ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The UAE says its job market is shifting quickly as artificial intelligence and automation reshape the skills employers want across industrial and energy sectors.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said demand is rising for advanced technical talent while routine administrative and support jobs are losing ground.
According to the ministry’s Emirates Skills indicators, 87% of existing jobs are expected to see higher demand, especially in advanced engineering and sales. Officials say those roles will remain important as companies modernize operations and adopt new technologies.
At the same time, the ministry said 20% of future jobs are expected to be entirely new. Those roles include robotics operations supervisors, AI systems quality assurance technicians and manufacturing engineers.
The ministry also said 13% of current jobs are now considered stagnant, largely in office and support functions that are being replaced or reduced by digital systems and smart technology.
The findings reinforce a broader push in the UAE to align education with labour market needs and prepare Emirati talent for future industries.
The message is consistent with other national efforts to strengthen the country’s knowledge economy, where skills in engineering, automation, data and technology are becoming more valuable.
Officials say the changing workforce means students and workers will need to focus more on future-ready training, rather than relying on skills tied to jobs that are fading.
The shift also reflects a wider regional trend, with Gulf economies investing more heavily in digital transformation, industrial modernization and AI-driven productivity.
