High ambition meets structural hurdles as regional leaders accelerate plans for autonomous, agentic AI systems.
New research from Endava shows that while organisations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia overwhelmingly recognise the strategic importance of becoming AI-native, many remain hampered by operational and structural gaps. The study, which surveyed senior leaders across both markets, highlights a region eager to capture the transformative value of agentic AI but slowed by limited readiness, funding delays and the complexities of responsible deployment.
According to the findings, more than nine in ten respondents view AI-native transformation as critical for maintaining long-term competitiveness. Yet over a third admit they have not secured the budget required to execute their AI-native roadmaps. Despite these challenges, confidence remains strong, with 75 percent expecting to transition to fully AI-native operating models by 2028—an aggressive shift that signals accelerating momentum across the Gulf.
“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are at a pivotal moment as they transition from ambition to AI-native execution.” — David Boast
The adoption of agentic AI is already reshaping the region’s innovation landscape. A growing majority now believe that traditional agile methodologies are losing relevance as businesses move toward autonomous, self-optimising systems capable of managing complex workflows in real time. Fintech, in particular, stands at the forefront, with more than four-fifths of leaders reporting that agentic AI is enabling completely new products, services and revenue models.
Organisations also expect agentic AI to enhance resilience and customer experience by improving fraud detection, enabling autonomous financial guidance and delivering faster, always-on services. Leaders anticipate that AI-native systems will strengthen trust by automating compliance, managing risk at machine speed and elevating real-time monitoring across high-stakes environments.
However, the research underscores a clear readiness gap. Most organisations are still focused on deploying basic AI applications—such as chatbots, workflow automation and predictive analytics—before advancing to more sophisticated agentic systems. Concerns around data quality, privacy, security and transparency continue to present significant hurdles.
Commenting on the findings, David Boast, General Manager – UAE & KSA, Endava, said the organisations that invest early in governance-led, responsible AI frameworks will define the next wave of innovation. He noted that Endava is supporting this shift through platforms such as Dava.Flow, enabling modernisation at scale while preserving trust and transparency.
