Article on Kingdom ranks among leading ma...

Saudi employers are among the world's most active adopters of AI in hiring, but new research shows that speed is creating a verification problem. More than half of Saudi HR and recruitment decision-makers uncovered identity fraud among candidates or employees in 2025, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by workforce solutions provider HireRight. The survey found 93 percent of Saudi organizations already use AI across HR functions, and nearly two-thirds of employers view candidates' use of generative AI positively - among the highest rates recorded globally. Seventy-six percent said they are confident they can identify AI-assisted job applications. Just 7 percent of surveyed organizations have yet to use AI to support key HR functions. AI is already embedded across HR functions in the Kingdom, most commonly in training and development, HR administration, workforce planning, and analytics. HR teams looking to build these capabilities can find training through AI for Human Resources courses.

From experimentation to strategy

James Randall, Middle East sales director at HireRight, said the debate has shifted from whether to use AI to how to use it responsibly. "Saudi Arabia is demonstrating that AI adoption in HR is maturing beyond experimentation and becoming a strategic business capability," he told Arab News. "With 93 percent of Saudi organizations already using AI across HR functions and nearly two-thirds of employers viewing candidates' use of generative AI positively, the conversation is naturally shifting from whether to use AI to how to use it responsibly."

Identity fraud is the new hiring risk

The survey found 57 percent of Saudi HR and recruitment decision-makers uncovered identity fraud among candidates or employees during 2025, placing the Kingdom among the highest-ranking markets surveyed. Randall said trust is becoming one of the defining challenges of AI-enabled recruitment. "As generative AI makes it easier for candidates to enhance applications and present themselves professionally, organizations need greater confidence that the information informing hiring decisions is accurate and authentic," he said. "Trust is becoming just as important as speed."

A different approach from the UAE

Saudi employers are more accepting of candidates using generative AI during recruitment than their counterparts in the UAE, but UAE organizations are pushing AI further into workforce management. The survey found 42 percent of UAE organizations already use AI to support promotion decisions, while 31 percent use it to assist termination decisions.

Why this matters for HR professionals

The findings put HR teams in Saudi Arabia in a specific position: AI-assisted applications are the norm, and fraud is common enough that verification can't be skipped. Randall said the most successful employers won't be those that simply automate recruitment, but those that pair AI-driven efficiency with strong governance, identity verification and screening practices. Human judgment remains essential, particularly for critical roles where skills, integrity and cultural fit cannot be assessed by technology alone. For HR managers who need to build these capabilities, an AI Learning Path for HR Managers covers recruitment automation and workforce analytics.