UAE jobs at risk from AI: Which roles are most vulnerable and how to protect your career

Dubai: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly replacing jobs across various industries, with roles that involve repetitive tasks and minimal human interaction facing the greatest risk. Professionals working in these vulnerable professions need not fear for their careers, as there are ways to stay relevant in the AI era.

Mollie Powell, managing director of Pink Camel Recruitment, highlights that jobs particularly at risk include data entry, administrative support, customer service and call centre roles, junior accounting and bookkeeping, payroll processing, data analysis, and entry-level marketing and content creation positions. However, she emphasizes that this does not mean entire departments will be eliminated.

Instead, businesses may restructure roles, absorbing responsibilities into existing employees who utilize AI tools to improve efficiency.

Matt Jones, senior manager of technology at Michael Page Middle East, advises employees not to assume that AI will either replace their jobs or leave them unaffected. Instead, these professionals should focus on shifting their responsibilities from routine tasks to strategic contributions. By moving from executing tasks to interpreting information, solving problems, and making decisions, workers can differentiate themselves in an AI-driven world.

Jones identifies three ways for employees to increase their value in the AI era. First, they should learn how to use AI tools to improve their productivity and understand their limitations. Second, employees must develop skills that are harder to automate, such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, stakeholder management, and complex problem-solving. Lastly, professionals should understand how their work contributes to the business, as this makes them more valuable than simply excelling at a particular task.

Younger workers, in particular, face a greater challenge due to the emergence of AI in their industries. A study by Stanford University's Digital Economy Lab in August 2026 found that employment for US workers aged 22 to 25 in highly AI-exposed occupations was already declining. Despite these challenges, workers in AI-vulnerable professions should not assume their careers are over.

By adapting to new technologies and focusing on skills that technology cannot easily replicate, employees can remain competitive in the job market.