70% of UAE professionals use AI daily–governance now urgent, experts warn

For AI engineers, data scientists, and machine learning architects, the startling statistic that 70% of UAE professionals use AI daily is both a validation and a warning. It signals that models and pipelines are moving from sandboxed proofs-of-concept into production at unprecedented speed—and that the governance frameworks to ensure their safety, transparency, and compliance must be engineered just as rapidly. The TechPulse MEA 2026 discussions make clear that the next 15 months will define whether enterprise AI in the Middle East becomes a template for responsible scaling or a cautionary tale.

Artificial intelligence has evolved from experimental pilots to a foundational operating layer for modern enterprises, and this shift brings an urgent need for robust governance, cybersecurity protocols, and risk management. That was the central message from industry leaders gathered at TechPulse MEA 2026, an exclusive event hosted by the Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC Dubai) under its Technology, Digital & Innovation (TDI) Focus Group initiative. The conference convened C-suite executives, AI specialists, and digital transformation experts to assess the technology trends shaping Middle East organizations over the next 15 months, with a sharp lens on balancing rapid innovation against mounting operational risks.

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She cited research showing that 70% of UAE professionals now use artificial intelligence on a daily basis, a figure that dramatically eclipses the global average of just 18%.

Keynoting the event, Aditi Nitin, Senior Partner for Data & AI at Deloitte Middle East, spotlighted the United Arab Emirates as one of the world’s fastest adopters of enterprise AI. She cited research showing that 70% of UAE professionals now use artificial intelligence on a daily basis, a figure that dramatically eclipses the global average of just 18%. This ground-level data underscores a regional transformation where AI is no longer a back-office experiment but a front-line tool embedded in day-to-day decision-making. Nitin cautioned, however, that sustainable, enterprise-scale deployment hinges on three pillars: rigorous governance frameworks, trusted and high-quality data, and comprehensive workforce reskilling programs. Without these, the velocity of adoption could outpace an organization’s ability to manage the inherent cybersecurity, ethical, and compliance risks.

Karthik Raman, Convenor of the TDI Focus Group and Chief Revenue Officer at RevDau, traced the broader arc of technological evolution from the internet and cloud computing to today’s AI era. He posed a fundamental strategic question to business leaders: 'Which part of your business learns next?' Raman’s framing emphasized that previous tech waves augmented human muscle or software judgment, but AI is now reshaping the decision-making process itself—a shift that demands new governance models to ensure accountability and transparency.