Middle East organizations ahead in AI readiness and employee adoption confidence
Business leaders in the Middle East region are demonstrating global leadership in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, according to research from Accenture. The region leads the world in AI readiness, employee AI confidence and leadership communication.
The latest Pulse of Change report, a quarterly Accenture survey of over 3,600 C-suite executives around the world, found that 83% of leaders have a positive perception of AI and Gen AI.
Most organizations expect to increase AI investments in 2026, and around two thirds of executives believe AI will substantially or completely transform their business models and processes. Leaders also see AI as a bigger driver of revenue growth than cost reduction.
Among the top areas where executives expect AI to have the most impact are product and service innovation, revenue growth or new market opportunities, and operational efficiency.
The Middle East emerges as the most AI-prepared region globally, particularly in terms of workforce readiness. Around 73% of the workforce is ready for AI training, well above the global average of 51%, while 44% of employees in the region say they feel confident using AI, compared with 29% worldwide.
Regional leadership also stands out for its transparency around the impact of AI, with 26% of leaders communicating openly on the topic versus 17% globally. In addition, the Middle East ranks second worldwide for perceived job security, at 56% compared with a global average of 45%, underscoring a distinctly human-first approach to AI adoption.
At the same time, leaders in the Middle East highlight critical structural challenges that could limit the long-term return on AI investments, particularly around skills and job design. Almost half of regional leaders (47%) cite AI skills gaps as the primary barrier to change, more than double the global average of 22%.
Previous research from Accenture conducted in collaboration with the Future Investment Initiative Institute, found that the next wave of AI investments will see an increased focus on the Global South. Of all Middle East countries, the UAE and Saudi Arabia stand to benefit the most from this anticipated shift.
