
CAIOs key to AI success: Up to 36% higher ROI on AI spend, finds IBM-Dubai Future Foundation study
Foreword by H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama underscores AI's role as a force multiplier for nations and how the Chief AI Officer is a translator between vision and execution.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – A new global study by the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV), conducted in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), finds that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is leading a global shift toward appointing Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) to drive enterprise-wide AI strategy and execution.
According to the global study* of more than 600 CAIOs across 22 countries and 21 industries, more UAE organizations are appointing a CAIO role than global peers: 33% of surveyed organizations in UAE have a CAIO, compared to 26% globally. The impact is clear: globally organizations with a CAIO see a 10% higher return on investment (ROI) on AI spend, and those where CAIOs drive a centralized or hub-and-spoke AI operating model can realize a 36% higher ROI on AI initiatives.
The report opens with a foreword by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, where he writes: 'AI is not a singular breakthrough, it's ten thousand small shifts. It's cultural. It's institutional. It's a habit. The CAIO will be the one pushing that habit forward – across public administration, healthcare, education and logistics. More than a technologist, the CAIO is a translator between vision and execution, a bridge between strategy and science, and a steward of value across the enterprise.'
The report also includes perspectives from other leading UAE entities such as Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Customs, providing a multi-sector view on AI leadership.
'Dubai's early adoption of the Chief AI Officer role reflects our national commitment to a responsible, future-ready government,' said Saeed Al Falasi, Director of the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence. 'This study reinforces that CAIOs are strategic enablers and catalysts that drive the city's vision for the future. By empowering these leaders with the right tools, we are setting the stage for scalable, measurable AI impact across key sectors in Dubai.'
'The UAE is setting a global benchmark by embedding Chief AI Officers within organizations, ensuring AI is a strategic enabler across sectors. This is a testament to the nation's foresight in shaping a future-ready economy.' said Shukri Eid, VP and GM, IBM Gulf, Levant and Pakistan. 'As we continue our collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation, IBM remains committed to helping organizations scale their AI capabilities to drive measurable, long-term impact.'
'By appointing CAIOs early and giving them visibility and budget control, UAE organizations have laid a strong foundation for enterprise AI,' said Lula Mohanty, Managing Partner, Middle East and Africa, IBM Consulting. 'The next step is execution, moving beyond pilots, embedding AI into core business functions and delivering measurable ROI. IBM is proud to partner with UAE clients on this next phase of their AI journey.'
UAE CAIOs benefit from stronger leadership support
CAIOs in the UAE are more likely than their global peers to have direct backing from senior leadership:
90% of UAE CAIOs say they get sufficient CEO support compared to 80% globally.
86% of UAE CAIOs say they have broader C-suite support, versus 79% globally.
69% of UAE CAIOs were appointed internally, compared to 57% globally, reflecting a commitment to developing AI leadership from within.
CAIO roles in the UAE come with broader mandates and implementation responsibilities
UAE CAIOs are playing a central role in driving AI strategy and implementation:
79% of UAE CAIOs control their organization's AI budget, compared to 61% globally.
62% of UAE CAIOs prioritize building business cases for AI, compared to 45% globally.
50% of UAE CAIOs list direct AI implementation as a primary responsibility, in line with 48% globally, though 38 % of UAE CAIOs find implementation very difficult, compared to 30 % globally.
Career backgrounds of UAE CAIOs reflect a focus on data and operations
UAE CAIOs bring a mix of technical and operational expertise to their roles:
69% of UAE CAIOs have a career background in data, similar to 73% globally.
48% of UAE CAIOs have focused on operations, compared to 38% globally, suggesting a pragmatic, execution-focused leadership profile.
AI measurement matters, but action won't wait
UAE CAIOs recognize the value of measuring AI outcomes, while maintaining momentum by experimenting and innovating even without perfect metrics:
76% of UAE CAIOs say their organizations risk falling behind without AI impact measurement compared to 72% globally
74% of UAE CAIOs agree they initiate AI projects even if they can't measure their effects compared to 68% globally
AI adoption maturity highlights room for growth
While UAE organizations have made significant leadership investments, many remain in early phases of AI deployment:
76% of UAE organizations are still at pilot stages with limited deployment, compared to 60% globally.
For more information and to access the full study, visit: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/chief-ai-officer
*Study Methodology
The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBM IBV), in cooperation with Oxford Economics and The Dubai Future Foundation conducted a global survey in the first quarter of 2025 to examine the emerging role of CAIOs. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, collecting responses from 600+ CAIOs or equivalent across 21 industries and 22 countries. The survey examined the role, responsibilities, and challenges faced by CAIOs across organizations, covering the origins of the position, career backgrounds, perceptions of influence and challenges, team structure, and key responsibilities. It also assessed AI initiative performance, impact measurement, organizational strengths in AI governance, and areas for improvement.
The IBM IBV and IBM's thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Sherry Italia
IBM Communications
sherry.italia@ibm.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Filipino Times
31 minutes ago
- Filipino Times
UAE-based Filipino civil engineers gather for PICE midyear assembly; highlights community milestones
Filipino engineers in the UAE gathered in Abu Dhabi for the Midyear Assembly of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE-UAE), held under the theme 'One PICE, One Vision: Promoting specialization, empowering membership, future-ready civil engineering professionals.' Around 130 professionals attended the event, which featured technical presentations, panel discussions, the oath-taking of new members, and recognition ceremonies aimed at advancing their career development. Engr. Joeper Famorcan, 2025 PICE-UAE Chapter President, emphasized the importance of continuous learning and collective achievement. He said the gathering served both as a platform for technical discussion and a celebration of the growing strength of the Filipino engineering community in the UAE. 'These things speaks our aspiration as a chapter to be united under one vision to encourage continuous learning and recognition,' Engr. Famorcan said in his opening remarks. Meanwhile, H.E. Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE delivered his keynote address and led the ceremonial acknowledgment of 2025 Civil Engineering Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) passers. New PICE members also took their oath before Engr. Frederick Francis Sison, 2025 PICE National President. In his inspirational message, Engr. Sison said he joined the event to understand the current practices and challenges of Filipino engineers abroad and expressed his commitment to support the professionals. 'You're not just engineers working abroad, you are ambassadors of Filipinos in the engineering field. You show the world our skills, our grit, our values, and our heart. Your work speaks louder than any slogan. You make us proud, you inspire us, and we learn from you,' he said. Other highlights included the conferment of specialist members, recognition of newly approved life members, and a panel forum moderated by Engr. Blesil Apduhan, 2025 PICE-UAE First Vice President. Inspirational messages were also delivered by Engr. Rafael C. Lontoc, PPO-UAE Chairman and Arch. Woderick M. Pareja, Bayanihan Council Chairman.


Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
DEWA, Shell explore co-operation to advance clean energy, green economy goals
26 July 2025 19:06 DUBAI (WAM)Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), welcomed a high-level delegation from Shell, led by Fakher Bader, Country Chair for Iraq and the delegation included Geraldine Wessing, Chief Political Analyst – Strategy Insights & Scenarios, and Hessa Abdulla, MENA Media meeting centred on Shell's latest report, The 2025 Energy Security Scenarios: Energy and Artificial Intelligence, which explores how AI could reshape global energy systems through three distinct pathways: Archipelagos, Horizon, and scenarios are vital tools for strategic decision-making, helping stakeholders anticipate future challenges, assess risks, and identify opportunities in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. Discussions also highlighted opportunities for synergy in advancing a circular and green Tayer shared DEWA's pioneering projects in clean energy, particularly the ongoing development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world's largest single-site solar park based on the independent power producer (IPP) model. Its current capacity is 3,860 megawatts (MW), with a planned capacity of 7,260MW by 2030 (the original plan was 5,000 megawatts).The 1,800MW sixth phase of the solar park uses the latest bifacial solar photovoltaic technologies with single-axis tracking. This phase, developed under the IPP model, will provide clean energy for approximately 540,000 residences and reduce around 2.36 million tonnes of carbon emissions Tayer also highlighted the Al Shera'a building, DEWA's new headquarters, which will be the tallest and largest net-positive energy government building in the world. Al Shera'a is designed to achieve platinum certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and silver certification in the WELL Building Standard. The building will leverage advanced technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics and AI, alongside modern renewable energy solutions that ensure outstanding also underlined DEWA's remarkable achievements in adopting AI technologies. DEWA has launched a strategic roadmap to become the world's first AI-native utility, integrating artificial intelligence across all core operations. This supports DEWA's global leadership, ranking first worldwide in 12 key performance indicators in its areas of work. In 2024, DEWA recorded the world's lowest electricity transmission and distribution network losses at 2%, compared to 6% to 7% in Europe and the USA. Water transmission and distribution losses were also the lowest globally, at 4.5%. Additionally, DEWA set a world record for the lowest customer minutes lost (CML), achieving 0.94 minutes per year, compared to an average of 15 minutes in the European Union. Fakher Bader affirmed Shell's commitment to supporting the UAE's clean energy transition.


Filipino Times
4 hours ago
- Filipino Times
IECEP-UAE marks 17th founding anniversary with family day in Dubai
The Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines – UAE Chapter (IECEP-UAE) celebrated its 17th founding anniversary with a Family Fun Day event in Dubai, gathering electronics professionals and their families from across the host country. With the theme 'Sama-samang Saya ng Iisang IECEP-UAE Kapamilya,' the event featured games and bonding activities aimed at strengthening the sense of unity among members. Engr. Mark Nhel M. Gasangue, IECEP-UAE 2025 Governor and Chairman of the Board, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of building a connected community. He said that what made the celebration more special was that they were also collaborating with other groups outside the organization. 'I'm happy that new members are there joining the IECEP community and we are active also, apart from this organization… we have collaborations with other organizations as well. And this year… we are celebrating 17 years of unity and togetherness, uplifting the IECEP community, and engaging with the members, helping them to achieve their professional upgrades,' he said. The gathering served as an opportunity to showcase IECEP-UAE's continued efforts in empowering Filipino electronics engineers through networking and skill enhancement. Meanwhile, former IECEP-UAE Governor and Chairman of the Board Engr. Lloyd Allen Ondona emphasized the group's resilience through the years. He noted that the chapter overcame many challenges to continue serving as a home for Filipino engineers in the UAE. 'In 17 years, we have shown that we are here to stay and to gather the electronics engineers in the UAE in order to strengthen the bond and help one another as a family., he said. IECEP-UAE serves as a recognized organization offering professional support network for licensed electronics engineers and related professionals living and working in the UAE. The event highlighted the organization's ongoing commitment to community-building, both within the engineering profession and among the families that support them.