UAE hosted AI-focused Davos session where IMF chief warned that 40% of global jobs face AI disruption, urging inclusive digital transition.
DAVOS: The UAE hosted a high-level dialogue at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, bringing global attention to the economic disruption and opportunity created by artificial intelligence. Titled The Great Rebalancing: Artificial Intelligence, Jobs, and the Future of Inclusive Growth, the event featured a fireside discussion between H.E. Badr Jafar, UAE’s Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In the discussion, Georgieva delivered a strong warning, stating, “A tsunami is hitting the labour market,” as she pointed to new IMF data indicating that 40% of jobs globally are expected to be significantly impacted by AI — whether through enhancement, transformation, or elimination. She emphasised the urgent need for investment in upskilling, inclusive policies, and AI readiness to avoid inequality.
Georgieva noted the resilience of the global economy but cautioned that structural shifts — from technology and climate to demographics and geopolitics — require long-term planning. She called for a focus on four pillars to ensure inclusive AI-driven growth: adaptable private sectors, responsible AI adoption, continued trade openness, and sound public investment in education and digital infrastructure.
Representing the host nation, Badr Jafar highlighted the UAE’s role as a global model for navigating technological disruption. “The UAE is doubling down on openness at a time of fragmentation,” he said. “Our open skies, ports, and data-driven growth have made us the largest recipient of FDI in the region, accounting for over half of all flows into the Middle East.”
Jafar pointed to the UAE’s diversified economy, noting that non-oil sectors now contribute more than 75% of national GDP. He added that the country attracted over $45 billion in foreign investment in 2025 and welcomed nearly 10,000 new millionaires — underscoring the nation’s strategic advantage through global connectivity.
The session reinforced the need for inclusive growth models that pair innovation with equity. The UAE Pavilion at Davos served as a platform to showcase the country’s leadership in responsible innovation, youth empowerment, and public-private collaboration for AI adaptation.
