Dataiku’s “AI Confessions Report” reveals a widening trust gap in enterprise AI governance, as most UAE leaders rely on systems they can’t fully explain yet continue to deploy confidently.
Nearly all data leaders in the UAE (94%) confess they lack complete visibility into how their AI systems make decisions, according to Dataiku’s Global AI Confessions Report: Data Leaders Edition. Conducted by The Harris Poll, the study surveyed over 800 senior data executives across eight countries, including 100 from the UAE, revealing major risks in AI governance, transparency, and accountability.
As the UAE accelerates its ambition to become a global AI powerhouse under the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, the findings underscore a growing tension between innovation and oversight. Only 17% of UAE data leaders said their organizations always require AI systems to “show their work” — among the lowest globally. Alarmingly, 62% are not confident their AI systems could pass a basic audit, while 72% would still trust an AI agent to make autonomous business decisions even if it couldn’t explain its reasoning.
“UAE enterprises are betting big on AI — but trust and transparency must keep pace with innovation.”
— Florian Douetteau, Co-founder and CEO, Dataiku
The study also points to leadership misalignment and overconfidence. 59% of respondents believe their C-suite overestimates AI accuracy, while 64% say executives underestimate the complexity of making AI production-ready. Despite governance gaps, the majority (57%) prioritize accuracy and reliability over cost, suggesting a strong technical focus but a lack of structured accountability.
“Enterprises in the UAE, much like those globally, are betting on AI they don’t fully trust,” said Florian Douetteau, Co-founder and CEO of Dataiku. “The good news is that governance challenges such as explainability and traceability can be overcome through responsible, transparent systems.”
“Responsible AI governance will define the next phase of growth — transparency is not optional anymore.”
— Sid Bhatia, Area VP & GM – Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Dataiku
Echoing this sentiment, Sid Bhatia, Area VP & GM – Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Dataiku, added, “UAE organizations are leading AI adoption at scale, but ensuring responsible growth must remain the priority. As regulators in the region explore AI governance frameworks, businesses have a unique opportunity to lead with transparency, accountability, and ethical innovation.”
As the UAE’s AI momentum continues, the message from Dataiku’s report is clear: innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility to unlock the true potential of artificial intelligence.
