The report highlighted that the UAE ranks among the top nations for institutional support of its AI strategy.
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has been recognised as a leading global artificial intelligence (AI) hub, according to the AI Index Report 2026 issued by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI).
The report highlighted that the UAE ranks among the top countries globally for institutional support of AI strategy, awareness, and governance, noting its strong performance across benchmarks including skills, employment, adoption, and talent development.
It stated that the UAE demonstrates high levels of AI adoption, exceeding expectations relative to GDP per capita, alongside Singapore, and is consistently ranked among global leaders in AI capabilities.
More than 80 percent of employees in the UAE regularly use AI at work, with high levels of trust, the report noted. It added that the country is among the fastest-growing globally in AI engineering skills, with growth in technical expertise outpacing general awareness.
In terms of talent and workforce, the report said AI talent concentration in the UAE increased by more than 100 percent between 2019 and 2025, with the country also ranking highly for net talent inflow at approximately 4.40 per 10,000 LinkedIn members.
It also highlighted that AI-related job postings accounted for around 2.87 percent of total job listings in 2025, placing the UAE among the global leaders in demand for AI talent.
The report highlighted the UAE’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into education under the National AI Strategy 2031, noting that AI education has become mandatory across all school levels from the 2025–2026 academic year. The curriculum covers core areas such as data, algorithms, innovation, and ethics.
At the research level, the report also commended Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute as a leading global centre for advanced technology research, particularly in applied AI development through its Falcon models.
The report concluded that the UAE continues to outperform expectations in AI adoption and maintains a strong global presence, strengthening its position as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence.
