Dataiku’s “AI Confessions” report reveals 94% of UAE data leaders can’t fully trace AI decisions

Nearly all data leaders in the UAE (94%) admit they lack full visibility into how AI systems make decisions, according to the “Global AI Confessions Report: Data Leaders Edition,” by Dataiku, The Universal AI Platform. The study, conducted by The Harris Poll for Dataiku, surveyed more than 800 senior data executives across eight countries, revealing striking governance risks and overconfidence in AI across the Emirates.

The findings come as the UAE accelerates its ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, guided by its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. Yet, the results highlight a growing tension between innovation and oversight. Only 17% of UAE respondents said they always require AI systems to “show their work,” underscoring a lack of explainability in enterprise AI. While nearly two-thirds (62%) are not confident their organisation’s AI systems could pass a basic audit of their decisions, only half have delayed or blocked the deployment of an AI agent due to explainability concerns. Despite these misgivings, 72% of UAE data leaders would still trust an AI agent to make autonomous decisions in critical business workflows, even if it could not explain its results, suggesting that rapid adoption may be outpacing responsible governance.

The report indicates that this risky behaviour may stem from mounting pressure on UAE data leaders and a misalignment with executive expectations. Almost six in ten (59%) respondents believe their C-suite overestimates the accuracy of AI systems, while 64% say leadership underestimates the time and complexity required to make AI production-ready. Worryingly, nearly a third (32%) have been asked to approve an AI initiative that made them feel uncomfortable, and three in four (75%) say their company’s AI strategy is driven more by technological ambition than by business outcomes.

It is likely that this behaviour is reinforced by the relatively low perceived consequences of AI failure. While globally, the majority (56%) of data leaders expect a CEO to be ousted by 2026 due to AI-related complications, the UAE has the lowest percentage (35%) of data leaders who are of this opinion. Moreover, over half (53%) say they do not feel their own role is at risk if their company fails to achieve measurable business gains from AI in the next one to two years, the highest level of perceived job security worldwide.

“An alarming revelation of the report is that enterprises in the UAE, much like those globally, are betting on AI they don’t fully trust, and doing so with a sense of confidence that they won’t bear much consequence if things go wrong,” said Florian Douetteau, Co-founder and CEO of Dataiku. “The encouraging news is that governance challenges, such as explainability and traceability, can be overcome. The more organisations focus on building responsible, transparent systems, the faster AI will move from hype to tangible business impact.”

Encouragingly, the research found that UAE data leaders prioritise the accuracy of AI systems above all else, with 57% naming performance reliability as their top priority, while only 10% place cost as their top priority. Furthermore, local leaders are cautious when it comes to applying AI to particularly sensitive areas of the business: 55% say they would never allow AI agents to make hiring or firing decisions, 48% would exclude AI from handling legal or compliance matters, and another 39% would avoid deploying AI for mental health or employee wellness support.

“UAE organisations are leading the charge in adopting AI at scale, but the findings show that work must still be done to ensure responsible growth remains the priority,” said Sid Bhatia, Area VP & General Manager – Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Dataiku. “As regulators in the region explore AI governance frameworks, businesses have an opportunity to get ahead by building internal accountability and strengthening transparency across every stage of the AI lifecycle.”