Middle East manufacturers lead in GenAI adoption

According to Rockwell Automation’s newly-issued 10th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, 98% of manufacturing companies in the Middle East are using or planning to use generative AI, the highest rate globally, with 96% committed to broader AI/ML technologies

The study is based on feedback from more than 1,500 manufacturing leaders globally, including representation from the oil and gas (7%), renewables and energy transition (9%) and chemicals (4%) sectors.

The study highlights that Middle East companies are leading the way in deploying AI to improve operations and meet business goals, shifting from broad digital expansion to focused strategies, to achieve measurable outcomes in efficiency, cybersecurity and sustainability.

"Middle East manufacturers are not just experimenting with smart manufacturing technologies; they are applying them to address real operational challenges," said Ediz Eren, regional vice president, Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, Rockwell Automation. "From cyber resilience to ESG performance and workforce engagement, the data shows a shift toward outcome-driven digitalisation."

Practical use cases

Manufacturers in the region are focusing on practical use cases for AI, with 68% planning to use AI for quality control, 61% for cybersecurity, and 46% for energy management over the next 12 months, significantly above European benchmarks, and 42% applying AI/ML to monitor sustainability targets.

This is paying off in terms of ROI, with 10% of manufacturers citing GenAI as their top-returning technology, and 15% saying the same of cybersecurity platforms.

Cybersecurity has risen up the agenda for manufacturing firms, with 98% of companies having either invested in or planning to invest in cybersecurity platforms, and 44% deploying countermeasures to mitigate rising threats, the highest rate globally. Thirty-six percent now view cyber risk as their top external concern, up from 27% last year.

Technology is also reshaping the workforce, with  43% of regional respondents now prioritising upskilling, up 14% year-on-year and significantly ahead of the European average.