UAE, Saudi Arabia to add over 1.5M workers
Study shows Gulf job demand rising by 2030 despite automation, driven by growth, mega projects, and expanding services
DUBAI, UAE (MNTV) – The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are projected to require more than 1.5 million additional workers by 2030, despite the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence, according to a global workforce study released in 2025.
The report finds that while AI is transforming business models and government operations, it is not reducing overall labor demand in the Gulf.
Instead, sustained economic expansion, large-scale development initiatives, and growing public and private services are maintaining strong demand for human workers across multiple sectors.
In Saudi Arabia, workforce growth is being driven by the Vision 2030 reform agenda, which includes major investments in infrastructure, construction, tourism, manufacturing, logistics, and new economic zones.
The study estimates that even after accounting for productivity gains from automation, the kingdom will continue to face a substantial labor gap.
The UAE is expected to see even faster workforce expansion, with total employment projected to grow by more than 12 percent by 2030.
This places the country among the fastest-growing labor markets globally, well ahead of advanced economies such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
Conducted jointly by ServiceNow and Pearson, the study draws on data from thousands of job roles and millions of job postings across international markets.
It notes that digital transformation and AI adoption in the UAE are likely to generate new roles rather than eliminate jobs, particularly as routine tasks become automated.
Key sectors expected to sustain hiring in both countries include construction, transport and logistics, healthcare, hospitality, retail, education, energy, financial services, and information technology.
Human workers are expected to remain critical for technical operations, supervision, customer engagement, and problem-solving.
The findings are significant for expatriate labor markets, including workers from Pakistan, who remain heavily employed in Gulf construction, transport, healthcare, retail, and technical sectors.
The report concludes that continued investment in skills training and reskilling will be essential for workers and countries seeking to benefit from ongoing job creation in the region.
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