Google has released its Economic Impact Report, prepared by the research firm Public First, showing how Google’s services—such as Search, Play Store, Maps, YouTube, and Google Ads—supported people, small businesses, content creators, and app developers across the UAE in 2024. These reports are published globally and use surveys, economic modeling, case studies, and third-party data to assess impact.The report explains how Google’s AI-powered tools are making life easier and improving efficiency for both individuals and businesses in the UAE, helping to grow the national economy. Public First estimates that Google added about Dhs21.8 billion to the UAE’s economy in 2024.“We’re extremely proud to support the UAE’s bold vision,” said Anthony Nakache, Google’s Managing Director for the Middle East & North Africa. “This report shows how our investment is helping drive the country’s transformation into a diverse, AI-driven economy. Through local partnerships, smart investments, and our AI tools, we are helping businesses, individuals, and communities thrive.”Google is helping UAE residents get ready for the future by providing digital and AI training. The report notes that since 2018, over 430,000 people in the UAE have learned essential digital and AI skills through Google’s “Maharat Min Google” training program. It has also helped support a growing community of app developers. In 2024 alone, the Android and Google Play ecosystem created 30,000 jobs in the UAE.The UAE Impact Report looks at how Google helped in three main areas in 2024: People, Businesses, and Communities. Making Life Easier for People in the UAE• On average, Google’s services provided Dhs683 per month in consumer value to each user in the UAE.• 63% of adults in the UAE used Gemini, Google’s AI assistant.• 90% of Gemini users felt it helped them be more productive.• 71% said Gemini was easier to use in Arabic compared to other AI chatbots.• 50% of UAE adults said Google Search is essential to their daily routine.• 89% said Google Maps and/or Waze helped them avoid getting lost.• 90% said using mobile payments like GPay or GWallet made daily life more convenient. Supporting Business Growth in the UAE• 91% of UAE businesses said they use at least one AI tool in their operations.• 73% of people aged 18–24 said they use Google Search weekly to shop or browse products.• 80% of UAE adults use Google Maps and/or Waze at least once a month to find local businesses.• 86% check Google reviews before visiting a place or business each month.• 94% use Google Search every month to compare prices of goods and services.• 97% of UAE public sector employees said Google’s AI tools helped them be more productive. Strengthening Communities in the UAEThis part of the report combines data from Public First and Google to estimate how much Google helps developers, content creators, and publishers.• In 2024, the Android App Economy brought in Dhs455 million for UAE developers.• Over 600 YouTube channels in the UAE have more than 1 million subscribers—a 15% increase from the previous year.• More than 20,000 journalists and journalism students have been trained by the Google News Initiative across the MENA region, including the UAE. About the ResearchGoogle asked the independent firm Public First to study how its products are helping the UAE’s economy and society, and how AI might shape the country’s future.The research included a survey of 1,110 online adults and 389 business leaders in the UAE. These surveys were conducted in both English and Arabic in March 2025. The data was adjusted using a method called Iterative Proportional Fitting (Raking) to ensure the results represent the national population accurately by age, gender, education, and region.
