UAE Continues to Lead World in AI Adoption, with 73.3% of Population Using Generative AI in Q2 2026, More Than Four Times Global Average

The UAE continues to lead the world in artificial intelligence adoption, with 73.3% of people aged 15 to 64 using a generative AI product or app in the second quarter of 2026, more than four times the global average of 18.8%, according to Microsoft's latest AI Diffusion Report published on September 21, 2026, and reported by The National on September 25. The adoption rate represents rapid acceleration from 59.4% in the first half of 2025, 64% in the second half of 2025, and 70.1% in the first quarter of 2026, putting the UAE substantially ahead of second-placed Singapore at 64.3% in Microsoft's global ranking. The UAE is the first economy in the world to cross the 70% threshold.

In Abu Dhabi, 35,000 government employees have already been given access to Microsoft Copilot as part of a wider strategy to embed AI into the tools employees use every day, according to The National. The sustained leadership in AI diffusion underscores the UAE's positioning as a global hub for technology adoption and its ongoing investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, education, and government digital transformation. The figures also reflect the country's business-friendly regulatory environment and its ability to deploy emerging technologies at scale across both public and private sectors, reinforcing its competitive advantage as a destination for international tech talent and capital.

Sources

Sources: The National, Microsoft AI Economy Institute. The National report on September 25, 2026, cited Microsoft's Q2 2026 AI Diffusion Report data on UAE adoption rates and government deployment of AI tools. Microsoft published its Q2 2026 Global AI Diffusion Report on September 21, 2026, with comparative global and historical UAE figures verified from the same report.