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UAE CEOs are not deterred by concerns of competition over talent or potential headwinds. In fact, they are among the most optimistic globally when it comes to confidence in business and economic growth, according to KPMG’s Middle East CEO Outlook 2025. Their current priorities? AI adoption, upskilling talent, and cybersecurity.
Across the region, tech-focused strategies, a young population, and structural resilience are cause for optimism among CEOs, despite leaders navigating headwinds from supply chains, inflation, regulation, and cybersecurity.
Most UAE business leaders (80%) are confident in their firm’s three-year outlook, according to the report, and 84% are optimistic about their national economy, exceeding the global average of 81% and underpinned by rising domestic demand, strong fiscal stability, robust FDI inflows, and advanced digital infrastructure. Economic diversification efforts away from oil revenues are also a key optimism driver, boosting the UAE’s tourism, digital, renewables, and logistics sectors. Emirates-based leaders are similarly confident about the global economy, standing at 72% compared to the global average of 68%.
CEOs here are also at the forefront of AI adoption, with AI integration recorded as the country’s top investment priority, and over half (52%) of CEOs naming it their primary focus, significantly exceeding the global average at 34%. AI adoption has become more targeted and strategic in recent years, and now 74% of UAE CEOs expect to see returns on their AI deployment within three years. The vast majority (92%) say their organizations are ready to deploy AI responsibly.
The talent pipeline is closely linked to AI, as 80% are restructuring job models and roles to cater to AI integration, outpacing the 67% global average. Overall, 84% of UAE-based business leaders are looking to hire over the next three years, with 64% looking to recruit AI specialists and 72% deploying capital to retrain high-performing employees.
AI + ESG goals linked: The data shows that 76% of CEOs see AI as a tool in achieving ESG goals and nearly half (44%) report that sustainability is already embedded in their corporate models.
