https://arab.news/mmgj4
RIYADH: Middle East boards are among the most forward thinking in the world when it comes to artificial intelligence, according to a survey of more than 400 company officials.
The research, published in Board Intelligence’s summer 2026 Board Value Index, shows that AI governance engagement is particularly advanced in Saudi Arabia, with 68 percent of directors in the Kingdom actively reviewing which decisions should remain human-led versus AI-led.
A further 26 percent have already discussed the issue at board level, meaning virtually all Saudi boards surveyed are engaging with the governance implications of AI.
The report, based on responses from non-executive directors, CEOs, and chief financial officers from organisations across the UK, US, Nordic countries, and the Middle East, found that 42 percent of Middle East directors consider their board an essential tool for value creation, the highest proportion among the four regions surveyed.
The findings come after separate research from PwC found that 70 percent of Middle East CEOs have a clearly defined roadmap for AI initiatives, while about 59 percent have formalized responsible AI and risk processes.
Pippa Begg, CEO and co-founder of Board Intelligence, said that boards across the Middle East are operating in one of the world’s most dynamic economic environments.
She added: “Our research shows that Middle East boards are among the most forward-looking globally and are leading many of the conversations around AI governance and future readiness.
“This reflects the broader transformation taking place across the region, where governments and organisations are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, digital capabilities, and future industries.
“As organisations continue to evolve, boards will need access to the right expertise, information, and decision-making frameworks to support high-quality discussions and effective decisions.”
About 86 percent of those surveyed said their board enables innovation, while 58 percent reported looking into which decisions should remain with humans, and which could be assigned to AI.
Skills and subject-matter expertise were identified as the region’s leading barrier to better board decisions, cited by 34 percent of respondents.
Four in five Middle East directors said skills gaps had contributed to at least one delayed, rushed or poor decision during the previous six months.
“Boards are being forced to confront a fundamental question: where should human judgment end, and where should AI begin? Yet many directors know their governance structures and decision-making processes are struggling to keep pace with the scale and speed of change,” Begg said.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that 39 percent of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2030.
It identified skills gaps as the leading barrier to business transformation and said demand for expertise in AI, big data and cybersecurity was expected to grow rapidly.
“The boards of the future will need to be more digitally literate, more diverse, data-informed, and more comfortable operating in ambiguity,” said Raja Al-Mazrouei, CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance and a member of the Board Intelligence advisory board, adding: “We have an opportunity in this region to leapfrog legacy governance models and redesign governance around agility, intelligence, and strategic oversight.”
The Board Value Index also found that Middle East directors were more likely than their international counterparts to view emerging technologies as strategic opportunities. About 30 percent said their boards primarily discuss quantum computing as an opportunity, compared with 24 percent globally.
However, 41 percent of Middle East respondents viewed quantum computing mainly through a security-risk lens.
The report said the technology could threaten existing encryption and cybersecurity infrastructure while also creating potential competitive advantages.
Despite broad support for innovation, only 22 percent of Middle East directors said their board strongly enables it. Boards were most likely to contribute through decisions involving the allocation of capital, talent and partnerships, rather than by helping management identify emerging opportunities.
Succession planning remained a concern. Across the Middle East, 64 percent of directors said their organization would need to develop internal talent or conduct an external search before appointing a CEO successor.