AI Integration Gains Momentum in UAE as Firms Reap Early Rewards

Editorial Team

Last updated 23-01-2026

3 min

AI in UAE firms is moving from experiment to “daily grind”, with 92% calling it strategic.

Most companies report “real productivity gains”, turning early AI bets into returns.

Yet 78% struggle to scale AI across operations, citing skills and legacy systems.

AI is increasingly tied to sustainability, from smarter data centres to energy efficiency.

The real challenge is people, processes, and making AI “stick” beyond the hype.

AI is no longer a shiny experiment for businesses in the UAE; it’s becoming part of the daily grind. Fresh research from Dell Technologies suggests the shift is well underway, with 92% of surveyed companies in the country now classing AI as a key pillar of their business strategy. Even more telling, 88% say they’re already seeing real productivity gains or financial returns from their early investments. That’s not small talk. That’s money on the table.

The figures come from Dell’s global State of Innovation and AI Survey, which gathered views from nearly 2,850 business and IT decision-makers worldwide, including 50 in the UAE. The mood is upbeat, sure, but it’s not all plain sailing. While many firms have dipped their toes in, 78% admit they still struggle to weave AI neatly across all parts of their operations. Around 30% are stuck somewhere between early testing and mid-stage rollout, a phase that can be a bit of a faff if skills and systems aren’t lined up.

I’ve lost count of the number of founders and operators I’ve spoken to over the years at Arageek meetups who felt chuffed to bits launching an AI pilot, only to hit a wall when it came to scaling. That same tension shows up in the data. Concerns around data security, patchy buy-in from senior management, and the headache of integrating AI with older infrastructure continue to slow things down. And believe it or not, the tech itself isn’t always the hardest part; it’s the people and processes around it.

One area where things are getting interesting is sustainability. The research points to a growing link between AI projects and environmental goals, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. Companies are using AI to manage data centres more intelligently, cut idle workloads, and push certain tasks closer to the edge rather than relying solely on centralised clouds. On the flip side, this often demands outside help. About 82% of organisations in the UAE say collaboration with third parties is crucial for building more circular, sustainable IT setups.

Dell Technologies, for its part, is positioning its infrastructure as a way to balance performance with lower energy use, from advanced cooling to what it calls energy-aware AI architectures. Walid Yehia, the company’s Managing Director for the South Gulf, said the survey shows UAE firms are moving beyond experimentation and embedding AI at the heart of their strategies. He added that unlocking its full potential will depend on tackling big challenges, including workforce upskilling and secure, collaborative deployment.

I reckon this is the crux of it. The ambition is spot on, the early gains are encouraging, but without serious investment in skills and integration, AI risks becoming just another buzzword. The opportunity is there. The trick now is making it stick, definately easier said than done, you know?

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