65% of UAE workers fear AI could make them replaceable, finds Workday

AI is changing how employees in the UAE see their value at work, with 75% saying AI-generated insights make them feel more empowered to propose strategic changes, according to an exclusive interview with Workday. At the same time, that growing influence is being accompanied by anxiety over what AI could mean for careers. 

Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) believe AI skills could give them leverage to secure better roles or higher pay, while 65% worry the technology could make them more replaceable.

Speaking to Fast Company Middle East on the sidelines of Workday’s UAE launch in Dubai, dedicated regional operations, and expanded local leadership, Angelique De Vries-Schipperijn, President, EMEA, Workday, said AI is beginning to change how employees define their contribution to an organization.

“Rather than viewing their value primarily through productivity or task completion, enabled by AI, employees increasingly see themselves as strategic contributors who can shape decisions and drive innovation,” she said.

She added that the bigger opportunity lies beyond automating routine work. “The greatest opportunity is not simply automating tasks, but to empower employees to focus on higher-value work that requires human judgment, creativity and collaboration.”

“Critically, 73% of respondents believe AI skills can help them secure better roles or higher pay, and that the ability to effectively use AI will become an important career differentiator,” De Vries-Schipperijn said.

That tension is becoming more pronounced as AI tools become more deeply embedded in everyday work. De Vries-Schipperijn said employees are engaging with the technology, but want greater clarity over how it will affect their roles.

“Employers need to be transparent about how AI will be used, where human judgment remains essential, and what support people will receive,” she said.

“Organizations that invest in developing people alongside technology will be the ones that create lasting business value while maintaining employee trust and engagement.”

The company said the move is intended to deepen engagement with customers and partners as AI adoption and cloud transformation accelerate across the country.

According to the company, more than 11,500 organizations globally use its platform, including more than 65% of the Fortune 500.

“The UAE is a key market in Workday’s growth strategy, with organizations pursuing transformation against some of the world’s most ambitious national agendas,” De Vries-Schipperijn said.

“To succeed, they need technology that helps them move faster, adopt new ways of working, and show clear results while maintaining the trust and control large, regulated organizations require.”

Around 90% of employees surveyed said they use AI at least weekly, including 58% who use it multiple times a week and 18% who use it every working day.

Employees report saving an average of 3.6 hours a week through AI. Yet they also spend an average of 3.4 hours each week clarifying, correcting, or rewriting low-quality AI-generated outputs — underscoring the gap between adoption and effective implementation.

“Many organizations have piloted AI successfully, but fewer have connected it to the trusted data, workflows, and controls needed to deliver enterprise-wide outcomes,” she said.

The research also offers a picture of how UAE organizations are using the efficiencies created by AI.

“Forward-looking organizations see AI as a growth and transformation enabler, not a cost-cutting tool,” she said.

De Vries-Schipperijn added: “This is especially relevant in the UAE, where workforce modernization remains a strategic priority. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, organizations have an opportunity to strengthen workforce readiness, support internal mobility and help employees develop the skills needed for emerging roles.”

According to Workday’s report “Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI in the UAE,” 33% of organizations are using AI to absorb more work without increasing headcount, raising questions about how businesses define productivity.

De Vries-Schipperijn said productivity gains should not simply mean asking fewer employees to take on more work.

“Real productivity gains come from improving the quality and impact of work, not simply increasing workloads,” she said. “The most effective use of AI removes repetitive and administrative tasks so employees can focus on work that requires critical thinking, customer engagement and strategic decision-making.”