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Middle East Edition
17th April 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Investors and execs urged to 'stop hiring humans'

At the recent HumanX conference in San Francisco, 6,500 investors, entrepreneurs and tech executives gathered to address the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs. An advertisement at the entrance to the event set the tone for the four days: "Stop hiring humans." Florian Douetteau, the chief executive of Dataiku, a French company specialising in enterprise AI, told AFP that the real human added value is "capacity for judgment." He detailed a scenario whereby an AI agent works through the night and its human counterpart reviews the results in the morning. Nevertheless, he worries that "We are going to have a generation of people who will never have written anything from start to finish in their entire lives . . . That's pretty unsettling."
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TECHNOLOGY

Saudi Arabia races ahead in robotics

Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing in robotics, positioning itself as a leader in deploying humanoid technology. The Humanoid Lounge, created by QSS AI and Robotics in collaboration with UK-based Humanoid, showcases the impact of robotics on various industries. CEO Elie Metri said: "What we've built goes far beyond a showroom." The company aims to deploy 10,000 humanoid robots over five years, enhancing customer engagement and operational efficiency. Metri emphasised that robotics is transforming jobs, allowing people to focus on creativity and human interaction, rather than replacing them.
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WORKFORCE

UAE labour market defies regional turmoil

The UAE's labour market remains stable despite regional uncertainties, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). The ministry confirmed that private sector wages are being paid on time, reflecting strong compliance and business continuity. MoHRE noted that 99% of private sector workers are covered by the Wage Protection System, with no significant changes in compliance rates. Operational indicators show over 2.3m customer transactions in March, highlighting the sector's resilience. The ministry emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in maintaining job stability and supporting economic growth.
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ECONOMY

Jordan's economy shows resilience amid challenges, IMF says

The IMF has reached a staff-level agreement with Jordan on its economic reform programme, noting real GDP growth of 2.8% in 2025. César Serra, IMF mission chief, highlighted the Central Bank's success in keeping inflation below 2% and the robustness of the banking sector. He emphasised the importance of structural reforms for a dynamic private sector and mentioned ongoing government initiatives to improve the business environment. Jordan is set to receive $140m under the Extended Fund Facility and $57m from the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Serra said: "Jordan's economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite a challenging regional environment."

HSBC says Iran war is hitting confidence

HSBC chief executive Georges Elhedery has expressed his concern about the impact the conflict in Iran is having on global economic confidence. He noted that uncertainties from the war could affect prices of goods, oil, and metals. Brendan Nelson, HSBC's chair, has warned that prolonged disruptions would increase inflation and hinder growth. The conflict has already led to rising costs for businesses, with garment makers facing price hikes of 10% to 15%.
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STRATEGY

UAE launches empowerment fund for non-profit organisations

The UAE has launched a Dh100m empowerment fund aimed at strengthening its non-profit sector. The initiative, announced at Emirates Towers in Dubai, seeks to support community-driven programmes and enhance social cohesion. Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment, said: "This is why we created the Dh100m fund so we can create a long lasting impact for years." The fund will prioritise projects in education, health, and community development, with applications open until May 31. Financial support includes seed funding for new NPOs and scale funding for established organisations.
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INTERNATIONAL

India to decide women's quota bill

India is preparing for a redrawing of its political map, driven by what the government says is a push to reserve one-third of seats for women in parliament and state assemblies. To do that, the government will unveil a constitutional amendment - requiring a two-thirds majority - backed by a three-day special session from Thursday. Women make up only about 14% of India's 543 lower house MPs. The reform would raise that to roughly a third, closer to global norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (which loosely translates from Hindi to Saluting Women Power Act) as a historic leap, calling it "among the most significant decisions of our times," and arguing it honours women's empowerment. But opposition parties say a simple women's quota is being tied to a controversial redrawing of constituencies - a wider political overhaul masquerading as a gender reform.

Chinese company is criticised for using ex-employee's data to create ‘AI human'

A Chinese company has been criticised for creating an AI-powered "digital worker" using data from a former employee - an HR specialist - following his resignation. The avatar continued to performs his tasks, including answering enquiries, scheduling appointments, and creating PowerPoint presentations and spreadsheets. According to a video shared online by a staff member at the gaming company in Shandong province in northern China, the digital employee introduces itself in a chat window.

European gas and power markets expand trading hours

European gas and power markets are expanding trading hours to 21 hours from 10 hours amid sharp price swings. The lengthier trading day is expected to reshape how energy traders work and live, and some have voiced concerns about the erosion of work-life balance. Yet many say the change is a logical next step for a market that has been transformed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new extended day is “an advantage for global players,” observed Marco Saalfrank, head of continental Europe merchant trading at Swiss-based Axpo Holding. “If something happens in the market that affects prices, they can react immediately.”

Disney begins 1,000 job cuts this week

The Walt Disney Co. has begun a round of layoffs that will see the elimination of 1,000 jobs across various divisions, including television, movie studios, and ESPN. Chief Executive Josh D'Amaro informed staff about the cuts on Tuesday morning. “Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney,” D'Amaro said. “Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow's needs . . . As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.”
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OTHER

Luxury faces Gulf slowdown

The Times' Guy Taylor reports that luxury brands are facing growing pressure as the Middle East conflict disrupts a key growth market. Groups including LVMH, Kering and Hermès have reported weaker sales, with falling footfall in Gulf shopping malls and reduced tourism impacting demand. The region, previously a major expansion driver, has seen store traffic and spending decline, with retail sales and airport duty-free channels also affected. Taylor explains that while the Middle East accounts for a relatively small share of global revenue, its importance as a tourism hub amplifies the impact. Analysts warn that rising energy costs and economic uncertainty could further dampen global luxury spending, threatening recovery prospects already weakened by slower demand in China.  
 
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