TRENDING things go wrong,” said Florian Douetteau, Cofounder and CEO of Dataiku.“ The encouraging news is that governance challenges, such as explainability and traceability, can be overcome. The more organisations focus on building responsible, transparent systems, the faster AI will move from hype to tangible business impact.”
Encouragingly, the research found that UAE data leaders prioritise the accuracy of AI systems above all else, with 57 % naming performance reliability as their top priority, while only 10 % place cost as their top priority. Furthermore, local leaders are cautious when it comes to applying AI to particularly sensitive areas of the business: 55 % say they would never allow AI agents to make hiring or firing decisions, 48 % would exclude AI from handling legal or compliance matters, and another 39 % would avoid deploying AI for mental health or employee wellness support.
“ UAE organisations are leading the charge in adopting AI at scale, but the findings show that work must still be done to ensure responsible growth remains the priority,” said Sid Bhatia, Area VP and General Manager – Middle East,
Turkey and Africa at Dataiku.“ As regulators in the region explore AI governance frameworks, businesses have an opportunity to get ahead by building internal accountability and strengthening transparency across every stage of the AI lifecycle.” •
Harris Poll Survey Methodology
The research was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Dataiku from August 20 – 29, 2025. The survey was conducted among professionals considered‘ Data Leaders’ in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the UAE, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
A total of 812 interviews were conducted( USA = 203, UK = 102, France = 101, Germany = 103, UAE = 100, Japan = 103, South Korea = 50, Singapore = 50). Data Leaders in the study work for large companies with an annual revenue of or more than US $ 1 Billion or regional equivalents, and are defined by professional titles ranging from vice-president, director, managing director, or C-suite level. www. intelligentcio. com
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