As a researcher interested in the intersection of AI and hiring, I argue that while AI can improve efficiency and consistency, human insight remains essential at every stage of recruitment. This insight is particularly important in MENA, where labor markets are undergoing a profound structural transformation, writes Professor Isabel Fernandez-Mateo, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. Recruitment is not a single yes-or-no decision. It is a sequence of interconnected funnels. Organizations define roles, craft job descriptions, attract applicants, screen CVs, conduct interviews, extend offers, and negotiate acceptance. At each stage, both employers and candidates make choices. AI increasingly shapes many of these decisions, but its influence is far from neutral.

Cultural nuance matters deeply in MENA. Communication styles differ across the Gulf, the Levant, and North Africa. Comfort with camera-based interviews varies by age, gender, and socioeconomic background.