Human Times
The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
Human Times Logo
Middle East Edition
30th September 2026
 
Industry Slice Icon Logo

THE HOT STORY

UAE firms have appetite for AI agent adoption but face control gap

Research reveals that UAE companies are rapidly adopting AI agents, with 62% of chief information officers (CIOs) reporting over 50 agents in production. But despite such enthusiastic deployment, many organisations struggle to contain problematic agents. Eighty per cent of CIOs noted encountering rogue AI behaviour, and 62% detected issues before they caused harm, but only 5% said they could reliably contain a rogue agent within one to two hours. Florian Douetteau, chief executive and co-founder of Dataiku, which commissioned the research, said the distinction between detection and intervention is becoming increasingly important as AI systems spread throughout organisations. “CIOs in the UAE are running agents at a scale few markets have reached, and they're unusually good at catching bad behaviour before it does damage,” he said. “But detection and control are different capabilities, and the research shows a real gap between them. An agent you can spot in one system but can't stop everywhere else isn't contained - it's just been noticed.”
Industry Slice Icon Logo

CORPORATE

Wall Street boutiques balk at Saudi Arabia’s HQ rules

Elite Wall Street boutiques are pushing back against Saudi Arabia’s rules on regional headquarters. Hesitation around compliance comes as the US-Iran war has damped local capital markets and M&A activity.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

TECHNOLOGY

Companies slow AI adoption amid trust concerns

Businesses are becoming more cautious about adopting artificial intelligence amid concerns over cybersecurity, regulation and trust. An FTI survey of 1,600 senior executives in the US and Europe found 60% had slowed, paused or withdrawn an AI deployment during the past year. Cybersecurity emerged as the biggest concern, with 54% worried about employees using unapproved AI tools. Regulatory uncertainty was also significant, with 81% reporting material problems caused by unclear rules. Companies are increasingly shifting investment from experimenting with new technology towards cybersecurity, staff training and AI governance as they focus on managing existing deployments responsibly.

Singapore proposes a UN framework convention on AI safety

During a speech at the UN General Assembly, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan emphasised the urgent need for global standards and institutions to ensure AI safety. He said: "We must collectively formulate new rules and be prepared to create new institutions, if necessary, for new technologies." Balakrishnan highlighted the risks of AI, including loss of control and misuse by rogue actors. He called for a UN Framework Convention on AI Safeguards and stressed that human oversight is essential. The minister also noted that over 20 countries signed a declaration for binding international oversight of frontier AI models.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

WORKFORCE

UAE's low-income workers are ditching cash

Data from 2.5m payroll card users in the UAE reveals a significant shift towards digital payments among low-income workers. Claudio Di Zanni, managing director of Edenred Middle East, noted that many workers now use payroll cards and mobile payments, indicating a change in the definition of being "unbanked." While cash remains important for budgeting and remittances, the decline in ATM withdrawals - from 96% in 2019 to 69% today - highlights a growing acceptance of digital transactions that is indicative of a broader push for financial inclusion in the UAE's evolving digital economy.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Night owls face greater risk of disability retirement

People who prefer working and sleeping later may face a higher risk of leaving work because of ill health, according to Finnish research. A 12-year study of 5,679 people found evening types were 1.7 times more likely to receive a disability pension than morning types, even after socioeconomic factors were considered. Researchers suggested poorer health choices and misalignment between natural sleep patterns and conventional working hours could contribute to the increased risk. "Although traditional working hours may be too early for late chronotypes, most of them need to work during regular office hours," the authors of the study wrote. "In the current study, more than 70 per cent of [evening types] who had reported their work schedule worked in a day job. People who are [evening types] represent a significant proportion of the population and their health and ability to continue working until retirement age pose challenges for sustainable economies."
Industry Slice Icon Logo

INTERNATIONAL

AI 'may force 11m workers in the US into new jobs'

A report from consulting firm McKinsey & Co. suggests that around 11m workers in the US may need to change jobs by 2035 because of AI-related displacement, and six of every seven workers will face substantial retraining and loss of income. The firm's research found that the full-time workers most likely to have to switch jobs are concentrated in three groups: office and administrative support, retail and sales, and transportation and logistics. Workers are not “interchangeable units,” the report’s authors observe. “Job opportunities can be abundant and yet leave millions of workers without work if those positions require different skills, credentials, locations or pay structures than current jobs.”

Chinese retail chain faces backlash over four-year contract plan

Pangdonglai, a popular Chinese supermarket chain known for generous employee benefits, has faced criticism after founder Yu Donglai proposed limiting future new hires to four-year contracts with no renewal. The contracts would form part of what Yu described as a “training initiative,” but critics argue the policy could allow the company to replace employees just as they become more experienced. The controversy marks an unusual backlash against Yu, who has built a reputation as one of China’s most employee-friendly business leaders. Pangdonglai’s roughly 8,000 workers reportedly earn above-average salaries for Henan province and receive 30 days of paid leave plus 10 days of “unhappy leave” for periods of emotional distress. Jobs at the retailer are highly sought after, particularly amid China’s economic slowdown. 

Russian attacks force closure of Ukraine’s largest steelmaker

Luxembourg-headquartered steel giant ArcelorMittal has said that strikes which killed employees at its plant in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine had forced it to cease operations in the war-torn country. The multinational ⁠said it had told ​the government in Kyiv that “safe and sustainable” operations were not possible after four strikes in five weeks caused extensive damage and killed five workers at the plant. "We are discussing the future of the plant with the Government of Ukraine and will focus on preserving the infrastructure, so when peace finally returns, options for restarting production remain available,” said ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih chief executive Mauro Longobardo.

FamilyMart recruits Lady Gaga as Japan staffing shortages persist

FamilyMart has enlisted Lady Gaga for a part-time recruitment campaign as the company seeks to address staffing shortages across its Japanese convenience store network. Around 30% of its more than 16,000 stores are currently short-staffed. The retailer hopes the campaign will attract and retain workers amid intense competition for employees in Japan, and has also relaxed traditionally conservative dress rules this year to appeal to younger recruits. FamilyMart is additionally offering shopping vouchers worth ¥200 ($1.30) or more to people who enquire about vacancies or attend interviews.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

OTHER

UAE programme equips families to support neurodivergent children

The “Understanding and Supporting Neurodivergence” programme, organised by Al Jalila Foundation and Sage Clinics, has trained 275 parents and caregivers in the UAE. This six-session initiative aimed to enhance understanding of neurodiversity and improve responses to children's developmental needs. Nada Alhajeri, Manager of Community Engagement at Al Jalila Foundation, said: "Equipping families with appropriate knowledge and skills could help them better support their children's development and wellbeing." The programme is offered in Arabic and English.
 
Industry SLice Logo

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe