UAE urged to adapt education to AI-driven labor market — The National
In the United Arab Emirates, universities should update curricula, internships and partnerships with employers to prepare graduates for a labor market where skill requirements are rapidly changing because of artificial intelligence. This is stated in an article by The National.
The publication notes that higher education cannot be viewed in isolation from business and public policy. Universities must combine technical knowledge with practical, adaptive and human skills, while employers must preserve employment opportunities for entry-level specialists.
Risks and opportunities for graduates
A study by the Stanford Digital Economy Lab found that employment among Americans aged 22 to 25 in occupations most associated with AI use was 19% lower than the level it could have reached had it grown at the pace of occupations less associated with AI. At the same time, the study’s authors caution that this trend does not prove a causal relationship between AI and declining employment.
According to QS estimates, 27% of jobs held by people with a high school diploma in the United States are at risk of automation, while the figure is 15% among workers with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. At the same time, AI could potentially augment work in 62% of jobs requiring higher education, compared with 16% of jobs for workers with a high school diploma.
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Changing skill requirements in the UAE
The UAE ranked third in the world for economic transformation in the QS World Future Skills Index 2027. This indicator assesses how effectively countries turn investments in education, skills and human capital into productivity, innovation and economic growth.
The article also states that the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, through the Commission for Academic Accreditation, has introduced an assessment system focused on employment outcomes, learning and cooperation with industry.
According to the World Economic Forum, in the UAE, the skill set for entry-level jobs most affected by AI is changing significantly faster than the global average. The Net Skill Change index rises from 5.3 for jobs least associated with AI to 21.3 for those most associated with it, while globally it increases from 5.8 to 12.4.
The National suggests that universities deepen cooperation with industries using AI, involve students in real-world tasks and teach them to use new tools responsibly. Key skills include critical thinking, the ability to assess AI outputs, communication, creativity and ethical awareness.
