The Middle East is entering a defining phase of economic transformation, a shift clearly reflected in the findings of the TOEIC Global English Skills Report and its country insights for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Across the region, governments and organizations are accelerating economic diversification, expanding global services, and implementing international talent strategies. As these markets integrate more deeply into the global economy, they are not only attracting investment but fundamentally reshaping the capabilities required of the workforce.

At the center of this transformation is a critical requirement: a shared language for global work.

As organizations across the Middle East expand beyond domestic markets, the nature of work is becoming increasingly global. Employees are collaborating across borders, engaging with international clients, and operating within multinational teams. This shift is redefining employer expectations and elevating communication as a core business capability.

The data reflects this transition clearly. In the UAE, 86% of HR leaders say increased global collaboration is heightening the need for English proficiency, while in Saudi Arabia, 75% report the same trend. At the same time, 84% of employers in the UAE and 83% in Saudi Arabia say that lacking English proficiency creates a competitive disadvantage, reinforcing that language is directly tied to business outcomes.

This growing demand is also reflected in how organizations are embedding English into workforce decisions. In the UAE, 79% of organizations already use English assessments for hiring and screening, while 67% use them for pre-training and 63% for promotion readiness. In Saudi Arabia, adoption is even broader, with 84% using assessments for both hiring and pre-training, and 75% for post-training evaluation.

As economies globalize, English is emerging as the connective layer that enables organizations to operate seamlessly across markets and scale talent internationally.

At the same time, the rapid adoption of AI across industries is intensifying the importance of English proficiency. While it is often assumed that AI will reduce reliance on language skills, the data shows the opposite.

Across the Middle East, the majority of HR leaders report that AI integration is increasing the need for English proficiency. In the UAE, 85% say AI is driving greater demand for workplace English, while in Saudi Arabia, 83% report the same. This aligns with global findings, where 81% of HR leaders say AI increases the need for English.

The reasons are practical and immediate. Employees must be able to generate effective prompts, interpret AI-generated outputs, and assess the accuracy of information. In Saudi Arabia, this is especially pronounced, with 97% of HR leaders citing the need to evaluate AI-generated information and generate effective prompts, and 99% pointing to AI-driven changes in roles as a driver of English demand. Similarly, in the UAE, 95% say generating effective prompts and determining accuracy increases the need for English.

By 2026, English proficiency has evolved from a prompting skill to an essential auditing capability—enabling professionals to verify AI outputs for cultural accuracy, detect linguistic biases, and ensure communications resonate appropriately across Arabic and English-speaking markets.

AI is not removing language barriers. It is raising the bar for communication.

This shift is fundamentally changing how organizations across the Middle East view English proficiency. It is no longer a secondary skill but a strategic capability that underpins performance, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Across both markets, the importance of English has grown significantly over time. In the UAE, 80% of employers say English is more important today than it was five years ago, while in Saudi Arabia that figure rises to 90%. At the same time, 86% of organizations in the UAE and 94% in Saudi Arabia say English proficiency is critical to their organization’s success.

Organizations are responding by embedding English into their talent strategies. Standardized assessments are being used not only to validate skills but to drive better outcomes, including improved collaboration, stronger competitive positioning, and higher employee satisfaction. In fact, 86% of UAE employers and 93% in Saudi Arabia say their organizations would be more efficient if better English assessments were used during hiring.

At the same time, expectations are rising. In both markets, employers increasingly anticipate that English proficiency will become a requirement for all new hires within the next five years, signaling a structural shift in workforce standards.

The implications of this shift extend beyond individual organizations and point to a broader economic opportunity for the region.

As the Middle East continues to position itself as a global hub for business and innovation, English proficiency is becoming a key enabler of workforce mobility. It allows individuals to access higher-value roles, participate in multinational teams, and engage with digital and AI-driven tools that are shaping the future of work.

For employers, it enables the creation of agile, globally connected teams capable of driving growth across markets. For economies, it supports the development of a workforce that can compete internationally and sustain long-term competitiveness.

The Middle East’s growth trajectory is accelerating, fueled by diversification, global integration, and rapid technological advancement.

However, sustaining this momentum will depend on more than investment and policy. It will depend on whether the workforce is equipped to operate in a global, AI-enabled economy.

English is no longer just a language. It is a foundational capability for participation in global markets and a critical enabler of workforce mobility across the Middle East.

To explore the full findings and learn why English proficiency assessment is a strategic imperative for HR leaders worldwide, download the TOEIC Global English Skills Report.