More than half of employees across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) say they have experienced constant strain at work in recent months, raising concerns about employee wellbeing even as overall confidence in employers remains strong, according to a new regional workforce survey.
The latest GCC People Pulse report, published by Employee Experience Exchange (EXE) in partnership with Ipsos, found that 54% of employees reported feeling under continuous pressure at work. The figure is 17 percentage points higher than the global average, suggesting that workplace stress is becoming a growing issue across the region.
Younger employees appear to be the most affected. Among workers aged 18 to 34, 58% said they had experienced constant strain, compared with 51% of those aged between 35 and 49 and 47% of employees aged 50 and above. The findings indicate that early-career professionals are facing greater workplace pressures than older colleagues.
Despite these challenges, employee confidence in organisations remains high. The survey showed that 81% of respondents would recommend their employer as a great place to work, while 77% expressed confidence in their company’s future direction. The report suggests that although employees continue to value their organisations, sustained workplace pressure could eventually affect morale, productivity and long-term engagement.
Researchers warned that maintaining high levels of employee advocacy alongside persistent workplace strain may not be sustainable. They noted that prolonged stress can reduce decision-making ability, weaken collaboration among teams and affect overall business performance, even if employees choose to remain with their organisations.
The survey, which gathered responses from 1,500 employees across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, also examined workforce retention. It found that nearly one in four employees, or 24%, expect to leave their current employer within the next two years. Workers in Qatar and Kuwait reported the strongest intention to change jobs, while Saudi Arabia recorded the lowest expected employee turnover among the four countries surveyed.
Artificial intelligence also featured prominently in employee opinions. Around 73% of respondents believe AI will improve their organisation’s competitiveness, reflecting optimism about the technology’s role in business growth. At the same time, nearly half of those surveyed, or 49%, expressed concerns that AI could threaten their job security, highlighting a growing need for organisations to address workforce uncertainty as digital transformation accelerates.
The report also pointed to the importance of workplace communication. About 76% of employees said their organisations encourage open and honest feedback. Employees who felt their opinions were welcomed were twice as likely to recommend their employer and were significantly more likely to remain with the organisation for at least three years.
The GCC People Pulse is a quarterly survey that tracks employee sentiment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, examining areas including wellbeing, employee engagement, inclusion, confidence and the impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace.
