HRSE Dubai 2026 Tackles AI and Workforce Transformation Across the GCC

HRSE Dubai 2026 convenes from October 11–15 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, gathering over 5,500 HR professionals to address workforce transformation across the GCC.

While the press release highlights AI adoption and a headline roster including Mo Gawdat and Stephen M.R. Covey, the underlying catalyst is the collision of artificial intelligence capabilities with aggressive regional workforce nationalisation mandates.

The GCC human resource management system market, projected to expand from $1.21 billion in 2026 to $2.89 billion by 2032, reflects this structural shift.

Why is AI changing the priorities of HR leaders?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organisations hire, develop and manage talent, making workforce transformation a central priority for HR leaders across the GCC.

According to PwC’s 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer, AI-exposed roles are increasingly demanding human capabilities such as judgement, creativity and leadership. Entry-level roles analysed in the report were 7x more likely to require skills traditionally associated with senior positions.

The shift is also visible in the UAE. AI-related job postings increased from 1% of all job postings in 2021 to 3.2% in 2025, highlighting the growing demand for AI-related capabilities in the workforce.

As AI changes how work gets done, organisations are reassessing:

• Workforce and workplace design
• Reskilling and career pathways
• Leadership and organisational culture
• Employee experience and collaboration
• The balance between human capabilities and AI
• Nationalisation and evolving talent requirements

These themes will take centre stage at HR Summit & Expo (HRSE) Dubai 2026, as the region's HR community gathers to discuss how organisations can prepare their workforces for a rapidly changing economy.

What is HRSE Dubai 2026 and when will it take place?

HRSE Dubai, described as MENA's largest and longest-running HR conference and exhibition, will return in October 2026 with a programme focused on the future of work.

The event will bring together 5,500+ HR professionals, 125+ speakers and 70+ global exhibitors across 120+ sessions and four content stages.

The 2026 programme will take place across two major Dubai venues:

Event	Date	Venue
Certified Workshops	11–13 October 2026	Conrad Hotel
Main Event & Exhibition	14–15 October 2026	Za’abeel Hall 6, DWTC
Future Workplace Awards	14 October 2026	Conrad Hotel

The programme is designed to move beyond discussions about technology and examine how AI, leadership, skills development and workplace transformation will affect organisations in practical terms.

Who will speak at HRSE Dubai 2026?

The headline speaker lineup includes Mo Gawdat, bestselling author and former Chief Business Officer of Google X, and Stephen M.R. Covey, New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author and keynote speaker for the Speed of Trust Global Practice.

They will be joined by C-suite executives and directors from global and regional enterprises, with 90% of the premium stage lineup made up of new voices.

Gawdat will address the implications of AI for workforce productivity and organisational intelligence, while Covey will focus on trust, leadership and the human capabilities that remain critical as technology transforms the workplace.

What will Mo Gawdat say about AI and the future of work?

Gawdat's perspective centres on using AI to augment rather than replace human capabilities.

He argues that organisations should encourage employees to share successful AI use cases, reward innovation and provide the training and tools required to integrate AI into everyday work.

This puts HR at the intersection of technology adoption and workforce development. As new AI tools enter organisations, HR teams will increasingly need to work with technology leaders to identify the skills employees need to remain productive.

The broader challenge is not simply adopting AI, but increasing the overall intelligence of an organisation through AI-enabled strategies while ensuring employees can adapt as technology evolves.

Why will trust and leadership remain important in an AI-driven workplace?

While AI is changing productivity and execution, Covey argues that trust will remain a fundamental organisational advantage.

His HRSE Dubai 2026 message centres on moving away from traditional "Command & Control" leadership toward a "Trust & Inspire" approach, where employees are treated as people with the potential to contribute, innovate and perform at a higher level.

For HR leaders, this creates a parallel challenge: organisations need both technological capability and the organisational culture required to use it effectively.

The event therefore places AI and human leadership alongside each other rather than treating them as competing priorities.

What will HRSE Dubai 2026 cover beyond AI?

AI will be a major theme, but the programme extends across several areas of workforce transformation.

The HR Leaders Conference will operate as a closed-door forum covering:

• Nationalisation
• AI and digital transformation
• Leadership
• Workforce transformation

Four additional content stages will focus on digital transformation, leadership, talent and performance.

The event will also feature Certified Workshops delivered by organisations including Harvard, ICF, Informa Connect Academy and AI Certs, giving delegates opportunities to develop practical skills alongside the conference programme.

How will HRSE Dubai make its sessions more practical?

A key feature of the 2026 programme is the Speaker Pledge, under which every speaker has committed to delivering practical, real-world strategies rather than recycled content.

Interactive formats will also be incorporated across every session.

Another new feature is AI-powered 1:1 matchmaking, designed to connect delegates with relevant HR leaders and workplace innovators through pre-booked meetings.

The approach reflects a broader shift in HR events: rather than focusing solely on thought leadership, HRSE Dubai is positioning the conference as a platform for delegates to exchange experiences and take actionable ideas back to their organisations.

Who is supporting HRSE Dubai 2026?

The event is supported by a group of Platinum and Gold sponsors spanning HR technology, professional development, employee benefits and workplace initiatives.

Platinum Sponsors include CVing, Daman, FranklinCovey Middle East, Informa Connect Academy, the Parent-friendly Label by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and Zoho.

Gold Sponsors include Keka and MIT Sloan Executive Education.

HRSE Dubai is also CPD-certified and powered by The HR Observer, drawing on a global network of HR and talent experts.

Why does HRSE Dubai matter for the GCC's future workforce?

The GCC's workforce is entering a period in which AI adoption, nationalisation, reskilling and changing employee expectations are converging.

The UAE's increase in AI-related job postings from 1% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2025 illustrates how quickly demand for AI capabilities is developing. Meanwhile, PwC's 2026 research points to a parallel change: AI-exposed roles are increasingly requiring traditionally senior human capabilities.

HRSE Dubai 2026 arrives against this backdrop, bringing together 5,500+ professionals to explore how organisations can redesign work while maintaining trust, leadership and employee development.

For HR leaders, the central question is no longer whether AI will affect the workplace. It is how organisations can combine AI's productivity gains with the human skills, leadership and culture needed to sustain them.