First AI in Education research commissioned by PowerSchool signals seismic shift in understanding AI’s role in GCC education
• 94% of those surveyed believe that schools could better leverage AI capabilities
• 56% estimate a weekly savings of 10 to 15 hours by using AI to automate assessments
Educators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia want to increase the use of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, according to new research commissioned by PowerSchool and YouGov.
Investigating existing perspectives, uncovering gaps, and forecasting future trends in AI adoption within the education landscape, the ‘AI in Education’ survey was conducted with more than 300 educators across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including principals and teachers from a diverse range of backgrounds.
According to the data, a striking 90.1% of educators stressed that the current education system needs AI and other advanced technologies to improve learning outcomes. Additionally, 90% of respondents agree that the education experience must be personalized to cater to the diverse needs of students, indicating a seismic shift in expectations for how learning should evolve.
“AI is already transforming educational practices,” said Fadi Abdulkhalek, Vice President and General Manager, Middle East Africa, PowerSchool. “Our research underscores a pressing need for AI-driven innovations that enhance academic outcomes and streamline administrative tasks, empowering teachers to devote more time to student engagement. We are committed to supporting AI adoption across the GCC region, ensuring that educators are equipped to deliver world-class education.”
Key findings include:
• Educators are ready to embrace AI, but more investment and training is needed:
o While 90% of educators say AI tools have positively transformed their daily role 94% believe that their schools could better leverage their AI capabilities.
o Further, while most educators feel their school is capable of expanding AI usage (73%), most indicated they need further investment and more teacher training on how to properly use technology (91%).
• AI’s time-saving features will change the way teachers work moving forward:
o Teachers indicated AI tools’ ability to help automate burdensome and repetitive tasks as the key benefit of adopting AI tools including opportunities to leverage the tool to help assign homework (51%), support attendance tracking (49%), and support sending reminders (49%).
o Additionally, 56% estimate saving between 10 and 15 hours a week if AI was used to automate assessments.
Regional Outlook
According to the research, 95% of educators in Saudi Arabia advocate for teaching AI from an early age, compared to 79% in the UAE. Similarly, AI’s positive impact on teachers is evident across the region, reaching (93%) in Saudi Arabia and (66%) in the UAE. However, 88% of educators emphasized the need for more professional development to keep up with AI advancements.
Despite the hurdles, 73% of educators believe their institutions are well positioned to expand AI usage, given further investment. The research also highlights a general willingness to embrace AI, with 91% of educators ready to use AI tools for school automation tasks, (96%) in Saudi Arabia and (85%) in the UAE.
“This new research marks a pivotal moment in understanding AI’s role in education across the GCC,” Abdulkhalek added. “PowerSchool remains dedicated to driving this evolution, offering robust solutions that place both students and educators at the center of a smarter, more efficient educational ecosystem.”
The ‘AI in Education’ survey was conducted by YouGov and commissioned by PowerSchool. Results were gathered from one-on-one interviews with a focus group of educators, taking place in October 2024. More than 300 principals and teachers in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were surveyed.
