The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) announced its “Five Trends for 2026” report, revealing how IBM AI and emerging technologies are set to reshape competitive advantage for organizations in the UAE and worldwide as businesses accelerate digital transformation.

As 2026 begins, the report revealed that uncertainty is accelerating business transformation rather than slowing it. Companies are increasingly investing in technologies that deliver speed, resilience, and deeper insight, according to the findings.

IBM AI has moved from experimentation to becoming essential across enterprise operations. The research reported that organizations are embedding AI at the core of decision-making, workforce design, and customer engagement. It also noted that quantum computing is expected to help enterprises address increasingly complex challenges.

Shukri Eid, General Manager of IBM Gulf Levant and Pakistan, said the findings show a clear shift in how organizations approach growth and competitiveness in 2026. In the UAE, he noted, businesses are accelerating decisions, embedding IBM AI into core operations, and strengthening resilience and sovereignty across technology environments. At the same time, organizations are focusing on building trust with employees, customers, and partners as AI becomes more integrated into daily business processes.

The report found that 95% of executives surveyed in the UAE said they need to make faster decisions, while all respondents believed their highest-stakes decisions in 2025 were correct. This figure is 4% above the global average. In addition, 63% said economic and geopolitical volatility could create new opportunities in 2026, although 93% reported concerns about losing competitiveness if they cannot operate in real time.

Employee attitudes toward AI were also highlighted. The research reported that 81% of employees globally are confident in keeping pace with new technologies. Meanwhile, 61% said IBM AI makes their work less routine and more strategic. Across all age groups, employees were more likely to welcome expanded AI use than resist it, and 63% said they would be willing to work with an AI agent.

Consumer expectations were another key focus. The report revealed that while consumers do not expect AI to be flawless, transparency is critical. Globally, 89% want to know when they are interacting with AI, and four in five said they would trust a brand less if AI use was concealed. Two-thirds reported they would switch brands to avoid hidden AI, and half said they would pay more for transparency. At the same time, 95% of executives said consumer trust in IBM AI applications will determine the success of new products and services.

The research also emphasized the importance of AI resilience and sovereignty. In the UAE, 98% of executives said AI resilience and sovereignty must be part of their 2026 strategy, while 63% expressed concern about overdependence on compute resources.

Quantum computing was identified as another critical area. The report stated that quantum development requires ecosystem-wide collaboration, as no single organization can maintain the required resources alone. Quantum-ready organizations were reported to be three times more likely to participate in multiple ecosystems.

Key findings highlighted in the report include:

• 80% of UAE executives said ecosystem partners accelerate technology adoption
• 88% said partnerships help limit disruption and improve business outcomes

IBM reported that enterprises forming strong ecosystem alliances today are positioning themselves to compete more effectively as quantum technologies mature.

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