Artificial intelligence adoption in the UAE workplace is accelerating beyond younger employee groups, with professionals aged 35 to 44 reporting the highest confidence in AI-driven productivity gains, according to the SixthFactor UAE AI Attitudes Study for Q1 2026 . The Dubai-based consultancy surveyed 1,046 UAE residents across multiple demographic categories during the first quarter of 2026.
UAE Workplace AI Adoption Expands Across Mid-Career Workforce
The study found that 70.9% of respondents aged 35 to 44 believe AI tools improve their daily workplace productivity. This is higher than both younger employees and the national average. Employees aged 25 to 34 followed closely at 68.2%.
Across all respondents, 65.7% said AI tools positively affect workplace productivity, while 65.8% said they are familiar with a broad range of AI applications. These findings indicate that AI usage in the UAE workforce is shifting from experimentation toward routine operational use across sectors.
The research also highlighted growing acceptance of AI automation for repetitive tasks. Nearly 60% of respondents said they are more comfortable letting AI systems handle routine work than in previous years. Among employees aged 25 to 34, this proportion rises to 63.9%.
How AI Productivity Trends Reflect UAE Digital Transformation
The findings align with broader UAE investment in digital transformation, workforce upskilling and artificial intelligence integration across public and private sector organisations. Businesses across the country have increased adoption of generative AI, cloud infrastructure and machine learning systems as part of wider economic diversification programmes and operational efficiency strategies.
Confidence in AI productivity gains was strongest among higher-income and highly educated respondents. According to the study, 71.3% of respondents with postgraduate or professional qualifications said AI improves workplace productivity. Among residents earning AED 30,000 or more per month, 71.8% reported positive productivity outcomes linked to AI use.
The data suggests that experienced professionals managing operational responsibilities are increasingly evaluating artificial intelligence through measurable workplace outcomes rather than novelty or experimentation. The shift also reflects growing familiarity with AI-enabled enterprise systems and large language model (LLM) applications across the UAE labour market.
SixthFactor Says AI Adoption Is Moving Into Daily Operational Use
SixthFactor said the research challenges assumptions that younger employees dominate workplace AI adoption. Himanshu Vashishtha, Founder and Global CEO of SixthFactor, said professionals aged 35 to 44 recorded the strongest confidence levels in AI productivity across the UAE workforce.
“The findings challenge a common assumption that AI adoption is driven mainly by younger users,” Vashishtha said. “Professionals aged 35 to 44 recorded the strongest confidence in AI productivity across the UAE workforce. That points to AI moving beyond awareness and into practical daily use among experienced working professionals.”
The study surveyed 1,046 adult respondents across the UAE during Q1 2026 and was structured to reflect demographic diversity across age, gender, income, occupation and education groups. The findings indicate that workplace AI adoption is becoming embedded across experienced segments of the UAE workforce as organisations expand digital transformation strategies and operational automation initiatives.
