Accounting and administrative control teams in the UAE are leading the adoption of artificial intelligence in the financial sector, leveraging its advantages in narrative reporting, predictive analytics, and real-time insights. A leading regional bank has employed generative AI tools to automate internal reports, regulatory disclosures, and support financial risk assessments. Additionally, a government company integrated an AI-based virtual assistant to automate billing processes, generate internal financial reports, and manage financial document workflows. UAE companies currently allocate 10% of their IT budgets to AI, compared to 13% globally, reflecting a strong investment trend. However, the challenge lies in transforming these investments into organized and scalable applications to establish AI as a foundation for more efficient and sustainable financial performance. Challenges remain as usage is still fragmented and varied, indicating fundamental difficulties in achieving comprehensive and sustainable adoption.

Some finance teams are not yet equipped to lead major transformations or lack experience integrating daily operational decisions with AI capabilities. Success requires precise ROI evaluation and realistic initial use cases amid data and legacy system challenges, helping gain internal support and faster expansion through more focused applications. Furthermore, 54% of sector leaders plan to prioritize generative AI over traditional AI in the coming year, confirming a widespread belief that this technology is a strategic necessity in the sector.