UAE workforce demand grows as digital transformation accelerates
The UAE’s ongoing economic expansion and rapid digitisation are expected to create significant labour demand over the coming years. Forecasts indicate that the country may need close to one million additional workers by 2030, as technology adoption, artificial intelligence and digital transformation continue to shape growth across key sectors including manufacturing, retail, education, finance, health care and energy.
The findings suggest that technological progress is contributing to job creation rather than reducing employment, although some professional roles may face restructuring due to automation and AI-driven decision-making tools. The outlook highlights the importance of workforce upskilling to support productivity and sustain growth in a technology-driven economic environment.
In the technology sector, organisations in the UAE are projected to require tens of thousands of additional specialists by 2030, particularly in programming, systems analysis and digital marketing-related roles. Continued investment in AI-focused initiatives, partnerships and innovation ecosystems is expected to reinforce the country’s long-term transition toward a digitally enabled economy.
