As Artificial Intelligence spreads into every corner of the workforce, it’s not just global jobs at risk — it’s hitting home in the Gulf too.
A recent report from Microsoft listed 40 jobs most likely to be replaced by AI. Unsurprisingly, it includes roles like customer service agents, retail workers, certain teaching jobs, and travel clerks — many of which have been strongly localised under Gulf employment policies like Emiratisation and Saudisation.
In places like Saudi Arabia, rules were introduced in 2021 that required all remote customer service roles to be held by Saudi citizens. But now, AI is knocking at the door. For instance, Sawt, a Saudi startup, has raised $1 million to develop an Arabic-speaking AI customer service agent — and that could mean fewer human jobs in the near future.
According to industry data, there are at least 500 call centers in Saudi Arabia and over 60 in the UAE. That’s thousands of jobs potentially at risk.
“These are among the most localised roles and the most exposed to automation,” said Nikhil Nanda of UAE-based staffing firm Innovations Group.
👥 Localisation Needs a New Strategy
Experts agree that AI’s impact won’t be immediate — but it is coming. And while AI will replace millions of jobs, it’s also expected to create more than it destroys.
The World Economic Forum estimates 92 million jobs may be lost, but 170 million new ones will be created globally by 2030.
The challenge? Not everyone is ready — or willing — to make that shift, especially toward technical or blue-collar jobs that are becoming more available in the Gulf thanks to investment in digital infrastructure like data centers.
That’s why upskilling is becoming critical.
One bold move is Saudi Arabia’s national “One Million Saudis in AI” program, aimed at preparing its citizens for the digital future. So far, over 300,000 have enrolled.
“AI might take away repetitive tasks, but it also opens doors to smarter, more strategic careers,” Nanda adds.
What’s Next?
For the Gulf, this isn’t just about tech — it’s about how fast we can adapt. Nationalisation policies must align with the realities of automation. If done right, AI can become a tool for social mobility and career advancement, not just a threat.
