ReqReadyAI Expands into GCC to Bridge Urgent AI Talent Gap

Move positions the company at the center of the Middle East’s booming artificial intelligence ecosystem

RICHARDSON, TX —ReqReadyAI, a people-focused hiring solutions provider leveraging artificial intelligence, today announced its strategic expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The move addresses the critical shortage of AI talent as governments and enterprises across the Middle East make historic investments in artificial intelligence. 

AI Investment Meets Talent Shortage

The GCC has rapidly emerged as a global AI hub. According to IMARC Group, the regional AI market reached $5.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to soar to $22.4 billion by 2033. Saudi Arabia and the UAE alone have pledged up to $100 billion in multi-year AI initiatives. 

Research by McKinsey estimates that generative AI could add $21–35 billion annually to the GCC economy. Already, 74% of organizations in the region use generative AI in at least one business function, and 57% allocate over 5% of their digital budgets to it—far higher than the global average of 33%. 

Yet execution lags behind investment. Only 10 of 140 organizations surveyed generate more than 5% of earnings from AI initiatives. Skills shortages are a major barrier: Qlik reports that 24–25% of firms in Saudi Arabia and the UAE cite lack of talent as their biggest hurdle. Compounding the problem, 95% of UAE companies hire technology workers from abroad, many of whom lack specialized AI expertise. 

Regional Leadership

Heading ReqReadyAI’s expansion is Olfat Beaini, a seasoned recruitment executive based in Lebanon. Beaini brings cultural fluency, industry knowledge, and strong regional networks to help navigate the GCC’s unique hiring challenges. 

“Governments and corporations are making historic bets on AI, but without the right people, those investments may never deliver their full value,” said Mikey McPhail, CEO of ReqReadyAI. “There’s a widening gap between demand and supply in areas like data science, analytics, and AI engineering. Unless addressed quickly, companies risk missing the wave of technological advancement.” 

Solving Hiring Inefficiencies

The challenge extends beyond talent scarcity. Many GCC organizations struggle with outdated job descriptions, misaligned compensation models, and inefficient screening processes that flood hiring managers with unqualified candidates. 

ReqReadyAI’s AI-powered recruitment platform tackles these pain points by automating the “heavy data lifting” behind job taxonomy, compensation benchmarking, and resume screening. The system enables precise hiring strategies while allowing HR leaders to focus on building human connections and strong teams. 

Strategic Market Opportunity

Unlike larger global staffing firms that historically avoided the Middle East due to cultural and geopolitical concerns, ReqReadyAI sees the GCC as a strategic growth frontier. 

“The big-box staffing firms—Manpower, Kelly, Randstad—stayed away from this region,” McPhail added. “But there is incredible talent here, and our model is designed to unlock it.” 

By establishing a dedicated regional presence, ReqReadyAI positions itself as a nimble partner capable of addressing the unique dynamics of the GCC’s fast-evolving AI ecosystem. 

About ReqReadyAI

ReqReadyAI provides people-focused hiring solutions powered by AI technology. Its platform addresses critical HR pain points—from outdated job descriptions to inefficient resume screening—helping organizations attract, evaluate, and retain the right talent. By automating data-heavy processes, ReqReadyAI empowers hiring managers to focus on what humans do best: building meaningful connections and great teams. 

📍 Learn more: www.reqreadyai.com