iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Short answer: ServiceNow and Pearson’s Workforce Skills Forecast 2025 is reported to project that the UAE will need about 1.03 million additional workers by 2030, a 12.1% increase in workforce demand. That is a forecast of economy-wide labor demand—not 1.03 million jobs already created, and not a claim that artificial intelligence alone will generate every role.
What the forecast actually says
Computer Weekly (January 2, 2026) and Gulf Business (December 26, 2025) attribute the UAE estimate to ServiceNow and Pearson’s five-year forecast. Gulf Business reports the 1.03 million figure as equivalent to 12.1% workforce growth by 2030.
The estimate combines expected economic expansion and digital transformation. AI is one influence within that change: it may automate some tasks, augment workers in others and increase demand for new capabilities. Treating the entire figure as “AI-created jobs” would overstate what the forecast establishes.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhere the additional demand is expected
| Area | Reported additional workers | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 133,000 | Identified by Gulf Business as the largest listed sector contribution. |
| Education | 78,000 | Part of the broader workforce-demand projection, not an AI-only count. |
| Retail | 60,000 | A sector estimate within the UAE total. |
| Technology specialists | More than 91,000 | Reported by The Week (December 24, 2025); this subset is not synonymous with all AI jobs. |
The sector figures and the technology-specialist estimate should not be added together: they use different categories and the published reports do not show enough detail to establish whether any roles overlap.
#1 Best Overall
Will AI create one million jobs in the UAE?
Not according to the evidence available. The defensible reading is that the UAE may require approximately 1.03 million more workers across its economy by 2030, while AI, automation, digital investment and growth reshape the tasks those workers perform.
ServiceNow’s official forecast overview says demand for labor is expected to exceed supply over the next five years despite rising automation. It also describes a combination of automation and augmentation, meaning some work is performed by software while other work is done more effectively with AI assistance. Those are company findings and framing, not a guarantee of realized hiring.
Rank #2
How the forecast was produced—and what is not public
Known scope
- ServiceNow identifies Pearson as its research partner.
- The study uses AI to model how AI may change work over a five-year horizon.
- Across the ten countries studied, ServiceNow says eight are expected to outgrow their workforces.
Important limits
- The UAE-specific table and detailed modeling assumptions were not included in the publicly reviewed material.
- No confidence interval or alternative UAE scenarios were reported in the sources available for this article.
- A projected increase in labor demand is different from net jobs created, vacancies filled or employment actually observed in 2030.
For that reason, the point estimates should be read as directional planning figures rather than precise counts.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What it means for workers and employers
For workers
- Build skills that complement AI, such as data interpretation, process design, cybersecurity, domain expertise and communication.
- Expect job descriptions to change even when occupations remain. Learning to supervise, verify and improve AI-assisted work can be as important as learning a specific tool.
- Use training claims carefully: reskilling can improve readiness, but no course guarantees employment.
For employers
- Map which tasks can be automated, augmented or left human-led before setting headcount targets.
- Plan internal mobility and training alongside technology purchases; a shortage of qualified people can limit the value of automation.
- Set governance for privacy, security, bias, quality control and accountability when AI is used in operational decisions.
ServiceNow recommends skills development and governance and directs interested learners to ServiceNow University. Course availability and regional terms can change, so readers should check the current offering directly.
How to read this number alongside other forecasts
When comparing this projection with another labor-market study, check five things:
- Measure: Is it gross jobs, net workforce change, labor demand or realized employment?
- Time frame: Do the baseline and endpoint years match 2030 and the same starting year?
- Technology effect: Does the model treat AI as automation, augmentation or both?
- Coverage: Is it economy-wide, sector-specific or limited to selected occupations?
- Uncertainty: Are ranges or scenarios provided, or only a single point estimate?
Bottom line for the UAE forecast
The ServiceNow-Pearson projection points to strong potential growth in UAE labor demand—about 1.03 million additional workers, or 12.1%, by 2030 as reported by secondary outlets. It supports preparing for more technology-enabled work, but it does not prove that AI alone will create one million jobs or that all projected positions will materialize.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
