Research found that 73% of UAE professionals are using artificial intelligence tools to handle tasks that previously fell outside their expertise or skill set.
UAE professionals are increasingly taking on broader responsibilities as companies adapt to a rapidly changing business landscape, with nearly eight in 10 employees saying their roles have expanded over the past year, according to research by Robert Walters.
The survey found that 79 per cent of respondents are managing tasks beyond their original job descriptions, highlighting how organisations are reshaping roles and redistributing responsibilities in response to evolving business demands.
To cope with the additional workload, 49 per cent of professionals said they were putting in longer hours, while 25 per cent were delegating tasks whenever possible. However, only 17 per cent had spoken with their managers about the rise in their responsibilities.
Robert Walters described the trend as the rise of “shadow workloads”, where additional responsibilities build up informally without being reflected in job titles, salaries, or career progression.
Workforce adapts to changing demands
Oli Sanford-Scutt, Senior Director at Robert Walters Middle East, said the findings highlighted how quickly organisations and employees in the UAE are adapting to changing business demands.
“The UAE’s business environment moves fast, and organisations have had to adapt quickly,” he said.
He added that the expansion of employees’ roles showed workplace agility, but cautioned that companies need to ensure additional responsibilities are recognised and managed effectively before they become a long-term source of pressure.
Andrew Powell, Chief Commercial Officer at Robert Walters, said many organisations are focused on maintaining productivity while using resources and budgets more efficiently.
He noted that broader roles can help businesses remain flexible in the short term, but employers need greater visibility into where workloads are increasing.
AI supports new responsibilities
The research found that 73 per cent of UAE professionals are using artificial intelligence tools to complete tasks that would previously have required skills or knowledge beyond their roles.
Robert Walters said the rapid adoption of AI is helping employees improve productivity, expand their capabilities, and take on new areas of work more quickly.
Sanford-Scutt described the UAE workforce as among the most technology-focused in the region, giving businesses an advantage as AI adoption continues to grow.
However, he stressed that organisations need to introduce AI with clear expectations, ensuring productivity improvements help reduce pressure rather than simply create additional tasks.
“For businesses operating in the UAE, being intentional about how AI is integrated, and what it means for individual capacity, is becoming an increasingly important part of talent retention,” he said.
Managing sustainable performance
The survey also found that 43 per cent of professionals regularly experienced fatigue, reduced concentration, or emotional exhaustion after periods of intense performance, while another 31 per cent experienced these effects occasionally.
Powell said additional responsibilities can support career growth and help employees develop new skills when they are properly managed and recognised.
He advised organisations to identify areas where pressure is increasing and consider redistributing workloads, investing in productivity tools, or bringing in temporary support when needed.
“Organisations that strike the right balance between efficiency and sustainable workloads will be better positioned to maintain long-term performance,” he said.
