AI is no longer a futuristic concept in the region, it’s a boardroom priority.
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a side topic in the UAE—it’s a pillar of national competitiveness. At CFTE’s AI-fication of Talents workshop, held in partnership with the DIFC Academy in Dubai, senior leaders from finance, regulation, and enterprise gathered to discuss one central theme: How can the UAE prepare its workforce and institutions for an AI-powered economy?
From panel sessions to live audience polls, one thing became clear: AI is moving from experimental tools to enterprise strategy—and the leaders in the room are ready to take charge.
Here are the top three insights from this pivotal event – backed by live poll results and real voices from Dubai
1. Strategic Focus with a Human Lens
Participants in the Dubai workshop expressed strong alignment with the UAE’s vision: to lead the region in responsible, innovative AI adoption. But they were equally clear that strategy must be anchored in people.
Discussions touched on the importance of governance, data ethics, and talent transformation. There was a deep recognition that AI must be designed to enhance—not replace—human capability.
In a live poll, 38% of participants said AI is creating new jobs. 27% said jobs are disappearing. Another 29% acknowledged more nuanced impacts, selecting “something else.” This distribution reflects the forward-looking realism that defines Dubai’s leadership ethos: optimistic, but prepared
2. Building Talent That Thinks, Not Just Codes
The Dubai audience made one thing very clear: AI readiness isn’t just about tech skills. It’s about developing professionals who can understand systems, solve complex problems, and lead with clarity.
When asked what predicts success in an AI world, the responses formed a powerful wordcloud: adaptability, resilience, prompting, mental agility, ethics, solution-orientation. These themes mirror CFTE’s Performance Hexagon, which guides organizations beyond technical upskilling toward full-spectrum capability development.
This is especially relevant in the UAE, where the vision extends beyond tech adoption. With initiatives like the UAE AI Strategy 2031, the country is setting the bar high—not just for AI usage, but for AI leadership.
3. The Rise of the Supercharged Professional in the UAE
One of the most inspiring takeaways from the Dubai session was the emergence of a new archetype: the supercharged professional.
These are individuals who blend deep industry knowledge with the fluency to apply AI in context—creating solutions, not just using tools. They are positioned to scale innovation, redesign processes, and drive value across every sector.
In a different live poll, participants shared what they personally want to achieve in an AI world. The responses were bold and human: super productivity, work-life balance, innovation, scaling ideas, helping the community, staying human. It’s clear that in the UAE, AI isn’t seen as a replacement—it’s a multiplier of purpose and potential
Dubai’s AI-Ready Future Starts Now
With strong public-sector alignment, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and world-class talent initiatives, Dubai is building the infrastructure for long-term AI leadership. But as the DIFC Academy session made clear, success won’t be driven by technology alone—it will be powered by people who are ready to lead with AI.
CFTE is proud to support this journey—working alongside institutions like DIFC Academy to define AI-readiness, develop practical frameworks, and ensure professionals across the UAE are equipped for this transformation.