Workday Strengthens UAE Presence as Businesses Accelerate AI Adoption
Dubai, UAE – October 1, 2026: Enterprise technology company Workday has officially launched its operations in the United Arab Emirates, strengthening its presence in the region with a new Dubai office, expanded local leadership and dedicated operations.
The move comes as businesses across the UAE increase their use of artificial intelligence to improve productivity, automate processes and support employees. Workday's UAE expansion is focused on helping organisations use technology across human resources, finance and IT while adapting to the growing role of AI in the workplace.
The company also unveiled findings from its latest research, “Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI in the UAE,” examining how organisations are assessing the impact of AI beyond simple time savings.
UAE employees increasingly using AI at work
According to the research released by Workday, 90% of employees surveyed in the UAE use AI at least once a week.
The study found that 58% use AI several times during the week, while 18% said they use AI every working day. Employees surveyed reported saving an average of 3.6 hours per week through AI tools.
The findings indicate that AI is becoming part of everyday workplace activity rather than remaining limited to experimental or occasional use.
Workday said the research also highlights growing AI engagement among senior employees, with more than half of directors and C-suite executives surveyed reporting weekly AI use.
New Dubai office supports regional expansion
Workday's UAE launch is supported by a new office in Dubai and a larger local leadership structure.
The company said the Dubai operation will allow it to work more closely with customers and partners in the UAE while supporting recruitment and development of local talent.
Workday sees the Middle East as an important part of its international growth strategy, with increasing cloud adoption and national digital transformation programmes creating demand for enterprise technology.
The company's UAE expansion follows its earlier announcement that it planned to establish a Dubai office as part of its broader Middle East strategy.
AI gains come with the need for human review
While AI is helping employees save time, Workday's research also points to an important challenge: AI-generated content still requires human checking and correction.
Employees surveyed said they spend an average of 3.4 hours each week clarifying, correcting or rewriting AI-generated outputs that do not meet their needs.
This suggests that simply introducing AI tools does not automatically translate into greater productivity. Organisations also need appropriate processes, employee training and human oversight to ensure that AI-generated work is accurate and useful.
Workday said trust, skills development and clear controls will remain important as businesses move from AI experimentation toward wider workplace adoption.
Companies are using AI savings in different ways
The research also examined how organisations are using the time and cost efficiencies associated with AI.
According to Workday:
33% of respondents said AI-enabled efficiencies allow their organisations to manage additional workloads without increasing headcount.
32% said their organisations are directing AI-related time and cost savings toward training, upskilling and reskilling.
Another 32% said the gains are being used for workload management, workplace flexibility and employee wellbeing.
24% said AI-related savings are primarily being directed toward cost reduction.
Only 0.2% of respondents said AI had not produced meaningful time or cost savings.
Workday focuses on AI across enterprise operations
Workday provides cloud-based technology covering areas including human resources, finance and IT. Its current UAE platform also promotes AI agents designed to support processes across these business functions.
The company has increasingly positioned AI as a core part of its enterprise software strategy. In August 2026, Workday also announced a dedicated AI Research team focused on areas including trustworthy AI, agent memory, explainability and multi-agent systems.
With its UAE operations now in place, Workday is seeking to build closer relationships with organisations across the country as companies increase their investment in cloud technology and artificial intelligence.
The UAE launch marks another step in the expansion of enterprise AI solutions in the local technology market, while the new research highlights both the productivity opportunities and the need for human oversight that come with wider AI adoption.
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