Google’s economic contribution to the UAE economy reached an impressive AED 21.8 billion in 2024, according to a new report. This significant impact, driven by products like Search, Ads, Play, Maps, and YouTube, highlights Google’s role in fostering digital transformation, business growth, and individual productivity across the nation.
Google’s Economic Footprint in the UAE
A study conducted by Public First, an independent research agency, revealed that Google’s products and services injected AED 21.8 billion into the UAE economy in 2024. A substantial portion of this, AED 20.2 billion, was generated by Google Search and Ads alone, empowering businesses to expand their reach and operations.
Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google in the Middle East & North Africa, emphasized Google’s commitment to the UAE’s vision for a diversified, AI-powered economy. He stated that strategic investments, local partnerships, and AI-powered tools are delivering substantial economic value and empowering individuals, businesses, and communities.
Empowering Individuals and Businesses
Google’s impact extends to enhancing daily life and productivity for individuals and enterprises. Key findings from the report include:
- Consumer Benefits: Google’s services provide an average monthly consumer benefit of AED 683 per user in the UAE.
- AI Adoption: 63% of adults in the UAE have used Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, with 90% reporting increased productivity. Notably, 71% found Gemini easier to use in Arabic.
- Daily Essentials: 50% of UAE adults consider Google Search essential to their daily lives.
- Navigation and Payments: 89% of adults find Google Maps and/or Waze very useful for navigation, and 90% agree that contactless payment options like GPay or GWallet simplify their lives.
For businesses, Google’s tools are proving equally vital:
- AI Integration: 91% of UAE businesses utilize at least one AI tool in their workflows.
- Consumer Engagement: 94% of adults use Google Search monthly to compare prices, 86% check Google reviews before visiting businesses, and 80% use Google Maps or Waze to find local businesses.
- Youth Engagement: 73% of 18-24 year olds use Google Search weekly for online shopping or browsing.
- Public Sector Productivity: 97% of public sector workers in the UAE reported that Google’s AI-enabled tools boost their productivity.
Fostering Skills and Creative Ecosystems
Google’s initiatives also focus on skills development and supporting the creative economy:
- Digital Skills Training: Over 430,000 individuals in the UAE have received training in essential digital and AI skills since 2018 through the "Maharat Min Google" initiative.
- Job Creation: The Android and Google Play app ecosystem supported the creation of 30,000 jobs in the UAE in 2024.
- Developer Revenue: UAE-based developers generated AED 455 million in revenue from the Android App Economy in 2024.
- YouTube Growth: More than 600 YouTube channels in the UAE now boast over 1 million subscribers, marking a 15% year-on-year increase.
- Journalism Training: Over 20,000 journalists and journalism students in the MENA region, including the UAE, have been trained by the Google News Initiative.
Key Takeaways
- Google’s economic contribution to the UAE in 2024 reached AED 21.8 billion, with Search and Ads accounting for AED 20.2 billion.
- Google’s AI-powered tools significantly enhance daily life and productivity for individuals and businesses.
- The company’s initiatives have trained over 430,000 individuals in digital and AI skills and supported 30,000 jobs in the Android and Google Play app ecosystem.
- Google is a key partner in the UAE’s journey towards a diversified, AI-powered economy.
