It’s 2035, and the UAE leads the world in robots per capita, transforming its economy into a global powerhouse.

Robots dominate labour-heavy sectors such as construction, logistics, and agriculture, enabling unprecedented efficiency and productivity.

According to Hazza Al Muhairi, head of robotics in the Vision 2055 program, this high adoption of robots has allowed the UAE’s relatively small population to compete with larger economies on a GDP basis.

“With robots doing the heavy lifting and dangerous jobs, and working in the heat of the day, when it’s unbearable for humans, the average robot is doing the work of five men. It’s like having five times the workforce we previously had!”

Climate change and its impact on natural resources has constrained the ability of hotter countries to attract workers to fill labour-intensive jobs, despite the lucrative salaries. But robots have no such qualms, and continue to beaver away, all through the day, and the night.

The visionary leaders of the UAE have embraced this idea, investing heavily in humanoid robots as well as autonomous machines for industry and farming. Now they are reaping the rewards, with a highly productive ‘workforce’ boosting the economy.

And the best news is that humans can do the jobs requiring more skill, craftmanship, and creativity, including managing the robots. So GDP per capita is higher than ever.

Yes, robots are the new desert warriors, and workers.

Get in touch

In the future, we will increasingly rely on robots to do the jobs humans can’t do or don’t want to do, with transformational impact on society and business. For more information on the challenges and opportunities this scenario presents, feel free to contact Research leader Adam Parsons or the author Doug Vining.