As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption continues to grow, major companies in the UAE and GCC are re-evaluating their work processes. Instead of reducing their workforce, these companies are opting to merge roles, reorganize teams, and reshape workflows, according to a recent study.
The study, Redefining Work: AI & the Future of Talent by Cooper Fitch, highlights that 55% of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) firms prefer merging roles over initiating large-scale layoffs.
Dr. Trefor Murphy, founder and CEO of Cooper Fitch, explained to Khaleej Times that “it’s more about role and responsibility consolidation than job cuts, with 60% of respondents indicating minimal job impact. Currently, AI affects mainly junior, graduate, administrative, data entry, report writing, and automation roles.”
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The recruitment agency noted that AI targets specific tasks instead of whole roles, thereby reshaping work by streamlining team operations, redefining role requirements, and enhancing areas where human judgment is most valuable.
About 31% of survey participants in the UAE and GCC foresee some role eliminations within the next 12–24 months, focusing on repetitive tasks rather than entire positions. Only 7% reported job losses due to AI, mainly in narrow roles like transcription, administration, junior analysis, or creative production.
Expectations vs Reality
While employers expect increased productivity from AI, employees feel the technology is still evolving and not fully meeting these expectations.
“Employees are cautiously optimistic about AI, recognizing rising performance expectations and sensing that output demands are outpacing technological capabilities.
“Employers believe employees should work faster and produce more because of AI. However, the technology is still in its nascent stage regarding its potential impact. AI optimism exists, but it’s fragile without proper investment and skills development,” Dr. Murphy added.
“Boards are pressuring C-level executives to enhance efficiency and revenue with AI, but employees must use these tools, review, and adjust, which isn’t always more efficient,” he said after launching the study ‘Redefining Work: AI & the Future of Talent‘.
The survey included 350 organizations with over 200,000 employees across the UAE and GCC.
Shortage of AI Experts
The study also highlighted a lack of AI expertise in local and regional companies.
“The situation is fragmented. Different departments like sales, finance, and HR are handling AI separately,” Dr. Murphy noted. Multinational companies scale AI at 42% on an enterprise level, compared to only 7% among GCC-owned firms.
“No one is fully exploring AI’s organizational benefits or scaling it effectively.”
According to the study, 41% of companies surveyed spend less than $500,000 annually on AI, 19% invest between $500,000 and $5 million, and 8% more than $5 million.
“It’s fragmented. Technology isn’t meeting expectations, causing burnout and fatigue among employees,” Dr. Murphy concluded.
