MENA Region's Early Adoption of Generative AI Key to Driving Growth, Finds New Research from Project Management Institute

Technology

MENA Region's Early Adoption of Generative AI Key to Driving Growth, Finds New Research from Project Management Institute

A new report from the Project Management Institute (PMI) highlights how early adopters of Generative AI (GenAI) are leading the way in leveraging this transformative technology to drive growth and innovation. The report, titled “First Movers’ Advantage: The Immediate Benefits of Adopting Generative AI for Project Management,” surveyed 500 project professionals worldwide, all of whom use GenAI in their project work.

The UAE's Generative AI market is emerging rapidly as a significant disruptor in the global economy. Organizations embracing GenAI are already seeing improvements in productivity, effectiveness, collaboration, and creativity.

Key Findings from the Report:

Increased Productivity: 93% of high adopters (trailblazers) reported increased productivity compared to 58% of low adopters (explorers).
Enhanced Problem-Solving: 89% of trailblazers noted better problem-solving abilities versus 46% of explorers.
Boost in Effectiveness: 88% of trailblazers experienced increased effectiveness compared to 50% of explorers.
Improved Collaboration and Creativity: GenAI boosted collaboration (83% of trailblazers vs. 32% of explorers) and creativity (84% vs. 44%).
Project Management Enhancements: High adopters reported improvements in project scope (87% vs. 34%), scheduling (85% vs. 46%), cost management (85% vs. 42%), and quality management (91% vs. 40%).

Pierre Le Manh, President & CEO of PMI, stated, “Our research shows that GenAI trailblazers know how to maximize adoption to elevate their performance, navigate complex work, and usher in GenAI across their teams. They’re standing out from their peers for their innovative leadership.”

Hanny Alshazly, Regional Managing Director for MENA at PMI, added, “The growing significance of GenAI in project management reflects the far-reaching impact of this disruptive technology. The future belongs to the GenAI trailblazers who innovate and embrace its transformative power. Early adoption of GenAI in the rapidly expanding megaprojects and developments in the MENA region is set to significantly boost our productivity and efficiency.”

Economic Impact and Future Outlook: According to PwC Middle East, GCC countries are expected to reap about $23.5 billion in economic benefits by 2030 from GenAI investments. In Saudi Arabia, the market for GenAI is projected to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of more than 25%.

Saudi Arabia's recent launch of the ‘Generative Artificial Intelligence for All’ Initiative underscores the country's commitment to accelerating digital transformation and supporting GenAI for global benefits.

Developing GenAI Resources: PMI has introduced PMI Infinity™, a GenAI tool developed specifically for project management professionals, along with a series of GenAI prompts tailored for various industries and use cases. PMI’s new Prompt Library within PMI Infinity™ offers project professionals vetted prompts to enhance their day-to-day integration of AI into their workflow.

Pierre Le Manh concluded, “GenAI is transforming every industry, creating more opportunities for project professionals to help organizations implement this disruptive technology. It’s the forward-thinking organizations and their trailblazing project professionals that are ready to lead the GenAI revolution.”