Saudi employers are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to streamline recruitment and improve human resources operations, but the growing use of AI generated CVs and job applications is creating a new challenge around candidate verification and authenticity. New YouGov research commissioned by workforce solutions provider HireRight found that Saudi Arabia is among the world’s most AI forward hiring markets, with nearly two thirds of Saudi employers saying they view candidates’ use of generative AI positively. The figure is among the highest recorded across the markets surveyed. At the same time, 76 percent of Saudi employers said they are confident they can identify job applications that have been assisted by AI. The findings indicate that organizations in the Kingdom are increasingly comfortable with AI supported recruitment, while also facing the need to ensure that information provided by candidates accurately represents their qualifications and identity.
AI is already being used widely across human resources functions in Saudi Arabia, particularly in training and development, HR administration, workforce planning and analytics. Only 7 percent of organizations surveyed said they had not yet used AI to support key HR functions, meaning 93 percent are already using the technology in some capacity across HR operations. James Randall, Middle East sales director at HireRight, said the discussion around AI in human resources has moved beyond whether organizations should adopt the technology and is increasingly focused on how it can be deployed responsibly. He said Saudi Arabia is demonstrating that AI adoption in HR is moving beyond experimentation and becoming a strategic business capability. According to Randall, the high level of AI use across HR functions and the positive attitude toward generative AI assisted applications are naturally shifting the conversation toward responsible implementation. The survey found that streamlining hiring through new technologies, improving recruitment efficiency and enhancing the candidate experience are among the key priorities for employers.
However, the increasing role of AI in recruitment is also introducing risks related to identity and authenticity. The research found that 57 percent of Saudi HR and recruitment decision makers had uncovered identity fraud involving candidates or employees during 2025, placing Saudi Arabia among the highest ranking markets surveyed. Randall said trust is becoming one of the defining challenges associated with AI enabled recruitment. While generative AI allows candidates to improve applications and present themselves professionally, employers also need confidence that the information used to make hiring decisions is accurate and authentic. Saudi employers are also taking a different approach from organizations in the UAE. While employers in Saudi Arabia rank among the most accepting globally of candidates using generative AI during recruitment, organizations in the UAE are extending AI further into workforce management. According to the survey, 42 percent of UAE organizations already use AI to support promotion decisions, while 31 percent use it to assist with termination decisions. The differences highlight how organizations across the region are applying AI at different stages of the employment lifecycle.
Even as AI takes on a larger role in recruitment and human resources, Randall said technology should complement rather than replace human judgment. He argued that the most successful employers will combine AI driven efficiency with strong governance, identity verification and robust screening practices rather than simply automating recruitment processes. Human judgment remains important, particularly when organizations are hiring for critical roles where skills, integrity and cultural fit cannot be assessed by technology alone. The findings come as Saudi organizations continue integrating AI into recruitment, onboarding, workforce planning and employee development as part of wider digital transformation efforts under Vision 2030. As AI becomes a routine component of hiring, employers are increasingly considering not only how quickly technology can identify candidates but also how reliably those candidates can be verified. Randall said AI has the potential to make hiring faster and more effective as Saudi Arabia works to build a highly skilled workforce in support of Vision 2030, but its long term value will depend on ensuring that innovation strengthens rather than replaces the trust underpinning hiring decisions.
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