A recent Cisco Global AI Partners Study reveals that 26% of Cisco’s partners in the UAE anticipate that AI-related technologies will account for 76-100% of their revenue within the next four to five years. The study, titled Bridging the Customer AI Readiness Gap – The Opportunities Ahead for Partners, highlights the growing demand for AI technologies and the significant role IT partners will play in this shift.
The study shows that 43% of partners in the UAE expect investments in AI-related technologies to increase by more than 75% over the next four to five years. The report also indicates that as AI adoption accelerates, partners foresee a shift in their revenue mix, with 37% of respondents expecting AI to contribute 26-50% of their revenue in the next year, with an even higher contribution expected in the long run.
Ossama Eldeeb, Cisco’s Regional Director for the Partner Organisation in the Middle East and Africa, emphasized the importance of equipping partners with the necessary skills and tools to lead the AI transformation in the UAE and the broader region. Eldeeb highlighted that the study revealed substantial opportunities for partners to drive AI adoption and help businesses fully harness AI’s potential.
The study, based on a survey of over 1,500 IT partners across 29 markets, assessed the capabilities of partners in the age of AI. The findings are consistent with the Cisco AI Readiness Index, which points to global gaps in AI adoption readiness, particularly in infrastructure, data management, governance, and talent. The study reinforces the critical role that partners play in helping customers achieve AI readiness.
In terms of AI technology demand, the top drivers identified by the surveyed partners are infrastructure (26%), cybersecurity (26%), and sustainability management (11%). While partners are confident in their understanding of AI technologies, they also recognize the challenges ahead, such as inexperience with deploying new technologies (69%), lack of knowledge of systems and processes (51%), and a lack of available technologies (46%). To address these challenges, many partners are investing heavily in upskilling their teams, with 74% of respondents already conducting internal training or inviting external experts to provide specialized AI training.
