Artificial intelligence is completely changing how organisations manage employees across the UAE and the wider region. What was once limited to basic HR digitisation is now evolving into intelligence-led workforce management, with AI in HR GCC emerging as a strategic business priority rather than a technology add-on.
According to Tayfun Topkoc, Head of International Operations and Drive Strategic Growth at PeopleStrong, HR has entered a decisive phase. “AI in HR is moving from simple digitisation to enterprise transformation,” he says, adding that HR is increasingly linked to productivity, compliance, and business resilience.
As labour costs account for a significant share of operating expenses, organisations are turning to artificial intelligence to improve planning accuracy, speed execution, and support sharper decision-making.
Global adoption trends are reinforcing this shift. HR leaders worldwide are accelerating GenAI deployments, and the impact is amplified in the Middle East by localisation frameworks such as Emiratisation and Saudisation.
These policies require companies to maintain real-time visibility into skills, workforce composition, and compliance data, making AI in HR UAE essential for operational continuity rather than optional innovation.
Next-generation HR technology is increasingly embedded in everyday operations. PeopleStrong has recently introduced AI-led solutions such as its AI Co-Recruiter and Employee Relations Agent in the UAE. Topkoc notes that organisations now want more than automation.
“The demand is for a decision-and-execution layer that directly connects talent to enterprise priorities,” he explains. These tools aim to shorten hiring cycles, reduce manual interventions, and resolve routine employee queries efficiently.
The advantages have been apparent already in quicker onboarding, increased service reliability, and skills that aid the UAE's workforce transformation. Adoption has been most prominent in industries such as Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), retail, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, government, and diversified conglomerates that have a large, spread-out workforce.
Such settings constantly deal with hiring, compliance, and productivity issues for the frontline staff, making HR automation GCC especially valuable.
Also Read: The Future of HR: Top AI Tools for Recruitment & Talent Management
While AI presents clear efficiency gains, challenges remain around data quality, system integration, governance, and change management. Looking ahead, Topkoc believes AI-powered workforce platforms will play a defining role in enterprise competitiveness. As HR AI investments rise and upskilling demands grow, organisations that balance innovation with trust and accountability will shape the next phase of growth, with PeopleStrong AI reflecting how HR in the GCC is becoming smarter, faster, and more strategic.