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Source: Autodesk, 2025 State of Design & Make report and study data

31% D&M

40% AECO

29% M&E

Composition of the Middle East subset:

The State of Design & Make report is a global, annual, longitudinal study for leaders who design and make places, objects, and experiences. It identifies the most pressing issues shaping today’s businesses and helps leaders make informed, strategic decisions about how to prioritize and invest for the future. This is the third longitudinal year of this report series with data comparisons from the previous two reports.

260 survey respondents in 2025

150 survey respondents in 2024

Data for the Middle East was not gathered for the 2023 survey

2 in

DEMOGRAPHICS The Middle East

2025

2024

2023

55%

INSIGHT 1 Digital transformation efforts have an overwhelmingly positive impact

INSIGHT 2 Sustainability transitions from pressure to profitability

INSIGHT 3 AI solidifies its place as the top sustainability enabler

INSIGHT 4 The AI hype cycle meets reality

INSIGHT 5 Cost, tech, global economy and events are top concerns

INSIGHT 6 Leaders are cautious in the near term

INSIGHT 7 The search for talent intensifies, with a focus on AI skills

INSIGHT 8 Investments remain strong but reflect uncertainty

Top sustainability actions by year

Top organizational challenges for the Middle East

Leaders are feeling less prepared, more uncertain

Lack of skilled talent is hindering growth

AI sentiment is down across the Middle East

My company is well prepared to handle unforeseen future macroeconomic and geopolitical changes

The future global landscape feels more uncertain now than 3 years ago

80% 100%60%40%20%0%20% 0%40%60%80%100%

57% of leaders surveyed for this year’s report who agree that the global landscape is now more uncertain, compared to 63% in EMEA and 65% globally

65% of business leaders say their organizations will increase or strongly increase their investments over the next three years

85% in 2024 64% in EMEA 67% globally

54% of business leaders say that lack

of access to skilled talent is a barrier to their company’s growth

59% in 2024 55% in EMEA 58% globally

53% of business leaders they have had to let people go because

they lack technical skills

47% in 2024 47% in EMEA 49% globally

Leaders who say their organizations are diversifying their supply chains: 64% in 2025 85% in 2024VS

Digital design skills

Software development/ programming

Digital project management

3

2

1

1

30% cost control and cost management

33% EMEA 33% globally

24% global economy and events

22% EMEA 22% globally

25% technological advancements including AI

30% EMEA 31% globally

2 3

84%

58%

75%

57%

1

2024 2025

1 Used AI to be more sustainable

21 Decreased waste from production and construction

33 Used more recycled materials

Used AI to be more sustainable

Invested in more energy- efficient processes or machinery

Helped or required decreased carbon emissions from suppliers

Stakeholder influence is in decline

Investors PolicymakersEmployeesCustomers

90%

70%

50%

40%

60%

80%

2025

2024

Future hiring priorities

Top 3 benefits of digital transformation

1. Productivity

3. Reduced costs

2. Customer satisfaction

Top 3 barriers of digital transformation

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

2025 2024

Cost

Time needed to invest in new tools and ways of working

Lack of trained/skilled workers3

2

1

84% of business leaders believe that sustainability measures can generate in excess of 5% of their annual revenue 79% in 2024 72% in EMEA 72% globally

40% 50%30%20%10%0%

Spain

Germany

Middle East

Nordics

United Kingdom

France

Netherlands

Italy

Turkey

AI adoption for sustainability throughout EMEA

31%

32%

33%

39%

39%

40%

40%

41%

47%

AI will make my industry more creative

89% in 2024

68% in 2025

AI will enhance my industry

84% in 2024

67% in 2025

I trust AI technologies for my industry

87% in 2024

65% in 2025

I am confident my company will make the

right decisions regarding AI

85% in 2024

66% in 2025

58% of respondents say their investments in AI will increase, compared to 67% in EMEA and 68% globally

68% vs. 83%

Will enter new markets this year

2025 2024

65% vs. 89% 2025 2024

Will offer new services this year

45%

42%

34%

47%

29%

37%

Percent of organizations using AI to enable sustainability

The Middle East

https://damassets.autodesk.net/content/dam/autodesk/www/pdfs/2025-sdm-report-final.pdf