KPMG: Tech leaders in UAE Gain More Value Due to Pandemic

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The majority of technology
leaders, globally and in the UAE, foresee a rise in IT budgets, powered by an
increase in operational efficiencies, customer engagement, and data-driven
insights. This was among the main results of the KPMG survey 2020. This result
was from 4200 tech leaders across 83 countries.

“The coronavirus pandemic
disrupted every sector around the world and has catalyzed digital
transformation. While the pandemic may not have necessarily altered business
strategies, it has reaffirmed the importance of data, cloud, and cybersecurity.
Technology is thus helping businesses to adapt and anticipate better in a
volatile business environment,” said Farhan Syed, Partner, Head of
Advisory at KPMG Lower Gulf.

Organizations have been affected
by the coronavirus pandemic in various ways, the KPMG report said. About half
of the UAE respondents expect a gradual recovery and are pursuing a flexible,
experience-centric technology transition to return more robust from the
recession.

Technology Dominance

The KPMG report states that UAE digital leaders have surpassed their global counterparts regarding engaging in customer experience and engagement.

Data is the new oil for UAE
businesses – 63% of CIOs (Chief information officer) rated data collection as
their most successful digital offering than 42% of global CIOs. The KPMG report
states that this has also contributed to a focus on the substantial value of
the data and how important it is for businesses to produce actionable insights.

Simultaneously, 29% of UAE’s
digital leaders thought they were extremely effective in implementing
enterprise-wide digital strategies, against the global average of 17%. “This
is not surprising, given rapid innovation amongst local companies, reinforced
by government initiatives,” KPMG report said.

Almost two-thirds of UAE digital
leaders have agreed that the pandemic is likely to increase their sector’s
impact significantly. As technology has become extremely valuable during the
last 6 to 8 months, so does the tech chief’s position. As per 70% of
respondents to KPMG in the UAE, the pandemic has developed a culture of
inclusiveness in technology teams—a total of 20% greater than the global
average.

“To overcome new challenges,
organizations continue to accelerate technology adoption, requiring increased
collaboration between the business and technology teams. As many organizations
evolve into technology-led companies, we expect to see the future of IT as a
connected enterprise that is free of siloes, agile, and customer-obsessed,”
Wejdi Harzallah, Partner, Head of Digital Strategy at KPMG Lower Gulf, said.

Hiring IT Teams

When it comes to talent, UAE
technology leaders are above all (30 percent) pursuing enterprise architecture
skills, followed by AI experience (25 percent). Globally, 35 percent of
respondents agree that cybersecurity is the highest in-demand skill.

According to the KPMG report,
COVID-19 has changed employee priorities. Although pay rates were thought to be
the most important pre-pandemic, it was replaced by a well-defined ethos and decisive
leadership after the pandemic. Global adoption of remote working activities has
helped both workers and staff, opening doors to new opportunities. In the UAE’s
dynamic IT workforce market, digital leaders prefer flexible working conditions
over other expected benefits to maintain and recruit talent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the key insight on KPMG: Tech leaders in UAE Gain More Value Due to Pandemic?

This guide is based on current DrJobPro hiring data and regional labour market research updated for 2025.

How do I find relevant jobs?

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Is this advice current for 2025?

Yes. All data is reviewed quarterly using live hiring data from DrJobPro.