The Project Manager Competencies Towards Effective Performance of AI Projects in the UAE Banking Sector

Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the UAE banking sectors has created an urgent demand for project managers with specialised skills to lead these complex initiatives effectively. While AI adoption accelerates across UAE banks, a limited understanding of the specific skills and capabilities required for successful project implementation remains. The current research aims to investigate the relationship between defining project manager competencies and AI project success in UAE banking. The research employed a quantitative cross-sectional design, collecting data from 76 project managers across UAE banks through a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed strong relationships between project manager competencies and AI project success. Leadership abilities emerged as the strongest predictor (d = 0.782, p < 0.001), followed by technical skills (d = 0.724) and communication competencies (d = 0.698). Competencies explained 71.2% of the variance in stakeholder success (R² = 0.712). Organisational size significantly moderated competency-success relationships, with stronger effects in larger banks (effect size = 0.456). All hypothesised relationships demonstrated significant positive effects with good model fit indices (CFI = 0.942, RMSEA = 0.058). The study provides empirical evidence that project manager competencies significantly influence AI project outcomes in UAE banking. The key recommendations incorporate developing integrated competency frameworks, contextualising training programs based on organisational characteristics, implementing comprehensive assessment centres, and establishing mentoring programs. These findings have critical implications for banking institutions in selecting, developing, and supporting project managers leading AI initiatives.

Keywords: project management, artificial intelligence, banking sector, UAE, competencies, project success