UAE and Saudi CEOs are among the most optimistic in the world, according to PwC’s 28th Annual CEO Survey
CEOs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the most confident globally about revenue growth in 2025, as revealed in PwC’s 28th Annual CEO Survey.
The PwC CEO Survey 2025 reveals that UAE and Saudi business leaders are optimistic about economic growth and revenue increase, despite challenges posed by AI and climate disruption. Here’s what the survey found:
Key Findings
- Optimism in the GCC: 90% of CEOs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are confident about short-term revenue growth, with 71% expecting economic growth in their territories.
- New Hires: 61% of regional CEOs plan to increase headcount within the next 12 months, with 64% of GCC CEOs sharing the same sentiment.
- AI Adoption: 88% of GCC CEOs have adopted Generative AI (GenAI) in the last 12 months, with 70% believing it will increase profitability in the next 12 months.
- Climate Change: 80% of GCC CEOs have initiated climate-friendly investments in the past five years, with nearly half reporting returns higher than global averages.
Industry Insights
- Consumer Markets: CEOs in this sector are most confident about revenue growth, with 84% initiating climate-friendly investments.
- Technology, Media, and Telecommunications: 72% of CEOs in this sector believe GenAI will enhance employee efficiency.
- Energy, Utilities, and Resources: 90% of CEOs in transport and logistics have initiated climate-friendly investments.
Challenges and Concerns
- Geopolitical Conflict: 41% of regional CEOs cite geopolitical conflict as a top threat, with 55% of CEOs in Jordan expressing high concern.
- Cyber Risks: 36% of regional CEOs identify cyber risks as a major threat, with 38% of UAE CEOs sharing the same concern.
- Skills Shortages: 34% of GCC CEOs cite skills shortages as a major concern, with 41% of CEOs in Oman ranking it as a top threat ¹.
