In boardrooms from Dubai to Riyadh, and in HR departments across the world’s most ambitious economies, an unprecedented shift is underway. For decades, conversations about the “future of work” revolved around automation, digital transformation, and the gradual evolution of workplace technology. But according to Korn Ferry’s newly released Talent Acquisition Trends 2026 report, that future has not only arrived, it is accelerating into completely uncharted territory. Talent leaders across 1,900 global organisations, including many from the Middle East, are witnessing the emergence of a workforce where humans no longer simply operate AI tools.
Instead, AI is becoming a co-worker, a collaborator, and in some cases, a direct alternative to traditional roles.
This new reality is forcing organisations to reexamine how they hire, grow, and retain talent. The competitive edge no longer lies solely in acquiring technical capability, nor in adopting the latest HR software. What emerges from the report is a deeper, more strategic transformation: a future built on human + AI partnerships, shifting skill priorities, a strained leadership pipeline, and a widening divide between companies that integrate AI intelligently and those that merely adopt it superficially.
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As this shift gains momentum, the Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is distinguishing itself as one of the fastest-moving testing grounds for AI-enabled talent ecosystems. Regional organisations are already integrating AI into decision-making, workflow management, and even national HR infrastructure. And yet, Korn Ferry’s study warns that while AI adoption is booming, human capabilities such as judgment, empathy, and critical thinking will increasingly become the defining competitive differentiators.
Jonathan Holmes, MD for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Korn Ferry, captures the region’s mindset succinctly: technology may accelerate work, but it is human cultural understanding, contextual intelligence, and emotional insight that will set organisations apart. In other words, the companies that will win this new talent war are not necessarily those that buy the most AI, but those that empower people to lead AI.
AI joins the workforce, not as a tool, but as a teammate
The most dramatic finding from the Korn Ferry report is this: 52 per cent of global talent leaders plan to add autonomous AI agents to their teams by 2026. That number alone signals a fundamental redefinition of what a “team” looks like.
These autonomous AI agents are not simple chatbots, nor are they limited to executing commands written by human supervisors. Instead, they function independently, taking decisions, completing tasks end-to-end, and integrating seamlessly into operational workflows.
Organisations are already designing digital identities for these AI agents, granting them permissions, responsibilities, and in some cases, decision-making authority.
This marks the beginning of a hybrid workforce where humans and algorithms do not merely coexist but collaborate to deliver performance at scale. Companies now face a new kind of hiring question: should a role be filled by a $100,000 human employee, or a $20,000 AI agent capable of round-the-clock, data-driven output?
But this shift raises an even more complex challenge: how exactly does one onboard a non-human teammate? Who trains an AI agent? Who is accountable when it makes a mistake? Which tasks should be assigned to people, and which can be delegated entirely to machines?
These questions are no longer theoretical. They are operational realities, especially in regions like the Middle East where AI adoption is advancing at extraordinary speed. Governments across the UAE and Saudi Arabia have embedded AI deeply into national development strategies, creating environments where organizations experiment, iterate, and scale new models of collaboration between people and machines.
As Iktimal Daneshvar, VP and senior client partner for RPO at Korn Ferry Middle East and Africa, puts it: “The future of AI in the workplace isn’t far off, it’s already unfolding across the Middle East.” And as AI becomes embedded in hiring frameworks, performance models, and talent strategies, the companies that master this human + AI collaboration early will gain a decisive and lasting strategic advantage.
Critical thinking surges to the top of the hiring agenda
One of the most striking paradoxes in the Talent Acquisition Trends 2026 report is the contrast between the global appetite for AI skills and the rising demand for deeply human capabilities.
While 84 per cent of global talent leaders plan to use AI next year, a striking 73 per cent rank critical thinking as their number-one hiring priority, far ahead of AI technical skills, which come in fifth place.
This divergence reveals a powerful truth about the next phase of workplace evolution: AI can generate outputs at speed and scale, but only human judgment can determine whether those outputs are meaningful, reliable, or ethically sound.
In a world where AI can create text, analyse data, and generate plausible insights within seconds, the risk of “convincing but flawed” outcomes grows exponentially. Employees who excel at questioning assumptions, evaluating AI-produced information, and identifying inaccuracies will become indispensable. The best AI users, therefore, are not necessarily those who master every prompt technique. Rather, they are the ones who can look at an AI recommendation and ask, “Does this actually make sense?”
This demand for critical thinking isn’t merely philosophical, it’s practical. As AI accelerates decision-making cycles, organizations need people who can safeguard quality, ensure accuracy, and prevent costly misinterpretations. In the Middle East, where digital transformation is advancing at remarkable speed, this human oversight becomes even more essential.
Forward-thinking TA leaders understand this dynamic
While the rest of the market may chase AI certifications, they are prioritizing hires who can adapt, analyze, and solve problems, even as new technologies emerge.
A leadership pipeline under threat
But the Korn Ferry report is not only about skills. It also highlights a structural risk that could reshape leadership trajectories worldwide: the erosion of entry-level roles.
With 43 per cent of companies planning to replace roles with AI, and 58 per cent targeting back-office and operations jobs, many organizations are accelerating their shift toward leaner, automated structures. Meanwhile, 37 per cent expect to reduce entry-level positions, roles that traditionally served as the foundation for future managers and leaders.
The logic behind these cuts is clear: reducing payroll costs while embracing AI-enabled efficiency is an easy win in boardrooms. But the long-term consequences could be severe. After all, managers rarely emerge spontaneously. They grow from early-career exposure, handling reports, assisting projects, coordinating tasks, absorbing company culture, and learning through on-the-ground experience.
Eliminating those developmental roles risks creating a future where organisations lack homegrown leaders who understand internal systems, culture, and operational nuances. This issue is especially relevant in the Gulf, where the workforce is young, dynamic, and rapidly evolving. As Daneshvar notes, young professionals in the GCC are naturally agile and quick to adapt, making them ideal catalysts for technological transformation. Reducing their entry points may offer cost savings today, but risks a leadership gap tomorrow.
AI outpaces leadership readiness, and the gap is widening
As organizations accelerate toward AI-enabled operating models, another challenge is becoming increasingly visible: leaders are not ready for the scale and speed of transformation that is already underway. Korn Ferry’s report reveals a critical weakness, only 11 per cent of talent leaders believe their executives are fully prepared to navigate the AI transition.
This gap between technological investment and leadership capability poses a strategic risk, particularly for businesses in fast-evolving markets like the Middle East, where AI adoption is not just a competitive advantage, it is a national mandate. Governments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are pushing forward with ambitious AI strategies, and enterprises are racing to align with national visions designed to propel their economies into the world’s most technologically advanced.
But while boardrooms are approving substantial AI budgets and purchasing cutting-edge tools, many leaders are still grappling with foundational questions:
- How do we restructure teams around AI?
- How do we evaluate performance in a human + AI environment?
- How do we safeguard productivity, quality, and ethics as machines become decision-makers?
The result, as described in the report, is an environment where employees navigate AI transitions through scattered policy documents, managers experiment with tools they barely understand, and organizations struggle to convert investment into meaningful impact. The mismatch between ambition and preparedness becomes a bottleneck.
Yet this challenge offers an opportunity. Companies that embed leadership development into their AI transformation, those that teach leaders how to guide teams, adapt workflows, interpret AI output, and make informed decisions, will gain a competitive edge while others remain stuck in experimentation mode. In markets like the GCC, where strategic clarity, national direction, and digital ambition are already in place, leadership readiness could be the defining factor in determining which organizations truly capitalise on AI-enabled performance.
Talent acquisition steps into a strategic power role
The Korn Ferry report also highlights an important shift in organisational hierarchy. Talent Acquisition (TA), once seen primarily as an operational function responsible for filling roles, has become a strategic cornerstone of business transformation. As organisations restructure around AI, TA’s understanding of workforce dynamics, skills planning, and human–machine collaboration becomes mission-critical.
According to the study, 83 per cent of TA leaders now hold C-suite influence, yet nearly 59 per cent still feel excluded from major strategic decisions. This creates a paradox: TA is essential to shaping the workforce of the future, but many organisations have not fully elevated its voice at the strategy table.
What is changing this dynamic is TA’s early adoption of AI
In many companies, TA functions were among the first to experiment with AI-enabled tools, from automated candidate screening to workflow automation and predictive workforce analytics. This early experience has now become a strategic asset. TA leaders with AI expertise hold higher levels of C-suite influence (85 per cent) than those who have not adopted AI (70 per cent).
With AI reshaping how teams operate, how roles are defined, and how performance is measured, executives increasingly turn to the people who understand these technologies firsthand. TA is now positioned not just as a function that fills vacancies but as a strategic partner in designing the workforce architecture of the future.
The implications are especially significant in the GCC, where transformation is rapid and talent ecosystems are evolving as national priorities shift. Organisations that involve TA early in strategic planning will be better equipped to build agile, AI-ready teams capable of scaling innovation, and competing globally.
The great workplace divide: Office mandates vs. talent expectations
Another major trend emerging from Korn Ferry’s findings is the escalating tension between employer expectations and workforce preferences. Across industries, organisations are pushing for stricter return-to-office mandates, while top talent continues to seek remote or hybrid work models.
This clash has landed squarely in the hands of TA leaders, who must reconcile candidate expectations with corporate policies that may no longer align with market realities. More than 52 per cent of TA leaders say office mandates make recruitment harder, while 72 per cent report that remote roles are significantly easier to fill.
The dynamic is simple but consequential:
- Top talent gravitates toward flexibility.
- Rigid mandates push them toward competitors who offer it.
The long-term costs are significant. Companies with strict in-office requirements may find themselves forced to pay a premium to attract talent, or worse, settling for candidates who are merely willing rather than exceptional. And in an era of chronic skills shortages, especially for advanced digital and critical thinking roles, settling becomes a competitive liability.
This challenge is particularly visible in the Middle East, where major transformation projects, from smart cities to national digital strategies, require specialised talent that is globally mobile.
Organisations that align workplace policies with what candidates value most will have a decisive edge in attracting high-caliber professionals who can accelerate national and organisational visions.
A new benchmark for government transformation: UAE’s HR AI agent
While global companies race to adopt AI internally, the UAE has taken the concept of AI-enabled HR to a national scale. In September 2025, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) launched the HR AI Agent, a transformative system that integrates artificial intelligence directly into federal HR operations. This initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader objective of embedding AI into public-sector services, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a global frontrunner in innovation-driven governance.
The HR AI Agent, serving more than 50,000 federal government employees, marks a significant milestone in the transition from manual HR functions to a seamless, real-time, digitally operated model. In its initial rollout, the system delivers a suite of 108 services, automates 80 per cent of self-service HR transactions, and provides instant legal responses to 80 per cent of HR-related inquiries. Collectively, it is expected to save approximately 170,000 work hours annually, improving efficiency and reducing administrative burdens across government entities.
The system is powered by generative AI capable of completing tasks, responding to employee queries, processing transactions, and interacting in both Arabic and English without human intervention. It draws from the UAE government’s “Bayanati” system, ensuring that employees receive accurate, context-specific information tailored to their needs.
Employees can access the HR AI Agent via FAHR’s website (www
fahr.gov.ae) or through the organisation’s smart application, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to creating a government workforce that is digitally empowered, agile, and future-ready.
Leadership Vision: Accelerating the shift to zero digital bureaucracy
Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future and Chairwoman of FAHR, describes the HR AI Agent as a milestone aligned with the UAE leadership’s vision of deploying AI to transform government operations. She emphasises that the initiative strengthens the UAE’s global leadership in modern governance, enabling user experiences that are simple, fast, personalised, and built for the future.
Al Roumi highlights that the HR AI Agent supports the national goal of achieving Zero Digital Bureaucracy, enhancing institutional efficiency and enabling government employees to focus on higher-value work rather than routine administrative processes.
Supporting this perspective, Faisal Binbuti Al Mheiri, director general of FAHR, underscores that the HR AI Agent reflects the UAE’s strategic approach to AI-driven governance. Designed to learn continuously, the system expands its knowledge and capabilities based on real-time employee interactions, enabling it to deliver increasingly precise responses and a more intuitive user experience over time.
Through the initiative, FAHR is building a digital-first foundation that aligns with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, strengthening the country’s position as a pioneer in AI adoption, workforce transformation, and future-ready government services.
Hybrid teams: Humans and AI in tandem
The Korn Ferry report underscores a crucial reality: by 2026, organizations will no longer view AI as a mere tool, it will become a visible, measurable member of teams. Autonomous AI agents are expected to collaborate alongside humans, taking on operational tasks ranging from candidate screening to workflow management. This is a fundamental shift from previous years, where AI primarily played a back-end support role.
More than 50 per cent of talent leaders plan to add autonomous AI agents to their teams in 2026, signaling the emergence of hybrid human + AI workplaces. These agents, unlike traditional chatbots, operate independently, make decisions, and are integrated into organizational workflows with profiles, permissions, and responsibilities akin to human colleagues.
In practical terms, this presents both opportunity and complexity. Talent acquisition leaders must weigh decisions such as: hire a high-cost human or deploy a lower-cost AI agent? How do managers coordinate tasks between humans and AI? Who is accountable when AI errors occur? And crucially, how do organizations ensure that humans and AI complement rather than compete with each other?
Early adopters are positioning themselves for a significant competitive edge
Companies that successfully integrate AI agents, while preserving human judgment, empathy, and critical thinking, are expected to lead in productivity, innovation, and talent retention.
Critical thinking: The human advantage
Despite AI’s rising prominence, Korn Ferry finds that human judgment remains the ultimate differentiator. While AI skills are highly sought after, nearly 73 per cent of talent leaders rank critical thinking as their #1 hiring priority, far ahead of AI-specific capabilities, which rank fifth.
The reasoning is simple: any professional can learn to operate AI tools within weeks. Developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to evaluate AI output takes years. Organisations that prioritise critical thinking ensure their workforce can spot flawed insights, challenge automated recommendations, and make strategic decisions in ambiguous situations.
In essence, while AI amplifies efficiency, human intelligence remains indispensable for nuanced decision-making. The ideal workforce of 2026 is one where AI augments human capability, rather than replacing it entirely.
The risk of short-term cost cuts
Cost-cutting measures, particularly through the replacement of entry-level roles with AI, may seem attractive in the short term but carry long-term risks.
The Korn Ferry study shows that 43 per cent of companies plan to replace roles with AI, including 58 per cent in operations and 37 per cent in entry-level positions.
These early-career roles historically function as pipelines for future leadership. Removing them threatens the cultivation of homegrown managers, leaving organizations dependent on external hires who require time to learn company culture, workflows, and operational nuance. While payroll savings may look good today, leadership gaps tomorrow could become an expensive liability.
In markets such as the GCC, where the workforce is predominantly young, retaining entry-level opportunities is particularly crucial. These employees are agile, tech-savvy, and adaptable, qualities essential for accelerating digital transformation and building a sustainable talent pipeline.
AI and strategic influence: Talent acquisition takes centre stage
Talent acquisition is no longer confined to recruitment; it has become a strategic lever in AI-driven transformation. Early adoption of AI tools has given TA leaders unprecedented influence in boardrooms, particularly in guiding leadership on workforce planning, team structuring, and skills alignment.
TA leaders now advise executives on integrating human + AI workflows, mitigating talent risks, and prioritising workforce skills for the next decade.
Companies that empower TA as a strategic partner, rather than a functional administrator, are better positioned to capitalise on AI investments and maintain competitive advantage in a hyper-competitive global market.
Global Lessons from UAE Government innovation
The UAE’s launch of the HR AI Agent offers a real-world example of AI-driven efficiency at scale. By automating 80 per cent of HR self-service transactions and handling thousands of inquiries, the initiative not only reduces administrative burdens but also frees human employees to focus on higher-value work.
FAHR’s project demonstrates how AI can enhance productivity, streamline operations, and transform service delivery while maintaining human oversight. As noted by Ohood Al Roumi and Faisal Al Mheiri, continuous learning ensures that AI adapts over time, delivering increasingly accurate and tailored responses, a model that could inform private-sector implementations across the GCC and beyond.
The initiative also highlights a broader principle for organisations: AI adoption should be strategic, phased, and designed to augment, not replace, the workforce. Hybrid teams, supported by intelligent systems and guided by capable leadership, represent the future of work.
The future of work: Human + AI partnerships
The Korn Ferry Talent Acquisition Trends 2026 report and UAE government initiatives collectively illustrate a single point: the next decade belongs to organizations that balance technology with humanity. Human + AI collaboration is not about replacing talent; it is about amplifying it.
In this emerging landscape:
AI agents handle routine tasks, improving efficiency
Humans focus on judgment, creativity, and empathy, driving innovation. Critical thinking and leadership development become strategic imperatives. Flexible workplace policies attract and retain top talent. Businesses that integrate these principles will position themselves for global competitiveness, particularly in regions like the GCC where digital transformation intersects with ambitious national strategies.
As Korn Ferry notes, the war for talent is no longer just about salaries, perks, or even AI skills, it’s about creating an ecosystem where human ingenuity and artificial intelligence complement each other to produce exceptional performance. In this evolving reality, organisations that get the balance right will set new benchmarks for success in the decade ahead.