How can AI transform nursing
Empowered to care
Nurses are not short on skill, judgement or compassion. They are short on time. Drawing on a GCC-wide survey of nurses conducted by PwC Middle East, this report examines how AI can empower the region’s nursing workforce while helping health systems address growing pressures across the region. It quantifies the potential productivity gains for health systems and outlines the policy, workforce and regulatory actions needed to scale AI safely while strengthening the nursing profession
Why it matters
Healthcare systems across the GCC are under growing pressure from rising demand, increasing care complexity and persistent workforce shortages. Nurses, the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, sit at the centre of this challenge.
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a powerful opportunity to reduce administrative burden, improve productivity and allow nurses to spend more time on patient care.
Drawing on a GCC-wide survey of nurses conducted by PwC Middle East, this report explores how AI can strengthen the nursing profession while helping health systems respond to workforce pressures.
A turning point for nursing in the GCC
Nursing is entering a period of significant transformation globally and across the GCC.
Key trends shaping healthcare systems include:
- Ageing populations and rising chronic disease
- Global shortages of nursing professionals
- Increasing expectations for efficient, high-quality care
In the GCC, the challenge is particularly acute. Approximately 71% of nurses in the region are expatriates, creating workforce sustainability risks and reinforcing the need for new approaches to productivity and workforce development.
AI is emerging as a powerful enabler that can help nurses manage rising care demands more effectively.
What the survey reveals
PwC’s Digital Health and AI Adoption Survey for Nurses (2025) highlights strong digital readiness across the profession.
Digital adoption is already widespread
AI is supporting core workflows.
Among nurses using AI tools:
Nurses view AI as a positive development
However, a capability gap remains
While 76% of nurses express interest in AI training, nearly 40% report having received no formal digital health or AI-related training.
The opportunity ahead
Evidence from global health systems shows that AI-enabled tools can significantly reduce time spent on administrative work.
Studies suggest AI can save one to two hours per nurse per shift, enabling more time to be redirected toward direct patient care.
PwC modelling indicates that AI adoption across GCC health systems could unlock:
- 93 million nursing hours annually
- US$ 2BN in productivity value
Greater adoption could generate even larger system-wide benefits.
Turning potential into impact
Technology alone will not resolve workforce challenges.
Realising the full value of AI will require:
- Investment in digital and AI capabilities for nurses
- Integration of AI into clinical workflows
- Stronger nursing career pathways
- Improved health data interoperability
- Policies that support workforce sustainability
When aligned with broader workforce reforms, AI can help expand nursing capacity while strengthening the profession.
Explore the full report
AI has the potential to reshape how nursing care is delivered across the GCC. Unlocking this potential will require coordinated action from policymakers, healthcare leaders and the nursing community.
The full report provides deeper insights into:
- Findings from the GCC-wide nurse survey
- Priority AI use cases in nursing practice
- Economic modelling of productivity gains
- Policy and workforce actions to scale AI responsibly
Download the report
Empowered to care: How can AI transform nursing
Contributors:
Dr. Farah Yehia, Senior Manager
Dr. Moin Rashid, Manager
Rita Mellouk, Senior Consultant
Mona Sobh, Senior Consultant
