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10/13/25, 11:03 AM Red Hat Survey: UAE Organisations Prepare for Widespread AI Adoption and Upskilling - Middle East Business News and Inform…
Spain shared the same view, followed closely by Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands at
98% each, while 83% of businesses in the UK expressed similar trust in their nation’s AI

trajectory.

In terms of limiting factors to the UAE’s rise in AI prominence, 62% of respondents cite a lack
of computing infrastructure, followed by lack of talent pipeline (52%), and lack of public
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funding (45%), as the key hold-ups .

National data protection and sovereignty goals remain priorities on the IT agenda in the
country, with AI adding complexity as another workload that must align to evolving cloud
strategies. Barriersto cloud adoption remain as well, with respondents pointing to limited

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support from leadership (77% agree), unclear ROI (72% agree ), employee resistance to
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change (69% agree ), and lack of skills (69% agree ). Drilling down into cloud sovereignty
strategy over the next 18 months, UAE respondents are prioritising operational control and
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autonomy (86% ), securing the software supply chain (81% ), and flexibility and choice of IT
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suppliers (86% ).

Supporting Quotes:

Adrian Pickering, regional general manager, MENA, Red Hat:

“Our latest UAE survey reveals a clear truth: while AI investment is surging, realizing tangible

customer value remains a challenge for many organizations. Moving beyond experimentation to
deliver lasting customer value from AI means laying the foundation by integrating enterprise

knowledge with existing systems.”

“The survey’s indication of the rise of ‘shadow AI’ highlights both a security risk and a powerful
signal of employee innovation. This willingness to explore new tools offers a critical opportunity
for leaders to identify and address skills gaps through targeted training. Ultimately, openness

and common standards are not just ideals; they are essential for maximizing the value of AI
and hybrid cloud investments, fostering collaboration, and driving the flexibility needed for true

innovation.”

Hans Roth, Senior Vice President & General Manager EMEA, Red Hat:

“Organisations want greater operational control and IT resiliency to adapt in a world of
constant disruption. The survey results, as well as our daily conversations, show sovereignty

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