The Saudi-UAE competition for artificial-intelligence investment does not produce one winner across every measure. Gulf Business Review's new October 2026 audience research instead shows a split between capital, talent and expectations for long-term scale.
Among 3,384 respondents, 41.5% would personally choose Saudi Arabia to build a new AI company today and 35.6% would choose the UAE. The remaining responses were distributed across Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and locations outside the GCC.
The UAE has the talent advantage in the survey
Asked which country currently offers the strongest environment for AI talent, 44.8% selected the UAE and 34.8% Saudi Arabia. Qatar and Oman followed at 6.9% and 6.6%.
The result is consistent with the UAE's long-standing role as a regional headquarters and international labour market, but it measures respondent perception rather than an independently scored labour-market index.
Saudi Arabia leads the capital question
The order reverses when respondents are asked about AI capital. Saudi Arabia leads at 44.8%, compared with 37.7% for the UAE. No other GCC country reaches 7%.
For long-term industry scale the gap becomes wider: 50.9% expect Saudi Arabia to have the GCC's largest AI industry by 2035, while 34.9% select the UAE. This is an expectation measure, not a forecast by Gulf Business Review.
Geopolitical risk is affecting a material minority
Thirty per cent say current regional tensions have already caused them or their organisation to delay an investment decision. A further 13.3% are unsure. Asked about a prolonged regional conflict, 38.1% say it would materially change where they invest within the GCC.
On perceived insulation from geopolitical disruption, the UAE leads at 34.0%, Saudi Arabia follows at 30.9%, and Oman receives a notable 20.3%.
Methodology
Gulf Business Review surveyed 3,384 members of its audience in the October 2026 research wave. Results are not nationally representative of any GCC country. Country-of-residence cross-tabs can be used in subsequent analysis where subgroup sizes are sufficient, with those subgroup sample sizes disclosed.
| Question | Saudi Arabia | UAE |
|---|---|---|
| Where build a new AI company? | 41.5% | 35.6% |
| Strongest AI talent environment | 34.8% | 44.8% |
| Strongest AI capital environment | 44.8% | 37.7% |
| Largest GCC AI industry by 2035 | 50.9% | 34.9% |
| Most insulated from geopolitical disruption | 30.9% | 34.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Does the survey show Saudi Arabia is better than the UAE for AI?
No. Respondents give the UAE the lead on AI talent while Saudi Arabia leads on AI capital and expected 2035 industry scale. The survey measures the views of GBR's audience.