Listen to this article with AI

What To Know

  • All things considered, Dubai remains at the forefront in terms of embracing the use of AI because they see it as an ally and not an adversary.
  • Dubai-based companies with explicit, on-record AI use in operations include DP World, which publicly discloses AI deployment across port operations, terminal planning, container flow coordination, and logistics optimization used by operations teams managing daily throughput and scheduling.
  • At the end of the day, human judgment still plays a crucial role, as it guides interpretation and action, while AI takes care of the legwork.
How practical AI support is gaining ground across finance, operations, and leadership teams ahead of 2026. Across Dubai’s business sector, artificial intelligence has started to show up in practical ways more than anything else. The attention has moved away from experimentation and toward usefulness inside everyday workflows. Heading into 2026, AI increasingly supports preparation, organization, and coordination tasks that already exist in companies.
Finance teams test AI for preparation and review tasks
In finance departments, AI often appears as support during preparation stages. Some teams explore tools such as Microsoft Copilot within spreadsheets and internal communication tools to help organize data, draft internal summaries, and prepare materials before reviews. Others evaluate financial platforms that include AI features for transaction organization and forecast preparation. Finance professionals review outputs, apply judgment, and retain responsibility for approvals. AI supports consistency and readiness, helping teams spend less time formatting and more time evaluating information. Here are some companies that have AI integration. Emirates NBD publicly documents AI deployment across credit risk assessment, fraud detection, regulatory compliance monitoring, and financial analytics used by internal finance and risk teams during review and approval processes. Dubai Islamic Bank uses AI in transaction screening, financial compliance checks, and internal audit preparation tied directly to finance governance and regulatory review.
Read also...  Dubai’s 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 Is Now Fully Sold Out

Operations teams explore AI for coordination and visibility

Operations teams often look at AI to support coordination across requests, suppliers, and internal workflows. Platforms such as ServiceNow with AI features or enterprise systems that include AI assistants offer examples of how teams experiment with organizing tickets, summarizing open items, and preparing status updates. AI helps surface information and organize inputs inside systems teams already use. Dubai-based companies with explicit, on-record AI use in operations include DP World, which publicly discloses AI deployment across port operations, terminal planning, container flow coordination, and logistics optimization used by operations teams managing daily throughput and scheduling. Dubai Airports, on the other hand, uses AI in airport operations systems supporting passenger flow planning, baggage handling coordination, and terminal resource allocation.

Business leaders guide where AI support fits

Image via Canva
Business leaders increasingly influence how AI gets applied inside their teams. Sales leaders may test CRM tools that include AI features for opportunity summaries or meeting preparation. Operations managers might explore AI support for internal planning documents. Finance heads assess where AI can assist with review preparation. Careem’s AI usage across marketplace operations, logistics coordination, and demand planning is also good to cite. This approach keeps AI grounded. Leaders decide where support adds value and where it does not. AI becomes valuable within existing routines that make processes more seamless and effective at the same time.

Data-driven tasks made more seamless

Data and analytics teams often experiment with AI platforms that assist with data preparation and reporting. Tools such as Alteryx or analytics software with AI assistance provide examples of how teams surface patterns, organize datasets, and prepare summaries for leadership review. Teams work with available data and rely on AI to speed up organization and presentation. At the end of the day, human judgment still plays a crucial role, as it guides interpretation and action, while AI takes care of the legwork. For example, DEWA deploys AI in data analytics, forecasting, and operational reporting used by internal data and planning teams. e& also uses AI in network analytics, customer intelligence, and enterprise data systems supporting internal reporting and planning. As 2026 approaches, AI gains traction in Dubai businesses because of its practical contributions. They explore it as work support, especially in complicated, data-driven departments such as finance, operations, logistics, sales, marketing, and even HR. AI comes in very helpful in initial analysis, document preparation, scheduling, record-keeping, and many others. All things considered, Dubai remains at the forefront in terms of embracing the use of AI because they see it as an ally and not an adversary. That is how AI earns its place as a trusted sidekick.

Ahmed is a tech writer for Dubai News