Workday, Inc. announced on October 1, 2026 that it has launched operations in the United Arab Emirates, anchored by a new office in Dubai, dedicated regional operations and expanded local leadership. The company released the launch alongside findings from a report it says measures the value of AI for UAE organisations.
What Workday announced
Workday, which describes itself as the enterprise AI platform for HR, finance and IT, said the UAE launch is anchored by a new Dubai office that will serve as a local hub to engage directly with customers, build partnerships and attract local talent.
The company said the investment positions it to help organisations modernise HR and finance, manage change and get more value from AI as they support the UAE's national transformation goals. Senior leaders including Angelique De Vries-Schipperijn, President, EMEA, and Zakaria Haltout, Group Vice President, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, attended the opening.
Workday described the Middle East as a cornerstone of its global growth strategy, citing customer demand, growing cloud adoption and national transformation agendas.
The research findings
To mark the launch, Workday released findings from a report titled "Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI in the UAE." According to the company, 90% of employees in the UAE use AI at least weekly, including 58% who use it multiple times a week and 18% who use it every working day. More than half of directors and C-suite executives use AI every week, the company said.
Workday said employees report saving an average of 3.6 hours a week through AI, but also spend an average of 3.4 hours per week clarifying, correcting or rewriting low-quality AI-generated outputs. The company framed this as evidence that human oversight, trust and investment in skills remain critical.
On how savings are used, Workday said 33% of organisations use AI-enabled efficiencies to handle greater workloads without increasing headcount, 32% direct savings toward training, upskilling and reskilling, and another 32% channel efficiencies into workload management, workplace flexibility and employee well-being. Only 24% said savings are primarily used for cost reduction, while 0.2% of respondents said AI has not generated meaningful time or cost savings. The press release does not state the survey's sample size or methodology.
What the company says
"The UAE is a key market in Workday's growth strategy, with organisations pursuing transformation against some of the world's most ambitious national agendas," said De Vries-Schipperijn. She added that organisations need technology that helps them move faster, adopt new ways of working and show clear results while maintaining the trust and control large, regulated organisations require.
Haltout said organisations across the UAE are moving from AI experimentation to everyday use, and that lasting value depends on trust, human oversight and continued investment in skills, which he said is why Workday helps organisations bring AI into the flow of work with context, guardrails and trusted processes.
Workday said more than 11,500 organisations worldwide, including more than 65% of the Fortune 500, use its products. The release also carried a forward-looking statements notice saying actual results could differ from expectations and that unreleased features may not be delivered as planned.
Key facts and where they come from
- Workday announced the launch of its operations in the United Arab Emirates on October 1, 2026.
Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the enterprise AI platform for HR, finance, and IT, announced the launch of its operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- The launch is anchored by a new Dubai office, dedicated regional operations and expanded local leadership.
The UAE launch is anchored by a new office in Dubai, dedicated regional operations, and expanded local leadership
- Workday's research claims 90% of UAE employees use AI at least weekly.
AI adoption in the UAE has reached a major milestone, with 90% of employees using it at least weekly, including 58% who use it multiple times a week and 18% who use it every working day
- Employees report saving 3.6 hours a week through AI but spend 3.4 hours fixing poor AI outputs.
Employees spend an average of 3.4 hours per week clarifying, correcting, or rewriting low-quality AI-generated outputs
- Only 24% said AI savings are primarily used for cost reduction.
Only 24% say time and cost savings created by AI are primarily being used for cost reduction.
- Workday says more than 11,500 organisations use its products.
More than 11,500 organisations worldwide, including more than 65% of the Fortune 500, trust Workday to deliver.
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