Nearly all data leaders in the UAE admit they cannot fully trace how artificial intelligence systems make decisions, with 61 per cent warning that AI-generated code vulnerabilities are a “disaster waiting to happen,” according to a new report by analytics platform Dataiku.
The Global AI Confessions Report found that 94 per cent of UAE data executives lack full visibility into AI decision-making, while only 17 per cent require AI systems to “show their work” – among the lowest levels globally. Despite these gaps, 72 per cent said they would still trust an AI agent to make autonomous business decisions, even without explainability.
The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll across eight countries, comes as the UAE accelerates its ambitions under its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, aiming to lead global adoption while balancing innovation with governance.
“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 more organisations focus on building responsible, transparent systems, the faster AI will move from hype to tangible business impact.”
Dataiku said 62 per cent of UAE data leaders are not confident their organisation’s AI systems could pass a basic audit, and nearly one-third have been asked to approve AI initiatives that made them uncomfortable. About 59 per cent believe company executives overestimate AI’s accuracy, while 64 per cent say leadership underestimates how long it takes to make AI production-ready.
The report highlights a disconnect between rapid AI adoption and governance readiness. Three-quarters of UAE respondents said their company’s AI strategy is driven more by technological ambition than by business outcomes.
Despite the governance gaps, AI remains deeply embedded in corporate priorities. 57 per cent of UAE respondents said system accuracy is their top concern, while only 10 per cent cited cost as a primary consideration. More than half said they would not allow AI to influence hiring or firing decisions, and nearly half would exclude it from handling legal or compliance matters.
Dataiku’s Middle East head, Sid Bhatia, said the findings underscore an urgent need for internal accountability as regional regulators explore AI governance frameworks. “UAE organisations are leading the charge in adopting AI at scale, but work must still be done to ensure responsible growth remains the priority,” he said.
The survey covered 812 senior data executives across the US, UK, France, Germany, the UAE, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, all working at firms with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion.
