The UAE is rapidly enhacing its position as a regional leader in digital transformation and AI readiness, with new data from Coursera revealing a 344% year-over-year increase in enrollments for Generative AI (GenAI) courses, far surpassing the global average of 195% and the MENA average of 128%.
The findings, released in Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2025, reflect the country’s accelerating investment in technology-driven workforce development. Now in its seventh edition, the report draws on insights from over 170 million learners worldwide and offers a benchmark of global skill trends across more than 100 countries.
According to the report, 87% of UAE employers now prioritize technology literacy, artificial intelligence, and big data, highlighting strong demand for future-ready talent. The nation is also seeing a rise in enrollments for job-relevant credentials, with a 41% increase in Professional Certificate enrollments and a 14% uptick in cybersecurity programs.
The UAE continues to lead the MENA region in digital upskilling, with 13% of its labor force actively learning on Coursera. Among the 10.8 million users across MENA, 1.3 million learners are based in the UAE, with a median age of 36. Mobile-first learning is on the rise as well, with 41% of UAE learners accessing content via mobile devices.
AI Maturity Index: UAE Ranks First in the Arab World
A new feature of this year’s report—the AI Maturity Index—places the UAE first in the Arab world and 32nd globally among 109 countries. The index combines learner data with external metrics from the IMF and OECD to measure countries’ readiness for artificial intelligence in terms of innovation, research, and real-world skill application.
This strong ranking underscores the UAE’s strategic push to become a global AI hub. With flagship initiatives such as the planned 5GW AI Campus and the introduction of mandatory AI education in public schools, the country is actively laying the groundwork for long-term leadership in artificial intelligence.
These efforts align with the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031, which aims to make the country a world leader in AI by that year. Increasing the digital economy’s contribution to over 20% of non-oil GDP by 2031 remains a key pillar of this vision.
Skills Gaps Persist—With a Gender Divide
Despite the momentum, challenges remain. 72% of UAE employers still cite skills gaps as a major barrier, higher than the global average. One key area for improvement is gender participation in tech fields. While women represent 32% of Coursera learners in the UAE, only 24% are enrolled in STEM courses and 21% in GenAI programs—highlighting a significant opportunity to close the gender gap in future-facing industries.
Overall, the UAE ranks 38th globally in skills proficiency, placing first in the Arab world. It scores particularly high in business skills (85%), while proficiency in technology (52%) and data science (59%) shows room for growth.
“The UAE is rapidly scaling AI learning and infrastructure to drive workforce transformation and regional innovation,” said Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. “Its strong performance on Coursera’s AI Maturity Index, combined with high rankings in overall skills proficiency, demonstrates the country’s growing ability to close skill gaps, nurture future talent, and lead in AI readiness.”
