Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced the Middle East findings of its 11th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report. Based on global research with manufacturing leaders, including a representative cohort from the region, the report highlights how Middle Eastern manufacturers are rapidly advancing from digital ambition to operational execution.
The findings show that the Middle East stands out as the most committed region globally to digital transformation. Ninety-eight percent of manufacturers recognize it as essential, significantly higher than Europe, the United States and the global average. This commitment is matched by investment, with organizations allocating close to 30% of operating budgets to industrial technology, underlining a clear strategic focus on building globally competitive manufacturing capabilities.
“Manufacturers in the Middle East are not just adopting digital technologies, they are scaling them at pace,” said Ediz Eren, regional vice president, Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, Rockwell Automation. “What sets the region apart is the combination of strong investment, clear strategic intent and a willingness to embed advanced technologies directly into operational environments.”
Artificial intelligence is at the heart of this transformation. Adoption has reached near-universal levels, with almost all manufacturers either using or planning to use AI, and generative AI now fully embedded across the region. More importantly, AI is no longer confined to isolated use cases. It is actively augmenting operational technology systems, supporting everything from quality control to cybersecurity and process optimization.
The emphasis is firmly on performance. AI is being applied to areas that directly improve production efficiency, resilience and decision-making, reflecting a broader shift toward outcome-driven digital transformation. This focus on practical value is also reflected in how manufacturers prioritize investment, with AI and machine learning identified as delivering the strongest return on investment across the region.
At the same time, the rapid pace of transformation is creating new challenges. Workforce capability is emerging as the primary constraint, with change management pressures increasing significantly year-on-year. As organizations introduce new technologies at scale, the ability to adapt processes, skills and organizational structures is becoming critical to success.
Manufacturers are responding by investing heavily in workforce development. Reskilling programs are expanding across the region, and there is a growing emphasis on attracting talent with the digital and AI capabilities required to support increasingly complex industrial environments. The importance of AI skills reflects a structural shift in how manufacturing workforces are being defined.
Cybersecurity remains a central priority as connectivity expands across industrial operations. While investment levels remain extremely high, the nature of the challenge is evolving. Manufacturers are balancing the need to secure increasingly complex systems with the realities of operating highly connected environments, where exposure to cyber risk is an ongoing consideration.
Alongside AI, simulation technologies such as digital twins are gaining rapid traction. Most manufacturers are planning investment in these technologies within the next year, significantly outpacing other regions. These tools are enabling organizations to simulate production environments, optimize performance and reduce risk before implementing changes on the factory floor.
However, as with other regions, the ability to fully unlock value from digital technologies depends on data. While manufacturers are generating large volumes of operational data, a significant proportion remains underutilized. Bridging this gap between data collection and data-driven decision-making will be critical to sustaining the region’s momentum.
More broadly, the Middle East is demonstrating a distinct model of digital transformation. Investment is high, adoption is widespread and the focus is firmly on operational outcomes. Rather than moving incrementally, manufacturers are accelerating toward fully integrated digital operations, supported by advanced technologies and a clear strategic vision.
Taken together, the findings suggest that the Middle East is not only keeping pace with global industrial transformation, but in many areas setting the direction. The next phase will depend on how effectively organizations can scale these capabilities, align workforce strategies and continue to translate digital ambition into industrial performance.
Middle East at a glance
- 98% of manufacturers say digital transformation is essential
- ~30% of operating budgets allocated to industrial technology
- 59% have already invested in AI or machine learning
- 98% use or plan to use AI, 100% for generative AI
- 56% have invested in generative AI
- 98% say AI augments operational technology
- 55% use AI for quality control, 50% for cybersecurity, 49% for optimization
- 46% cite change management as the top workforce challenge (up from 21%)
- 40% of employees are engaged in reskilling (up from 30%)
- 97% are investing in or planning cybersecurity
- 57% report experiencing a cyberattack in the past year
- 56% plan to invest in digital twins within 12 months
- 41% of operational data is used effectively
- 35% identify AI and ML as delivering the highest ROI
Methodology
This report analyzes feedback from 1,560 respondents across 17 of the top manufacturing countries representing roles from management through C-suite and was conducted by Sapio Research in association with Rockwell Automation. The survey sampled from a range of industries including Consumer Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Semiconductor, Energy, Life Sciences, and more. With a balanced distribution of company sizes with revenues spanning $100 million to over $30 billion, it offers a wide breadth of manufacturing business perspectives.
