Performance Management in the GCC: Why PMS Has Become a Top Priority for 2026

AI and the Rise of Performance Management as a Boardroom Priority in the UAE and GCC

While the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in almost all fronts of our lives is the common conversational theme nowadays, interestingly, the industry boardrooms are sharing the AI buzz with an equally important management theme – that of a renewed focus on employee performance management – across industries and across geographies.

Listening to the CEOs, CXOs, and HR Managers in the region, we believe the renewed focus is a result of many factors, including the perceived (and in many cases claimed/observed) post-COVID productivity concern as employees return to work.

In addition, the business landscape has changed significantly in the last three years as a result of

• COVID-induced newer business/operating practices
• Information technology advancements
• The overall enhanced speed of business and global connectivity.

Why Organisations Must Re‑Examine Their Day‑to‑Day Operating Models

All these, unsurprisingly, warrant a close re-look into the way businesses operate and perform on a day-to-day basis.

Some of the questions bothering the CEOs and CXOs are:

• Are we optimally configured from a business process point of view?
• Are we at risk of losing a competitive advantage on account of non-adaptation to new technologies?
• Are our employees engaged, or are we operating at lower productivity levels?
• Does our performance management process support business excellence, and does it help us identify good performers versus poor performers in a timely way….

As we partner with our regional clients, assisting them in answering some of these questions and in their quest to set up a more effective Performance Management system, we are uncovering interesting facets of post-COVID employee, employer, performance, and job-market paradigms.

CHROs prioritising Performance Management are clearly ahead of the curve. Others need to revisit their 2026 agenda, as Performance Management at the workplace certainly needs a review, if not a total restart post-COVID.