Economic growth and a continued digitisation push mean the UAE will probably need to add 1 million workers by 2030, according to a new skills forecast report.
The analysis, conducted by enterprise software company ServiceNow and education company Pearson, said the UAE’s affinity for technology, artificial intelligence and its well-known push for the digital transformation of services will help to create jobs in manufacturing, education and retail.
“This 12.1 per cent increase in the human workforce represents one of the highest percentage increases among the markets studied, compared to projected growth in major economies such as the US (2.1 per cent), the UK (2.8 per cent), and India (10.6 per cent),” a news release from ServiceNow highlighting the report read.
Finance, health care, energy and utilities sectors will also see a boost, the analysis added.
The findings of the report, which looked at the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, Germany and Japan, run contrary to many of the prevailing sentiments about AI potentially disrupting the labour market to the detriment of overall economic growth.
William O’Neill, GCC vice president at ServiceNow, reflected on the economic and employment projections.
“The future of work depends on collaboration between people and AI, and it’s a future that’s hiring now,” Mr O’Neill said, pointing out the need for upskilling, which in turn, could boost growth amid continued AI investment.
“What we are seeing in the UAE, as well as in nearly every other country surveyed, is that AI augmentation will be central to capturing the next wave of economic growth,” he added.
In terms of technology roles in the UAE, ServiceNow and Pearson’s report said that by 2030 “organisations will require more than 91,000 additional technology specialists” and that other in-demand roles will revolve around search marketing strategy, programming and computer systems analysis.
In recent years, the UAE has pushed to be an AI leader as it diversifies its economy away from hydrocarbons.
The country’s affinity for research into the technology has resulted in the establishment of start-ups, partnerships and investments from industry leaders including Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI.
The UAE has also teamed up with the US to develop an AI campus, which will include 5GW of capacity for AI data centres, in Abu Dhabi.
At first glance, the workforce report may appear not to bode well for Germany and Japan, which project a workforce loss, but ServiceNow says other factors beyond technology and AI are at play.
“Overall, eight out of the 10 countries we studied will need additional workers to support their projected economic growth,” the report read.
“The exceptions are Germany and Japan, where we forecast workforce shrinkage due to demographic shifts as well as slower job creation related to their modest growth and relatively high tech adoption rates.”
Debate continues to rage in various economic, technology and organised labour circles about the impacts AI might have on employment.
Those debates have caused a shift in public sentiment on AI and the technology sector overall.
In the US, a recent poll from the Pew Research Centre showed an increasing chasm between experts and the general public in enthusiasm for AI.
Technology experts surveyed by Pew, however, were significantly more likely – 56 per cent compared with 17 per cent – than the average American to say that AI would have a “very or somewhat positive” impact on society over the next 20 years.
ServiceNow and Pearson’s report briefly touches on the negative impacts of AI development, showing that cumulatively among the countries focused on in their report, roles in the finance sector could see the most disruption from “agentic AI”.
Broadly speaking, agentic AI is defined as a way to use technology to automate complex decision-making tasks usually performed by humans.
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform’s annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
“We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country,” he said. “Quite why we’ve been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don’t know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat’s findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a “possible indicator of extremism” but it would not be banned.
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 – 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 – 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 – 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 – 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 – 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 – 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 – 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 – 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 – 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 – 4-under
THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 05 Arsenal 1-4 ipswich
March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
Apr 02 Arsenal 3-0 Leicester
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The five pillars of IslamAbu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe – to Real Madrid in 2017/18 – €180 million (Dh770.4m – if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba – to Manchester United in 2016/17 – €105m
3. Gareth Bale – to Real Madrid in 2013/14 – €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo – to Real Madrid in 2009/10 – €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain – to Juventus in 2016/17 – €90m
6. Neymar – to Barcelona in 2013/14 – €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku – to Manchester United in 2017/18 – €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez – to Barcelona in 2014/15 – €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria – to Manchester United in 2014/15 – €75m
10. James Rodriguez – to Real Madrid in 2014/15 – €75m
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tamkeen’s offering
Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
Option 3: 30% across five years
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners