As automation reshapes workplace expectations, experts explain how employees can stay competitive and future-proof their careers.
Dubai: Warnings that artificial intelligence (AI) could replace jobs are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, with roles once considered dependable career options now facing greater exposure to automation.
For UAE employees working in these vulnerable professions, however, the rise of AI does not necessarily spell the end of their careers.
Recruitment experts say the challenge is no longer just identifying which jobs AI could replace, but understanding how employees can remain relevant as companies reassess the skills they need.
Which jobs are most vulnerable to AI in the UAE?
Roles involving repetitive, administrative and process-driven tasks are among the most exposed to AI, particularly those requiring limited human interaction, judgement or specialist expertise, according to Mollie Powell, managing director of Pink Camel Recruitment.
“We’re likely to see the biggest impact across data entry, administrative support, customer service and call centre roles, junior accounting and bookkeeping, payroll processing, data analysis, and some entry-level marketing and content creation positions,” Powell said.
The jobs most at risk of being replaced by AI in the UAE are those that involve repetitive, administrative and process-driven tasks, rather than roles requiring significant human interaction, judgement or specialist expertise. We’re likely to see the biggest impact across data entry, administrative support, customer service and call centre roles, junior accounting and bookkeeping, payroll processing, data analysis, and some entry-level marketing and content creation positions.
Mollie Powell, Managing Director of Pink Camel Recruitment
However, this does not necessarily mean companies are doing away with entire departments.
“Rather than necessarily making entire departments redundant, some businesses are reconsidering whether they need to replace employees who leave, or whether certain responsibilities can be absorbed by existing employees using AI,” she explained.
The result could be fewer traditional entry-level vacancies and increased demand for employees who can use technology to improve efficiency.
Powell believes junior professionals and graduates face the greatest risk, particularly because routine administrative tasks have traditionally provided an entry point into many professions. If AI takes over these responsibilities, employers will need to rethink how they train and develop future talent, she warned.
Your job may change, but that does not mean your career is over
For employees concerned about automation, Matt Jones, senior manager of technology at Michael Page Middle East, cautioned against assuming that AI will either eliminate their jobs entirely or leave them unaffected.
“The reality is likely to sit somewhere in between. In many professions, AI won’t necessarily replace the individual, but it will fundamentally change what employers expect that individual to deliver,” Jones said.
Working in a profession vulnerable to AI does not automatically make someone unemployable. Instead, employees need to shift their focus from carrying out routine tasks to making more strategic contributions.
“The opportunity lies in moving away from simply executing tasks towards interpreting information, solving problems and making decisions,” he said.
The biggest mistake employees can make is assuming that AI will either replace their job entirely or have no impact on it. The reality is likely to sit somewhere in between. In many professions, AI won’t necessarily replace the individual, but it will fundamentally change what employers expect that individual to deliver.
Matt Jones, Senior Manager – Technology at Michael Page Middle East
Three ways to make yourself more valuable in the AI era
Jones identified three areas employees should prioritise to strengthen their career prospects.
1. Learn how to use AI in your existing job
Employees do not need to become software engineers or learn to build AI models.
“You do need to understand how AI tools can improve your productivity, where their limitations lie, and how to use them responsibly. Employees who can demonstrate practical examples of using AI to improve efficiency or deliver better outcomes will increasingly differentiate themselves,” Jones said.
2. Develop skills that are harder to automate
Critical thinking, emotional intelligence, stakeholder management and complex problem-solving remain valuable skills in an increasingly automated workplace.
“Technology can generate information at remarkable speed, but understanding the context, challenging its accuracy and deciding what to do with it still requires human judgement,” he said.
3. Understand how your work benefits the business
Employees should look beyond their day-to-day responsibilities and understand how their contributions affect revenue, profitability, customer experience and operational performance.
“Understanding how your role contributes to revenue, profitability, customer experience or operational performance makes you considerably more valuable than simply being proficient at completing a particular task,” he explained.
For Jones, the long-term divide will not simply be between people who understand AI and those who do not, but between those who continuously adapt and those who rely on their existing skills remaining relevant.
“The most employable professionals won’t necessarily be those who know the most about AI, but those who know how to combine it with skills, judgement and experience that technology cannot easily replicate.”
Why fresh graduates face a bigger challenge
The impact on younger workers is already becoming apparent in employment data.
An August 2026 study by Stanford University’s Digital Economy Lab found that employment among US workers aged 22 to 25 in occupations highly exposed to AI was approximately 19 per cent below the level it would have reached had it kept pace with their peers in less-exposed occupations. Researchers found that the gap was largely associated with reduced hiring rather than increased job losses, although the findings do not establish AI as the sole cause.
For UAE graduates, the challenge is entering a competitive job market where employers increasingly expect more than academic qualifications.
Shazia Bharuchi, a UAE-based career guidance and development practitioner, said graduates should view AI as an opportunity to rethink how they position themselves professionally.
“AI-generated information needs to be challenged, verified and interpreted. Employers need people who can exercise judgement, think independently and use technology responsibly, rather than simply rely on it to produce answers,” she said.
Being able to communicate confidently, listen actively, navigate different perspectives, build trust and work effectively within a team can distinguish one graduate from another and these are core skills that set a strong foundation. Technical knowledge may get you shortlisted, but how you engage with people and contribute to a team can influence whether an employer sees long-term potential in you.
Shazia Bharuchi, Career Guidance and Development Practitioner
Interpersonal skills are equally important, particularly the ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with colleagues from different backgrounds and build professional relationships.
“Technical knowledge may get you shortlisted, but how you engage with people and contribute to a team can influence whether an employer sees long-term potential in you,” she said.
Don’t wait for your first job to start gaining experience
Graduates should not overlook internships, volunteering, university projects, entrepreneurial initiatives and community involvement as ways to gain practical experience.
“The important thing is being able to articulate what you learned, the challenges you addressed and the contribution you made. Recruiters are not necessarily expecting extensive work experience from a graduate, but they do want evidence of initiative, ownership and a willingness to learn,” Bharuchi said.
Build connections, not just online applications
Bharuchi also encouraged graduates to develop professional networks, attend industry events, engage on LinkedIn and research prospective employers.
“Avoid relying exclusively on online applications. Opportunities often emerge through conversations and professional relationships.”
Ultimately, she said, graduates must look beyond the jobs their degrees qualify them for and consider the value they can bring to employers.
“The future of employability is not about outperforming AI at routine tasks. It is about combining digital skills with human intelligence, professional judgement and the ability to connect, communicate and make meaningful contributions.”
