Gulf Workers Love Their Employers and Feel Constantly Strained

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Workers in the Gulf are sending employers a mixed message: we like it here, and we are exhausted. The Q2 2026 GCC People Pulse, a quarterly tracker by Employee Experience Exchange (EXE) in partnership with Ipsos, surveyed 1,500 employees in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar and found 54% have been under constant strain at work in recent months. That is 17 percentage points above the global average.

Young and Under Pressure

Strain falls hardest on younger staff. 58% of employees aged 18 to 34 reported constant strain, compared with 51% of those aged 35 to 49 and 47% of those 50 and older. Yet the same workforce speaks warmly about its employers: about 81% would recommend their organization as a great place to work, and 77% are confident about its future direction.

The report warns that this combination of high advocacy and high strain is unlikely to last. Prolonged pressure can erode decision-making, team dynamics and performance even when people stay put, and the report urges organizations to put wellbeing first to protect engagement and productivity. Some are already looking at the exit: 24% plan to leave their employer within two years, with intentions highest in Qatar and Kuwait and lowest in Saudi Arabia.

AI Optimism With a Side of Worry

Attitudes to AI are similarly two-sided. 73% believe AI will make their organization more competitive, while 49% worry about what it means for their own job security. Apparently it is possible to cheer for the team and still check whether your seat is safe. One factor stands out as a buffer: 76% said their organization encourages open and honest feedback, and those employees were twice as likely to recommend their employer and much more likely to stay for at least three years. For leaders in the region, the cheapest retention tool may simply be a conversation that actually listens.