18-02-2025
What risks stress UAE employees, companies in 2025? Cybercrimes, cost of living among top three
Cybercrimes and online attacks; work stress and burnout; cost of living and mental health topped the perceived risks for companies and employees in the UAE and other parts of the world for 2025 rather than geopolitical tensions, a survey by a global health and security risks service company has revealed.
According to International SOS, 78 per cent of their respondents said cyber attacks and online crimes, as well as work stress and burnout topped the list. Another major concern –at 75 per cent – is the impact of the growing cost of living, followed by mental health concerns at 70 per cent. Geopolitical tension came last at 69 per cent.
The question asked was: 'How likely do you think the issues (above) will have a significant impact on your business and/or your people in the next 12 months?
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The survey was conducted by London and Singapore-based International SOS among its global contacts and clients in the last quarter of 2024. The results were presented during the Middle East|Risk Outlook 2025 held in Dubai on Tuesday. The objectives were to plot how geopolitics, security challenges, and health risks converge; as well as to inform organisations on how to 'adopt smarter and more unified approaches to protect their workforce and operations.'
Why perceptions differ
Going into further details of the survey, Sebastien Bedu, General Manager, Middle East, International SOS, told Khaleej Times: 'One of the interesting elements when we analysed the data was that the perceptions of the perceived risk as well as the elements of concern were different between various seniority levels'.
He noted among primary company decision-makers, political and social unrest, and protests are seen by 75 per cent as very or fairly likely to have a significant impact on their businesses and/or their people in the next 12 months. 74 per cent of C-suite officials also noted geopolitical tensions are very or fairly likely to affect them; while 73 per cent of them noted transport risks as another main disruption.
Cyberattacks and online crime were perceived as very or fairly likely to affect them by those on the decision-making team with significant influence; those on the decision-making team without significant influence (meaning middle-level managers) ranked work stress and burnout the highest concern at 80 per cent.
Bedu explained: 'For the top management, the bigger picture matters, such as the geopolitical tensions. But as you come down the ladder – at the managerial and working level – concerns shift on more personal matters. This indicates that the level of concern is more local – those pertaining to their well-being, unlike the leaders who have a broader scope to take care of and have a vision towards the future that is different.'
No one-size-fits-all solution
Bedu said: 'The survey results highly indicate that that there is a one-size-fits-all solution for every organisation. Therefore, it is important for them to focus on the areas that matter to their structure and organisation, like for example, addressing the wellbeing of the employees.
Regarding the UAE and geopolitical tensions, Bedu said political tensions in the region was deemed as the least concern not because people in the country live a bubble. 'I want to think the main reason is the UAE first and foremost is giving us the opportunity to live in such a safe and pleasant environment,' Bedu said, adding: 'We live in a country where we feel safe and protected and this is why concerns are different than other countries.'
'But there are other concerns similar to most countries in the world – like the high cost of living, and geopolitics also affect the country as everything is connected,' he noted.
A ray of hope
With regards to the current ceasefire in Gaza, Bedu said 'everything is still fluid but the ceasefire itself provides a ray of hope.'
'Our security experts are obviously analysing the situation on continuous basis. We obviously welcome the recent development with regard to ceasefire, the return of hostages and prisoner exchange in Gaza,' he added.
'These are positive signs – although the situation remains pretty fragile. But, it is still a situation that is better than last year. What we can do is to monitor it very carefully. We have information and analysis from our network and boots on the ground to make sure that we can anticipate what the next situation would be for the benefit of our clients, so they can be more prepared,' continued Bedu, noting the relative calm and lull in intense fighting can be used by their clients to prepare, evaluate and plan their crisis management and business contingency.
