UAE leads global Chief AI Officer adoption - IBM, DFF report
33% of UAE organisations have appointed CAIOs versus 26% globally
#UAE #CAIOs - The United Arab Emirates is leading global adoption of Chief AI Officers, with 33 percent of organisations appointing dedicated AI leadership roles compared to 26% internationally, according to a new study by the IBM Institute for Business Value and government think tank Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). The research of over 600 CAIOs across 22 countries reveals that organisations with Chief AI Officers achieve 10% higher returns on AI investment globally, whilst those implementing centralised AI operating models under CAIO leadership realise up to 36% higher ROI on AI initiatives. The study features insights from Dubai government entities Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Customs.
SO WHAT? - Chief AI Officers became institutionalised in the UAE after the Cabinet approved the creation of the new role across federal government departments and other entities in 2024. In September last year CAIOs were selected for all government departments under the guidance of the Cabinet, an an effort to enhance and expand the development of AI solutions and applications in government work. The leadership by the UAE government has inspired some private sector organisations to follow the example, appointing their own Chief AI Officers. The new study offers evidence that the country is taking a global leadership position in creating CAIO roles.
Here are some key takeaways from the study:
UAE organisations outpace global peers in CAIO appointments, according to a new report from IBM Institute for Business Value and Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). The study found that 33% of UAE organisations have dedicated AI leadership roles compared to 26% internationally, across 21 industries.
Organisations with Chief AI Officers implementing centralised or hub-and-spoke AI operating models achieve 36% higher return on investment compared to those without structured AI leadership
UAE CAIOs benefit from stronger leadership support:
90% of UAE CAIOs say they get sufficient CEO support compared to 80% globally.
86% of UAE CAIOs say they have broader C-suite support, versus 79% globally.
69% of UAE CAIOs were appointed internally, compared to 57% globally, reflecting a commitment to developing AI leadership from within.
CAIOs play a central role in the UAE, being given broader mandates and implementation responsibilities:
79% of UAE CAIOs control their organization’s AI budget, compared to 61% globally.
62% of UAE CAIOs prioritize building business cases for AI, compared to 45% globally.
50% of UAE CAIOs list direct AI implementation as a primary responsibility, in line with 48% globally, though 38% of UAE CAIOs find implementation very difficult, compared to 30% globally.
Career backgrounds of UAE CAIOs reflect a focus on data and operations:
69% of UAE CAIOs have a career background in data, similar to 73% globally.
48% of UAE CAIOs have focused on operations, compared to 38% globally, suggesting a pragmatic, execution-focused leadership profile.
UAE CAIOs recognise the value of measuring AI outcomes, while maintaining momentum by experimenting and innovating even without perfect metrics:
76% of UAE CAIOs say their organizations risk falling behind without AI impact measurement compared to 72% globally
74% of UAE CAIOs agree they initiate AI projects even if they can’t measure their effects compared to 68% globally
AI adoption maturity highlights room for growth:
76% of UAE organizations are still at pilot stages with limited deployment, compared to 60% globally.
The IBM-DFF study employed a cross-sectional survey design, collecting responses from 624 professionals across various industries and geographic regions. The sample was purposively selected to ensure representation from enterprises, business units, and geographies, providing insights into the distribution of AI leadership roles.
ZOOM OUT - The UAE's emphasis on Chief AI Officers aligns and empowers a broader government strategy to dramatically transform public sector efficiency using AI. The country recently launched the world's first AI-powered Proactive Government Performance System, tracking over 150 million data points monthly to deliver predictive intelligence and generate more than 50,000 proactive insights annually. This system is projected to achieve 60% average performance improvements whilst saving 250,000 man-hours per year. From January 2026, the UAE's National Artificial Intelligence System will serve as an advisory member at Cabinet level and across all federal entity boards, embedding AI decision-making capabilities throughout government operations to support the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
LINKs
Read more about UAE government efforts to harness AI:
UAE’s AI system to dramatically improve performance (Middle East AI News)
UAE embeds AI at the core of government planning cycle (Middle East AI News)
UAE embraces future with government-wide AI advisors (Middle East AI News)
UAE Cabinet approves first-of-its-kind AI reg advisor (Middle East AI News)