Data Analysts in UAE and Saudi Arabia Embrace AI-Driven Transformation
Research confirms that AI is revolutionizing the roles and responsibilities of data analysts in the digital age, especially in the Middle East.
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The rapid adoption of AI is redefining the role of data analysts in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with professionals embracing AI-driven tools to enhance efficiency and influence business strategy. According to Alteryx Inc.’s latest report, The 2025 State of the Data Analyst in the Age of AI, nine out of ten analysts in the Middle East report that artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed their work in the past year, with 93% in the UAE and 91% in Saudi Arabia affirming this shift.
AI Boosts Productivity and Strategic Decision-Making
The findings highlight that AI and analytics automation significantly improve analysts’ efficiency, with 76% of UAE analysts acknowledging AI’s role in optimizing their workflow. This evolution marks a shift from traditional number-crunching toward more strategic decision-making. Globally, 94% of data analysts now see their role as instrumental in shaping business strategies, while 87% report increased influence in key decision-making processes over the past year.
Despite these advances, spreadsheet dependency remains a challenge. A substantial 76% of analysts still rely on spreadsheets for data preparation, and nearly half (45%) of professionals worldwide spend more than six hours per week on data cleansing tasks. This reliance on manual methods raises concerns over inefficiencies and data inaccuracies—issues that could impact AI’s effectiveness and decision-making reliability.
Optimism for AI-Driven Career Growth
The survey reveals a positive outlook regarding AI’s impact on career trajectories. In the UAE, 96% of analysts believe that learning AI will boost their professional growth, and 79% say it enhances their effectiveness and efficiency. Likewise, nearly half (48%) of global analysts expect AI adoption to unlock new career opportunities.
Concerns over AI replacing jobs are notably low in Saudi Arabia, where only 9% of data analysts view AI as a serious threat to their roles. This contrasts sharply with a 2024 survey of IT and data leaders, in which 65% predicted generative AI would replace existing job functions within two to three years. Globally, only 17% of analysts express significant concerns about job displacement due to AI.
“As data analysts, the results are crystal clear,” said Jay Henderson, SVP of Product at Alteryx. “Leveraging AI as an everyday tool has boosted job satisfaction and reclaimed valuable hours for analysts. For organizations, the challenge is to optimize these productivity gains by ensuring their data preparation capabilities keep pace with AI advancements.”
