UAE showcases AI-driven labour market model at BRICS Labour Ministers' Meeting

The United Arab Emirates has presented its approach to building a flexible, inclusive and technology-driven labour market at the 2026 BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting, held in India as part of the country's BRICS Chairmanship.

Addressing the ministerial meeting, the UAE delegation outlined the country's strategy of combining government-private sector cooperation, adaptive labour legislation and artificial intelligence to support sustainable employment and workforce development, as reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM), a TV BRICS partner.

The UAE emphasised that social protection, skills development, women's economic empowerment and digital transformation are interconnected pillars of resilient labour markets capable of responding to future economic challenges.

Officials noted that the country's labour market is among the world's most diverse, bringing together professionals from more than 200 nationalities. They attributed this to policies designed to attract global talent while maintaining a flexible regulatory framework aligned with technological and economic change.

According to the UAE, these measures have delivered significant results over the past five years. The size of the private-sector workforce has more than doubled, the number of registered businesses has increased by 46 per cent, and women's participation in the labour market has risen by 109 per cent, reflecting the impact of national employment and economic policies.

Artificial intelligence was highlighted as a key driver of the next stage of labour market development. The UAE said AI is enabling governments to move beyond service automation by forecasting labour market trends, identifying future skills requirements, improving regulatory compliance and supporting evidence-based policymaking.

The country also outlined how digital technologies are strengthening worker protection through integrated platforms covering wage protection, occupational health and safety, labour dispute resolution and market transparency.

The meeting heard that investment in human capital remains central to the future of work. The UAE highlighted its AI-powered skills platform, which helps anticipate emerging occupations and better align education and training systems with labour market demand.

The UAE welcomed India's leadership of BRICS in 2026 and reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states on the future of employment, workforce resilience, digital transformation and skills development.

At the conclusion of the meeting, BRICS labour ministers adopted a joint declaration outlining shared priorities, including social protection, workforce skills, women's participation in the labour market and digital transformation. The UAE expressed its support for the declaration and reaffirmed its commitment to working with BRICS partners to develop more resilient, inclusive and sustainable labour markets.