A profound shift is redefining career aspirations in the United Arab Emirates. The ultimate professional achievement is no longer a hefty salary increment but the assurance that one's role will not be rendered obsolete by technology. As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the workplace, employees across the UAE and the wider Gulf region are fundamentally rethinking their priorities, placing long-term job security and future-proof skills ahead of traditional financial ambitions.
The New Status Symbol: Stability in the Age of AI
Gone are the days when office conversations in the UAE primarily centred on promotions and pay raises. Today, discussions are dominated by AI tools, automation, and an underlying anxiety about the future. The quiet question on many professionals' minds is, "Will my job still be relevant in five years?" This concern has propelled job security to the forefront, effectively making it the new status symbol in the region's dynamic job market.
The Middle East Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025 provides concrete data to this sentiment. It found that a staggering 85% of respondents now prioritise job security over salary growth. This reflects deep-seated concerns about long-term stability as digital transformation accelerates. The survey highlights that AI adoption in the region is soaring, with 75% of workers using AI tools in their roles last year. Nearly 30% are turning to generative AI on a daily basis, rates that surpass global averages.
Rapid Adoption Fuels Anxiety and Reskilling Drive
The UAE has positioned itself as a global leader in AI readiness. A LinkedIn survey indicates that 80% of professionals in the country now regularly use AI tools at work, leveraging them to boost productivity and solve complex problems. However, this rapid integration comes with significant pressure. Nearly three-quarters of professionals treat AI upskilling as a demanding "second job," underscoring the effort required to stay relevant.
This anxiety is palpable even among optimistic adopters. A separate Dubai government report, titled Generative AI Adoption Amongst Dubai Government Employees, revealed that while 94% of public sector employees are optimistic about AI's operational benefits, a substantial 55% worry about job displacement due to the technology. The report was launched in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) during Dubai AI Week 2025.
Workers and Employers Adapt to a New Reality
This shift in sentiment is dramatically altering labour market dynamics. With AI handling more tasks, from data analysis to administration, employees are demonstrating a strong preference for stability, even if it means sacrificing higher pay. Analysts note this marks a broader trend where career resilience is valued above short-term earnings.
In a striking departure from tradition, a regional survey by Oliver Wyman confirmed that nearly two-thirds of workers in the UAE (67%) and Saudi Arabia (70%) would accept a pay cut in exchange for AI upskilling opportunities. This figure far exceeds the global average of 41%, highlighting the region's pragmatic approach to securing long-term employability.
Employers are also recalibrating. Human resource executives in the GCC now rank talent acquisition, digital transformation, and employee retention as top priorities. The PwC Middle East survey notes that 80% of regional HR professionals anticipate a significant AI impact on jobs. Consequently, companies are investing heavily in digital training and redesigning roles to work alongside AI systems, aiming to mitigate displacement risks.
Experts conclude that the UAE workforce's focus on job security is not merely a reaction to fear. It represents a strategic recalibration of career planning, where adaptability, continuous learning, and digital fluency are becoming core to employability. The future of work in the UAE is being defined by a coexistence of human talent and AI, where stability is earned not by standing still, but by proactively staying ahead of technological change.
