Abu dhabi:The United Arab Emirates: has consolidated its leading international position as one of the world’s foremost artificial intelligence leaders, with a recent study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) classifying 42 percent of business institutions in the country as ‘AI Leaders’.
According to Emirates News Agency, the study confirmed that UAE institutions are keeping pace with global counterparts and demonstrating progress in deploying advanced technologies. The study, titled ‘Unlocking Potential: How GCC Organizations Can Convert AI Momentum into Sustainable Value at Scale,’ surveyed 200 senior executives and assessed 41 digital capabilities across seven sectors. It showed that 37 percent of institutions in the UAE have already reached the ‘scaling’ stage of digital maturity, reflecting a shift from limited pilot projects to comprehensive implementation. The UAE leads the region with an average maturity score of 46 points, while only 13 percent of institutions were classified as lagging.
Commenting on the findings, Dr. Lars Littig, Managing Director and Partner and Middle East Leader of the Tech and Digital Advantage practice at Boston Consulting Group, said the UAE’s progress as an advanced market, and the classification of a significant proportion of its institutions as leaders, directly reflects the strength of strategic investments in infrastructure and the commitment to the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.
He added that GCC institutions, including those in the UAE, are achieving higher returns through AI adoption, demonstrating that public and private sector investments are translating into measurable value. This is reflected in the financial impact, as institutions classified as ‘AI Leaders’ in the GCC deliver 1.7 times higher total shareholder returns and 1.5 times higher operating profit margins compared to slower adopters.
At the regional level, the study showed that GCC countries have narrowed the adoption gap with global markets, with 39 percent of organisations in the region now classified as AI Leaders compared to a global average of 40 percent. The findings highlighted leadership by the GCC public sector, which achieved the highest AI maturity levels globally among all markets included in the study. This reflects a transformation in how regional institutions approach technology. The study also pointed to the region’s forward outlook, noting that 38 percent of GCC institutions have begun testing advanced ‘agentic AI’ applications.
