Digital coaching emerges strategic lever for GCC workforce transformation, says WeAce
Digital coaching is fast emerging as a cornerstone of workforce transformation strategies across the Gulf, according to new research unveiled at SPARK Dubai 2025.
Hosted at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai, the exclusive forum brought together senior HR leaders, policymakers and leadership futurists to examine how leadership is evolving in a technology-enabled, inclusion-driven era.
Organised by global coaching platform WeAce in partnership with SDA Bocconi School of Management, the event marked the launch of Powering Talent and Growth in the GCC, a whitepaper analysing the role of AI-powered coaching and mentoring in reshaping leadership, accelerating nationalisation and improving talent retention in the region.
Once considered the preserve of senior executives, coaching is now being re-engineered as a scalable, AI-enabled solution. Platforms such as WeAce integrate multilingual interfaces, culturally relevant content and real-time analytics to create inclusive leadership development pipelines, while providing employers with measurable outcomes.
'Coaching must move beyond performance management to support purpose, wellbeing and long-term growth,' said Anuranjita Kumar, CEO and co-founder of WeAce.
Key trends highlighted in the whitepaper include:
AI-driven coaching adoption:
By 2030, 75% of Dubai-based Fortune 500 subsidiaries are expected to use AI-powered leadership tools.
Market growth:
The UAE's digital coaching sector is forecast to grow from $44.6 million in 2023 to $189.3 million by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate of 14.1%.
Proven ROI:
Global benchmarks suggest coaching can deliver a 788% return on investment, driven by productivity and retention gains.
ESG integration:
By 2030, 60% of UAE leadership programmes are projected to include environmental, social and governance modules.
The report also positioned digital coaching as a strategic driver for nationalisation initiatives such as Emiratisation, helping organisations build agile, future-ready leaders and attract both regional and global talent into hybrid workplaces that prioritise flexibility and growth.
'The intersection of talent, technology and trust will define competitive advantage in the Middle East,' commented Alessandro Giuliani, managing director at SDA Bocconi Asia Center. Nader Haffar, former chairman and CEO of KPMG Lower Gulf, added: 'Our future will be defined by how boldly we invest in talent, how wisely we deploy technology, and how deeply we build trust across business and society.'
WeAce, active across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, combines behavioural coaching, structured mentoring and AI-powered development tools in both English and Arabic. With more than 20 enterprise clients already in the GCC, the company is scaling its solutions to support the region's long-term workforce transformation agenda.
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