The UAE ranks sixth globally for AI readiness and first in the Middle East and North Africa, according to Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2026.
The report’s AI-Human Skills Synergy Index measures how learners in 98 countries are developing AI capabilities alongside the human skills needed to apply them. Germany ranked first, followed by France, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.
AI course enrollments in the UAE rose 75% year over year. Learning in generative AI increased 117%, while agentic AI workflow enrollments grew 100%. AI security recorded the sharpest increase, rising 243%.
Learners are also building complementary skills. Enrollments in complex problem-solving grew 56%, critical thinking increased 39% and innovation rose 7%. Micro-credential enrollments climbed 38%, with AI-related micro-credentials increasing 101%.
The trend reflects rising demand across the UAE labor market. The share of job postings requiring AI skills increased from 1% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2025, according to PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer UAE analysis.
Generative AI adoption in the UAE reached 64%, according to Stanford’s 2026 AI Index Report. The UAE AI Office also launched AI for All in 2025 with Google to build foundational AI skills and promote responsible use across age groups and professional backgrounds.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
