Latest news with #DavidBoast
Arabian Business
5 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE executives trust AI to take lead on pay rises, recruitment and even personal health
UAE business leaders are showing record-breaking trust in artificial intelligence (AI), with nearly 80 per cent saying they are comfortable with fully automated systems making high-stakes decisions—including those affecting pay, hiring, health, and even personal life choices. The findings, from a new study by next-generation technology firm Endava, show that AI in the UAE is no longer just a support tool—it's becoming a strategic decision-maker. According to the research: 79 per cent of UAE executives trust AI to allocate company budgets, even if those decisions influence individual compensation 80 per cent are comfortable with AI overseeing health and safety functions 79 per cent support AI-driven hiring, performance, and redundancy decisions AI in the UAE Remarkably, the trust in AI extends beyond the workplace. Four in five respondents said they would rely on AI to: Guide their career trajectory Determine ideal salary progression Provide personal financial advice, including retirement planning Offer health recommendations David Boast, General Manager – UAE and KSA at Endava, said: 'Trust is the critical enabler of any AI strategy. The UAE's clear national vision, its youthful and tech-savvy demographic, and its digital-first mindset are combining to give organisations a unique opportunity to innovate with confidence. 'While other regions remain cautious, weighed down by debates over job displacement, our research shows that businesses in the UAE can move forward with certainty, knowing their workforces are not only ready for AI, but actively embracing it.' This growing confidence comes amid the UAE's multi-billion-dollar investments into AI infrastructure and a clear national ambition to lead in the sector. Nearly 46 per cent of respondents believe the UAE is ahead of the global curve in AI adoption, ranking the Middle East third worldwide behind only the US and China. AI is boosting business performance and job satisfaction The business case is strong: 71 per cent of decision-makers said AI has already improved profitability 75 per cent believe AI will boost job satisfaction Nearly three-quarters say their company is creating new AI roles, including 'Head of AI' and specialist deployment teams At the same time, more than half of respondents warned that without meaningful AI progress, their companies risk losing market share within two years. Despite high enthusiasm, only 25 per cent of companies believe their current systems—especially data infrastructure—are fully ready to support enterprise-grade AI. Boast called on organisations across the UAE and the wider Middle East to focus not only on AI investment, but on smart implementation. He said: 'This includes laying the right data foundations by modernising their core systems, integrating AI responsibly into operations, leveraging pre-built AI accelerators, and prioritising solutions that complement human potential rather than replace it. 'The UAE's AI enthusiasm must be tempered by clear strategy, and outcome-driven efforts. At Endava, we are proud to support regional governments and enterprises filtering through the AI buzz, to extract and incorporate those impactful use cases. 'With a workforce this receptive and government vision this clear, this approach is helping position the UAE as a global reference point for AI done right.'
Al Etihad
16-07-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Business leaders trust AI in decision-making as UAE vision boosts confidence
16 July 2025 22:09 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Seventy-nine percent of business leaders in the UAE trust artificial intelligence (AI) to make budget decisions and manage talent functions, covering key aspects like compensation, hiring, and performance evaluation, according to a recent research, conducted by next-generation technology services provider Endava in partnership with 3Gem, surveyed 300 UAE business leaders across various industries to explore their views on AI in business, personal life, and survey revealed broad confidence in the technology's capabilities, with 80% of respondents saying they would feel comfortable with AI-driven systems overseeing critical health and safety functions at UAE businesses, adopting AI emerged as the top strategic priority, followed by enhancing client services and investing in other trust extends beyond the workplace into personal decision-making, according to the in five respondents said they would rely on fully automated AI systems for major career decisions, including salary progression and timing for promotions or job equally high percentage trust AI for personal financial management, such as investment and retirement planning, as well as for automated health study also showed that 74% of respondents agree that access to AI is as essential for UAE society as access to utilities like water and energy. Moreover, 79% believe that successful AI implementation will significantly improve the quality of life in the country. National Strategy The UAE is rapidly solidifying its position as a global AI leader with billion-dollar investments in AI infrastructure and innovation announced this momentum appears to resonate with the public, as 46% of those surveyed feel the UAE is ahead of the world in AI adoption and asked to rank global AI leaders, the Middle East was placed third, after the US and China."Trust is the critical enabler of any AI strategy. The UAE's clear national vision, its youthful and tech-savvy demographic, and its digital-first mindset give organisations a unique opportunity to innovate with confidence," said David Boast, General Manager for UAE and Saudi Arabia at Endava."While other regions remain cautious, weighed down by debates over job displacement, our research shows that businesses in the UAE can move forward with certainty, knowing their workforces are not only ready for AI, but actively embracing it."The study's findings indicate optimism about AI's impact on the job market. Nearly 75% of business leaders say their organisations have already created or plan to create dedicated AI roles, such as 'Head of AI.'The same percentage believe AI will improve employee job satisfaction, while 71% report AI has directly boosted their company's is also a sense of urgency: 66% of respondents think their organisation risks losing market share within two years if it fails to advance its AI capabilities, while 35% warn this could happen in less than a year. According to Endava, around 30% of companies plan to significantly increase AI investments in 2025 compared to 2024.
TECHx
15-07-2025
- Business
- TECHx
UAE Business Leaders Show Strong Trust in AI Adoption
Home » Emerging technologies » Artificial Intelligence » UAE Business Leaders Show Strong Trust in AI Adoption Business leaders and executives across the UAE are demonstrating unprecedented trust in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. A new study by Endava, a leading next-generation technology services provider, revealed that a majority of UAE decision-makers support AI-led decision-making in the workplace. The study found that 79% of UAE business leaders trust AI to make high-stakes decisions. These include tasks like salary allocations, hiring, and redundancy planning. Additionally, 80% of respondents are comfortable with AI overseeing critical health and safety functions. Endava reported that confidence in AI extends to personal matters as well. Four in five individuals said they would trust fully automated AI systems to guide their careers. This includes advising on promotions, salary growth, and even personal finances such as investments and retirement planning. The findings come as the UAE continues to establish itself as a global leader in AI adoption. The country has announced multi-billion-dollar investments in AI infrastructure and innovation. Almost half (46%) of the survey respondents believe the UAE is ahead of other nations in AI usage, ranking the Middle East third globally after the US and China. David Boast, General Manager – UAE & KSA at Endava, stated that trust is key to AI strategy success. He added that the UAE's youthful, tech-savvy population and digital-first approach are helping organisations innovate with confidence. Boast emphasized the positive outlook on AI's role in employment. Nearly 75% of decision-makers said their companies have created or plan to create roles like 'Head of AI'. The same percentage believe that AI will boost job satisfaction. Further results showed: 71% believe AI has already improved company profitability. Over 50% said lack of AI adoption could lead to loss of market share in two years. About 30% of companies plan to increase AI investment in 2025. However, only 25% of leaders feel their infrastructure is fully ready for enterprise-level AI. Boast called for balanced and strategic implementation. He advised companies to modernize core systems, use AI responsibly, and align tools with human potential. Endava expressed pride in supporting the region's efforts to realize meaningful AI use cases. The study highlights the UAE's readiness for AI adoption, backed by strong public trust and government vision.
TECHx
22-05-2025
- Business
- TECHx
Port of Fujairah Announces Major Digital Transformation Deal
Home » Top stories » Port of Fujairah Announces Major Digital Transformation Deal The Port of Fujairah has announced a strategic agreement with Endava (NYSE: DAVA) to lead a five-year digital transformation initiative. The project aims to unify and modernize the port's operations through six progressive modules. The initiative will introduce advanced digital solutions. These include vessel call management, dry and liquid bulk operations, gate pass security, and real-time analytics. The goal is to ensure world-class efficiency and transparency across all port activities. At the heart of this transformation is a new Port Community System named 'MarHub.' The platform is designed as a connected gateway for all stakeholders. The Port of Fujairah, a key maritime hub in the UAE, handles nearly 120 million metric tons of cargo annually. It also records 5,000 port calls and over 12,000 anchorage calls each year. Technology has played a vital role in supporting these operations. Mr. Khalil Ebrahim, Deputy Managing Director at Port of Fujairah, said efficiency is central to their operations. He added that the transformation will enhance service quality, security, and trust. He also emphasized the commitment to providing world-class infrastructure. Endava, a global leader in digital transformation projects, will deliver the MarHub platform. It will enhance data accessibility, streamline workflows, and support automation and continuous improvement. The system's API-first, cloud-native architecture will allow ongoing innovation. Phase 1 is scheduled to launch in Q4 2025. The project aligns with Fujairah's sustainability goals. MarHub will be hosted on Microsoft Azure regions in the UAE to ensure data residency and compliance. The deployment will use containerization and automated resource scaling to reduce infrastructure waste. Security measures include ISO 27001 standards, end-to-end encryption, and multi-level access controls. David Boast, General Manager for UAE & KSA at Endava, said they are honored to be chosen as the port's transformation partner. He added that the project will set new benchmarks for digital-led logistics in the region. Key points: Five-year digital transformation led by Endava at Port of Fujairah Introduction of MarHub, a new Port Community System Focus on efficiency, transparency, sustainability, and security This initiative marks a significant step towards future-proofing Fujairah's port operations through digital transformation.
Tahawul Tech
09-05-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Endava executive outlines how enterprises can tread that elusive path of AI adoption and modernisation
David Boast, General Manager – UAE & KSA, at Endava has penned an exclusive op-ed, which examines how enterprises can tread that elusive optimal path of AI adoption and modernise their operations without too much risk. The new year offers the perfect moment to reflect on the past and shape the future. What insights can guide us forward? What strategies will drive success? Which fleeting trends will fade, and which transformative forces will demand our focus? Amongst these, artificial intelligence stands as a pivotal opportunity that businesses can no longer afford to overlook. Around the world, a wave of quick-fire AI implementations has emerged, driven by the urgency to gain first-mover advantage. Yet, this rush has sparked a new and essential conversation: how can businesses harness AI responsibly, ensuring compliance with data regulations? The reality is that even leveraging first-party data effectively may call for a comprehensive modernisation of core systems. In many ways, this marks a new era of digital transformation — one that balances technological advancement with ethical responsibility. The change before the change In many cases, AI has been layered onto existing systems as a quick fix. While this approach might work temporarily, it falls short of laying a foundation robust enough to support AI's full potential. Effective AI adoption requires more than patchwork solutions; it demands an infrastructure designed for scalability, agility, and governance. An AI-ready business must be prepped to adapt quickly to shifting market dynamics, customer demands and emerging technologies. This begins with a deep understanding of workflows, business logic and operational nuances that may be obscured by legacy tech sprawl. Leaders must prioritise data governance, invest in modular architectures for rapid deployment and establish systems capable of managing AI's demands over the long term. While modernisation is a cornerstone of keynote speeches and whitepapers, CTOs know that it can be fraught with risk. Tacking AI onto legacy systems might seem like a lower-risk option but is often a false economy. Clean data and modular building capabilities must come first. The challenge, therefore, is to find ways of making changes that minimise service disruption. For incumbent GCC businesses, this urgency is compounded by competitive pressures. The plain fact is that these businesses are prone to disruption by well-funded startups that do not have to tear down old systems to be AI-ready. But with a data-based approach and the right expertise, established organisations can rise to the challenge of modernising their core systems without derailing operations, in preparation for AI-driven growth. Building the foundation for success Start with the business fundamentals. Understand yourself before trying to understand AI. From this starting point, methods for clearly capturing data will emanate from the way the business operates day to day. Composable architecture comes next; rapid feature deployment is a must in a digital economy. Finally, if the business can dig into its existing systems to understand its workflows and business logic, then the fundamentals are in place. The change before the change is complete. Subsequent modernisation will be more transparent and flexible, leading to reduced risk. Milestones provide confidence and clarity along this journey. A move to the cloud might come first, or perhaps you will choose to rewrite your application architecture. Whatever foundations you build, AI will sit on a far firmer base than if simply tacked onto a legacy stack. Blending the strengths of technology and people, regional organisations can take deep analytical dives into legacy assets. Tools even exist to offer data-driven automation of this process, backed by the right skillsets, to deliver a de-risked, cost-controlled, modernisation process. Essentially, the organisation uses advanced AI in controlled circumstances to pave the way for embedding AI deeper into the fabric of business. This core modernisation is, remember, only a means to an end. In the GCC, where bold innovation is the norm, businesses already understand the power of AI. Governments and businesses here are practiced early adopters, so they have many lessons to draw on. They know that adoption of a new technology often requires fundamental shifts in infrastructure, business processes and even corporate culture. AI is a many-headed beast capable of fulfilling a rich menu of use cases. Your organisation has to consider its industry, workforce, operating capital, growth ambitions and more. It must grapple with the eccentricities of its people, shareholders and market. And it must be clear-eyed about where it wants AI to take it and how to undertake the journey with the lowest possible risk. As is abundantly evident at this point, embracing AI will no longer be optional for GCC businesses. To remain competitive, organisations must modernise their core systems and infrastructure, prioritising clean data and composable architecture. This foundation will enable seamless integration of AI, unlocking its potential while minimising risks. With the region's history of bold innovation and a readiness to embrace transformative technologies, the GCC is well-positioned to lead in this new digital era. This is a pivotal moment for organisations to align bold technological ambitions with solid execution, paving the way for long-term success.
