Coping with digital disruption is a major concern for GCC business leaders

The findings come from a survey of business leaders: Global Perspectives on Corporate Learning in the GCC, commissioned by Financial Times | IE Business School Corporate Learning Alliance (www.ftiecla.com). The report is supported by Dubai International Finance Centre (www.difc.ae).

The research is conducted annually and seeks the opinions of almost 1000 businesspeople in GCC, Western Europe, China and Japan on issues around leadership development and executive education.

The seriousness with which the impact of digital disruption is viewed in GCC countries is underlined by initiatives such as UAE Vision 2021, Saudi Vision 2030 and NEOM (Saudi Arabia’s new economic zone), Smart Dubai and the creation of a Minister of State for AI in UAE.

The digital revolution is transforming the Middle East

‘The digital revolution is transforming the Middle East,’ says Bassem Banna, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at FT | IE Corporate Learning Alliance. ‘The rise of big data is driving new market entrants, particularly in the financial, insurance and HR sectors in GCC countries. Tech is fast becoming the number one disrupter of established business practices in the region

According to the Corporate Leaning Pulse report, while the top three business priorities for 2017 globally were growth, strategy and financial management, over a third of business executives surveyed in the GCC identified digitalisation as one of their top business challenges in the next two years, alongside business growth and financial management.

‘With almost 100% smartphone penetration in the UAE– the highest percentage of any country in the world – and 70% social media adoption, digitalisation will inevitably become the number one concern for businesses,’ says Bassem Banna.

Global Perspectives on Corporate Learning in the GCC is available to download from here