Autodesk has released new regional findings from its 2026 State of Design & Make: AI Pulse report, revealing that Middle East organisations are leading globally in translating AI investment into measurable business outcomes.
The research found 87% of organisations across the region feel an urgent need to adopt AI, the highest level recorded globally and well ahead of the global average of 68%. Meanwhile, 92% report positive productivity gains from AI deployment, compared to 84% globally.
Middle East organisations also reported stronger AI-related productivity and innovation outcomes than global peers. 90% said AI was positively impacting innovation, considerably higher than the global average of 77%, while 78% reported improvements in decision-making compared to 65% globally.
The findings suggest organisations across architecture, engineering, construction, operations, design, manufacturing, and media and entertainment industries are increasingly embedding AI into core business processes. They are moving beyond experimentation towards operational adoption and measurable business value.
Use of AI assistant tools and chatbots year-on-year increased from 46% to 56%, while AI-enabled design programme usage rose to 57%. AI use within project management platforms also increased from 41% to 49%, reflecting growing adoption across project delivery and business operations.
The findings align with wider regional transformation agendas, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, and ongoing investments in smart infrastructure, industrial digitisation, and next-generation urban development across the GCC.
The research indicates that organisations are increasingly viewing AI through the lens of productivity, resilience, and delivery performance, particularly as industries across the region continue managing large-scale infrastructure pipelines and increasingly complex project environments.
49% of respondents said their organisation had significantly or substantially increased AI investment over the past year, compared to the global average of 40%. Generative AI, process automation, and decision-support systems emerged among the leading investment priorities for the next 12 months.
Interest in more advanced forms of AI is also growing. Over half of respondents (56%) said they expect to use agentic AI within the next year, while 18% reported already using it today.
The research suggests organisations are strengthening the foundations needed to scale AI effectively. In contrast with global averages, Middle East respondents reported higher levels of confidence in the structure and security of their data, with 91% saying their data is well structured and 90% saying it is secure.
Despite strong momentum, organisations remain pragmatic about implementation challenges and long-term scalability. Respondents identified lack of talent and skills (59%), implementation costs (55%), and integration with existing systems (54%) among the leading barriers facing organisations today.
“The Middle East is moving faster than most markets from AI ambition to AI impact. But the real test is not how quickly organisations adopt AI. It is whether they can use it to deliver better projects, better decisions, and better-performing assets.
“AI will only create value if it is built on trusted data, connected workflows, and the discipline to reduce rework across the full project lifecycle. That is where construction and manufacturing leaders have an opportunity to turn investment into real delivery advantage.”
Naji Atallah, Head of Construction and Manufacturing, EMEA Emerging, Autodesk
The research also indicates that concerns around AI are evolving. While concerns related to job displacement have declined year-on-year, organisations are placing greater focus on practical enterprise risks including security, accuracy and governance. Security concerns rose to 54%, while concerns around AI accuracy increased significantly from 33% to 48%.
Even amid broader market uncertainty, many organisations remain growth oriented. The report found that 85% of Middle East respondents are considering entering new markets, compared to the global average of 73%, suggesting that businesses continue to view technology investment as closely linked to long-term competitiveness, resilience and operational agility.
