(MENAFN- Mid-East Info)

• 84% of UAE CEOs plan to expand their workforce over the next three years

• 80% are optimistic about their companies' growth prospects over the next three years
• 92% are confident in AI governance compared to 76% globally

Dubai, UAE,November 2025: UAE business leaders are entering 2026 with one of the strongest confidence levels globally, according to the latest KPMG Middle East CEO Outlook 2025 report. The findings show that UAE CEOs are accelerating investment in artificial intelligence while prioritising people, skills, and responsible innovation as core drivers of future growth.

Confidence in the UAE economy remains among the highest worldwide, with 84% of CEOs expressing confidence in the country's economic outlook for the next 12 months compared to 81% by their global peers. This reflects the UAE's stable fundamentals, policy consistency, and continued investment in diversification, talent, and advanced technology.

Building on this momentum, CEOs across the UAE are placing workforce transformation at the core of their strategy. The report shows that 84% of CEOs expect to expand headcount over the next three years, with 80% already redesigning roles to integrate AI collaboration across the business. UAE leaders are among the world's most proactive in integrating AI to enhance human capability rather than replace it, strengthening digital literacy across teams, and investing in reskilling programmes to prepare employees for next-generation technologies. This people-focused direction reinforces national priorities around future-ready skills and long-term competitiveness.

AI continues to anchor strategic investment across the UAE. More than half of CEOs identify AI integration as a top strategic priority, exceeding the global average of 34%. Confidence in responsible deployment is equally strong, with 92% ready to implement AI under clear governance structures. The shift toward efficient, reasoning-based models has been supported by national initiatives such as K2 Think, developed by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with G42, highlighting the UAE's focus on measurable value and smarter innovation over scale. The report findings also show that 74% of CEOs expect returns on AI investments within one to three years, highlighting a commercially grounded approach to digital transformation.

Sustainability remains a core strategic priority for UAE CEOs, even as global sentiment around ESG becomes more fragmented. AI is becoming a key enabler in this area, with 76% of leaders highlighting its role in strengthening transparency, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing reporting accuracy across sustainability programmes. These trends reflect a market where digital transformation and sustainability advance in tandem.

Emilio Pera, Deputy CEO of KPMG Middle East, CEO and Senior Partner of KPMG Lower Gulf said:“UAE CEOs are advancing a model of growth where people, technology, and governance move together. Their focus on building skilled, future-ready teams, supported by responsible AI adoption, reflects a leadership approach anchored in delivery. This alignment with national priorities is shaping a business environment ready for the opportunities of 2026 and beyond.”

The 2025 KPMG Middle East CEO Outlook highlights a region defined by clarity of purpose and consistent delivery. The findings show that leaders in the UAE are reinforcing growth through governance, innovation, and investment in people, offering a clear model for sustainable and inclusive progress across global markets.

About KPMG:

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services.“KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 145 countries and territories, with more than 236,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

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