A recent study reveals that 71% of UAE businesses report full commitment from their C-suite to harness AI for transformation. ServiceNow, in partnership with Oxford Economics, has unveiled its AI Maturity Index Report, highlighting that most enterprises in the UAE are strongly dedicated to enterprise-wide AI implementations, supported by top management and a well-defined vision for business transformation.

Eighty-one percent of organizations have a clear, shared vision of AI's role in their operations. Additionally, 60% have appointed an AI leader, such as a 'Chief AI Officer,' to oversee the AI strategy. Correspondingly, 77% of respondents have seen an increase in AI budgets year-over-year. The study also delves into how UAE organizations measure AI success, with 23% favoring productivity gains as the key metric for ROI verification.

AI use cases predominantly focus on data-related areas, with 53% utilizing AI for data management and transformation. Performance management and resource utilization are also popular, with 44% and 43% respectively. Sales-focused tasks like lead generation and marketing are addressed by 43% of organizations. The study further indicates that 65% of UAE businesses are already experiencing some ROI from AI investments, with 24% reporting ROI exceeding 15%.

William O’Neill, Area VP for UAE at ServiceNow, emphasizes that the true potential of AI lies in the strategic selection of use cases. He notes that AI can reshape various aspects of business, from payroll to customer service, and suggests that an enterprise AI platform approach can enhance collaboration and efficiency.

Interestingly, despite tangible ROI, most UAE organizations are still in the early stages of AI maturity. Only 15% are innovating with AI, while the majority are assessing (12%), experimenting (44%), or operationalizing (31%). Given the high levels of C-suite commitment, budget allocation, and strategic clarity, it is anticipated that many UAE companies will rapidly advance along the AI maturity curve.

Other indicators of future maturity include the right skill mix among employees (76%), a culture of autonomous problem-solving (65%), AI learning events (55%), and employee training programs (45%). O’Neill encourages UAE business leaders to maintain clear, shared strategies and lead with vision to achieve higher AI maturity.

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