Many UAE firms unprepared for AI risk
Despite widespread AI use, just a third train staff against AI data breaches
#UAE #humanresources — UAE companies are leaving gaps in how they prepare staff for AI-related risk, with just 32 percent training employees to prevent AI-related data privacy breaches, according to insurance broker Marsh’s People Risk 2026 report. The survey of 103 UAE risk and HR professionals, part of a global study of 4,500 professionals across 26 markets, found 38 percent of UAE companies train staff to identify AI-generated misinformation, while 40 percent report full collaboration between HR and risk teams on managing workforce risk.
SO WHAT? — The gap here isn’t whether UAE companies are adopting AI — they are, at an accelerated pace - it’s whether they’re building the staff training to manage what comes with it. Globally, Marsh found that investing in AI without adequate training is the top concern cited by risk and HR leaders when it comes to AI adoption, and the UAE figures suggest training hasn’t caught up with the breakneck speed of AI rollout, leaving privacy, misinformation and cybersecurity risks under-addressed at a sizeable share of companies.
KEY POINTS:
UAE companies show uneven preparation for AI-related risk, according tinsurance broker Marsh’s People Risk 2026 report.
38% of UAE companies train employees to identify AI-generated misinformation, 34% address AI-related cybersecurity vulnerabilities through staff training, and 32% train staff to prevent AI-related data privacy breaches.
33% of UAE companies encourage employees to critically review AI-generated content, according to the Marsh survey.
40% of UAE firms report full collaboration between HR and risk teams, 40 percent report partial collaboration, and 20 percent report minimal collaboration, on managing workforce-related risk.
62% of UAE firms expect health and employee benefit costs to keep rising, and 62% believe unsafe physical or psychological working conditions could seriously harm their organisation.
In addition, 29% of UAE firms say mental health support for employees remains inadequate.
Globally, Marsh’s survey of 4,500 professionals across 26 markets found 41% of companies train employees to identify AI-generated misinformation and 37% address AI-related cybersecurity vulnerabilities through training.
Marsh’s global research found that investing in AI without adequate employee training and upskilling is the top concern cited by 40% of risk and HR leaders regarding the lack of an ‘AI mindset’.
Overall, the report found that 40% of employees globally are now concerned about losing their job to AI. Meanwhile, one in five say AI-powered chatbots would be helpful for dealing with anxiety or emotional issues.
ABOUT THE SURVEY — Survey data for Marsh's People Risk 2026 was collected between October and November 2025 from 4,517 HR and risk professionals across 26 markets. The survey included 105 respondents from Saudi Arabia and 103 from the UAE. Respondents included titles spanning HR Director, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Health and Safety, reflecting the view that managing AI and workforce risk increasingly crosses departmental lines. The study ranked 25 distinct people risks across five categories, from technological disruption to health and wellbeing, scoring each by likelihood and severity of impact over the next one to two years. Inadequate cyber threat literacy topped the global ranking, with mindset barriers to AI adoption and technology skills shortages also placing in the top tier, underlining how closely AI readiness is now tied to traditional risk management in the eyes of HR and risk leaders themselves.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Source: Marsh
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