Recruiters and hiring managers across the UAE say the growing use of artificial intelligence by job seekers is making it harder to judge candidates' genuine abilities. A recent industry survey found that 60 per cent of hiring professionals now consider it more difficult to assess real capability, while the share of employers unsure how to evaluate AI-related skills effectively has doubled, from 16 per cent last year to 32 per cent this year.
Aws Ismail, co-founder of Onyx AI Solutions, said candidates increasingly rely on AI tools to polish applications and prepare for interviews, meaning a CV alone now reveals far less than it used to. He added, however, that AI can also help employers uncover overlooked talent in international markets who might otherwise be missed.
Nickie Wilson, executive director at Genie Recruitment, warned against letting human judgement slip out of the process. Without it, she said, companies risk choosing candidates who are simply skilled at using AI to present themselves, rather than at doing the job, stressing the need for direct conversation and verification of a candidate's actual track record.
Nisha Nair, recruitment manager at Innovations Global, called for evidence-based, competency-driven hiring, including practical assignments and technical tests, cautioning that AI can help even inexperienced applicants produce highly convincing applications.
As a result, many UAE companies are shifting toward scenario-based interviews, structured and analytical questioning, and real work samples to get a clearer picture of what candidates can actually do, alongside AI-assisted live interviews designed to probe responses in real time rather than relying on a polished CV alone.