US tech giants are contributing billions of dirhams to the UAE economy, with Google alone contributing about 1 per cent of the Emirates' gross domestic product according to the global tech company, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation.
Google contributed Dh21.8 billion ($5.93 billion) to the UAE's economy in 2024, the tech major said in its Economic Impact Report for the Emirates, released on Thursday. Google’s platforms, which include Search, Ads, Play, YouTube and Maps, support businesses, content creators, developers and government entities.
However, as their presence expands, a behavioural shift led by artificial intelligence tools is quietly reshaping how people work, search and consume information.
From cloud infrastructure and AI tools to payment platforms and productivity apps, companies such as Google, Microsoft and Apple are playing an increasingly central role in the UAE’s digital transformation.
Their growing footprint aligns with the country’s broader digital economy strategy, which aims to diversify income sources and position the country as a global leader in artificial intelligence.
Newly released economic impact reports from Google and Microsoft highlight the scale of this investment.
Google's report shows widespread adoption, with 94 per cent of adults in the UAE using Google Search at least once a month to compare prices, and 97 per cent of public sector workers crediting Google's AI tools with improving their productivity.
Microsoft’s projections take a longer view. A study released by the International Data Corporation during Dubai’s long-running technology exhibition, Gitex, last year, estimated that Microsoft and its partners will generate Dh273 billion in new revenue for the UAE by 2028. This is supported by Dh18.7 billion in data centre spending and the creation of more than 152,000 jobs.
This includes more than 41,800 skilled IT roles, further solidifying the UAE’s position as a hub for advanced digital services and innovation.
Attracting strategic investment
This surge in tech investment aligns with the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, which aims to position the country among the top AI nations globally and have the technology contribute 20 per cent to non-oil GDP by 2031.
“This ambition has attracted US tech giants. In this regard, Microsoft has invested $1.5 billion in AI champion G42 and signed an agreement to implement a ‘sovereign cloud’ system for the Abu Dhabi government,” Louis Napoletani, founder and chief executive of Mottli, told The National.
Apple, while less prominent in cloud infrastructure and enterprise software, has invested more than Dh6 billion in the UAE over the past five years. The company now supports more than 38,000 jobs, with a growing focus on services such as Apple Pay and the iOS app ecosystem.
Changing user behaviour
While these legacy platforms continue to fuel economic growth and digital capacity-building, they are also operating in a changing landscape.
Users, particularly older generations, are increasingly adopting AI-powered assistants such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT for tasks traditionally performed through search engines.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman acknowledges that ChatGPT is used differently across age groups.
When asked recently at a Sequoia Capital AI Ascent event how young people use ChatGPT, he said: “Gross oversimplification, but older people use ChatGPT as a Google replacement. People in their twenties and thirties use it like a life adviser. And then people in college use it as an operating system.”
From answering questions and generating content to coding and research, ChatGPT has become a go-to tool for many professionals and students in the region.
Shift in how we search
This behavioural shift is beginning to challenge long-standing habits. Google’s report notes that 63 per cent of adults in the UAE have used Gemini, its own generative AI assistant.
While adoption is growing, various industry estimates suggest ChatGPT maintains a broader global user base, with about 500 million monthly app users compared to about 22 million for Gemini.
On the search side, “conversational AI could become a challenge” for the traditional search model, according to Mr Napoletani. “While Google still commanded 98.78 per cent of the UAE’s mobile search market as of May 2025, platforms like ChatGPT are gaining significant traction. User behaviour is shifting from link-based searches to direct, synthesised answers.
“The UAE is seeing strong adoption of AI on the user level as well, as shown by the 344 per cent year-on-year rise in generative AI course enrolments in 2025.”
Looking ahead
Microsoft has responded by integrating OpenAI’s technology into its products, including Bing and Copilot. Google is doing the same with Gemini across its suite.
The growing reliance on conversational AI tools suggests a more profound shift in how people seek and consume information, one that could reshape the future of search, discovery and workplace productivity.
As AI adoption accelerates and US tech companies cement their presence in the region, the UAE finds itself at the intersection of infrastructure, innovation and behavioural transformation.
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The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
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If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
RESULTS
Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
THE SPECS
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