Dentsu CMO report: AI speeds up marketing, but major cost savings remain elusive.
Dentsu’s survey of 1,950 senior marketing decision-makers finds faster delivery with AI, but limited major cost efficiencies. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were not surveyed.
By Brief & Butter · Nov 1, 2026Research publisher: Dentsu Creative
Dentsu Creative’s Making It Real report finds a gap between AI’s promise and its perceived business impact. In the publisher’s summary, 71% of surveyed marketing leaders say AI improves speed to market, while 70% say they have not seen major cost efficiencies.
71%
Say AI improves speed to market
70%
Have not seen major cost efficiencies
Why it matters
For Gulf marketing teams, the findings offer a benchmark for distinguishing faster production from financial value. They do not establish returns achieved by Saudi or UAE advertisers.
How the research was done
Dentsu designed the research, which B2B International fielded in April 2026 among 1,950 senior marketing decision-makers across 14 markets. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE was included. Responses describe leaders’ views rather than independently measured campaign returns.
This summary uses Dentsu’s public announcement dated 14 October 2026; that regional announcement date should not be treated as the first global release date.
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