regularly review salaries, invest in career development and offer meaningful flexibility are better positioned to retain high-performing employees in 2027, the research suggests.
Keeping employees productive, however, also depends on how effectively information reaches them in the workplace. Two other studies released around the same time highlight potential weaknesses in internal communication and cybersecurity governance.
Frontline teams face an information gap
Employee experience company Staffbase commissioned Forrester Consulting to examine the challenges facing frontline teams. The survey covered 189 frontline workers and managers at US enterprises across retail, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation.
Staffbase believes the findings are relevant to the Gulf, where government-led AI strategies place frontline-intensive sectors at the centre of economic growth.
The results highlight the operational consequences of poor internal communication. Nearly half of respondents, or 48 per cent, said information gaps reduced productivity or operational efficiency. Another 44 per cent said these gaps increased the risk of errors or missed deadlines, while 43 per cent reported slower decision-making.
Only 23 per cent felt fully supported by the information and tools available to them. More than half said they received critical company news through six or more channels, highlighting the fragmented nature of workplace communication.
The study also found a growing appetite for AI-powered support. Forty-seven per cent of respondents ranked AI-generated answers and guidance among their top three desired capabilities.
However, the use of AI across multiple disconnected tools creates opportunities for so-called shadow AI — the use of AI applications without formal organisational approval or oversight — increasing potential cybersecurity, privacy and governance risks.
“If the content behind it is outdated or contradictory, AI can give people the wrong answer faster,” said Conor Duffy, Regional Leader, Middle East at Staffbase.
Insider incidents cost UAE firms Dh10.6 million
Trellix’s research highlights another dimension of the governance challenge: the financial impact of insider-related security incidents.
Its report, Mind of the CISO: The New Insider, found that UAE organisations lost an average of $2.88 million, or approximately Dh10.58 million, to insider-related incidents over the preceding 12 months.
The financial impact extends beyond direct costs. Among organisations that experienced an insider incident, 47 per cent reported data loss or exposure of sensitive information, while 39 per cent faced operational disruption or downtime. Half also reported reputational damage or a loss of customer trust.
The research points to a changing pattern of threats. Accidental or negligent actions by employees and other trusted users account for 43 per cent of incidents, while malicious human actions represent 28 per cent. AI-driven or autonomous systems are responsible for the remaining 29 per cent.
While few UAE professionals view AI as a threat to their job security, 75 per cent of the country’s chief information security officers (CISOs) agree that their organisations lack sufficient visibility into how employees use AI tools. Another 73 per cent say their organisations are not fully prepared for the risks associated with AI and autonomous systems.
Security chiefs face mounting pressure
The growing threat is placing greater responsibility on security leaders. Eighty-eight per cent of CISOs say their responsibility for managing insider risks has increased over the past year, while 70 per cent are concerned about personal liability following an incident. Meanwhile, 85 per cent believe senior executives or board members do not fully understand insider risks.
UAE organisations take an average of 6.1 hours to detect an insider incident and a further eight hours to respond, bringing the total to approximately 14 hours.
David Soto, Chief Information Security Officer at Trellix, said resilient organisations would need to govern AI agents “like the privileged identities they are”.
Vibin Shaju, VP of EMEA Solutions Engineering, said customers increasingly wanted to know “how to verify what it is actually doing”.
What it means for UAE employees
Taken together, the three reports paint a picture of a UAE workforce that is confident, increasingly open to changing jobs and willing to weigh workplace flexibility and career opportunities when deciding where to work.
At the same time, the technologies designed to improve productivity depend on reliable information, while the systems governing their use must address emerging security risks.
For employers, the challenge is twofold: retaining talent through competitive pay, career development and flexibility, while ensuring that AI tools are supported by accurate information and robust safeguards. Strengthening oversight and reducing the time taken to detect and respond to insider incidents will be critical to limiting the potential damage.
