You can’t go anywhere in the tech world these days without hearing it: “AI is changing everything.”
Sometimes that’s just hype. But when it comes to website development? It’s true
Whether you’re in North America (Toronto, New York, LA) or in the GCC (Riyadh, Dubai, Doha), AI is quietly reshaping how websites are planned, built, and improved. The changes aren’t just about speed — they’re about how much smarter, more personalized, and more costeffective the process has become.
So… What’s Actually Changing?
It’s not about robots replacing developers. Let’s get that out of the way. What’s really happening? AI is taking over the boring, repetitive stuff — the stuff no one actually enjoys doing — and freeing designers, developers, and marketers to work on the parts that make a difference.
1. AI Design Has Moved Way Past Templates
Before creating a website layout meant a designer disappearing for two or three weeks with Figma open and a dozen coffee cups on their desk. Now? AI design tools are doing in hours what used to take weeks.
In North America, I’ve seen agencies fire up MidJourney or Uizard just to rough out ideas for a corporate site or an eCommerce launch. And they don’t replace the designer — they just give them a head start.
In the GCC, it’s a whole different story. Designing for Arabic and English in the same layout used to be a genuine headache. Fonts, spacing, alignment… everything broke. Now, AI tools are finally getting good enough to create bilingual designs that actually look right. That’s a small miracle for any designer who’s been through it.
2. Content Creation Is Fast… But Not “CopyPaste Fast”
Yes, AI can crank out landing page copy or product descriptions in seconds. But here’s the thing: content that works in Canada or the USA doesn’t always land the same way in Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
In North America, AIgenerated content go straight into a site with almost no edits. It’s clean, SEOfriendly, and works.
In the GCC, though? It’s a different game. Tone matters. Formality matters. Even how you frame a promotion can change how it’s received. Businesses try to skip the human editing stage — let’s just say, it doesn’t end well. A “Buy Now” message in one market might feel pushy in another. AI can’t always see that.
3. Personalization Has Gotten Way Smarter
This is one of the most exciting shifts.
In North America, eCommerce sites are using AI to adjust product recommendations in real time. You look at a pair of shoes today, and tomorrow your homepage is basically a shoe store.
In the GCC, personalization has a different flavor. It’s less about “customers like you bought…” and more about bilingual interfaces, offers timed for Ramadan, or local payment preferences like Mada or Tabby. AI is helping make those adjustments faster and smarter.
4. Testing and Optimization Are Faster (and Less Painful)
Oldschool testing? Endless QA spreadsheets.
Now? AI testing tools simulate user journeys, catch bugs, and even predict where users might drop off before the site even launches.
North American teams are all over this for faster golives. In the GCC, AI testing is picking up speed too — especially on mobile, since so much of the traffic there is phonefirst.
Trends: GCC vs North America
Here’s what stands out:
- GCC: Bilingual website builds, AI personalization for Arabic audiences, and smooth integration with local payment gateways.
- North America: AI chatbots, conversiondriven personalization, and AI analytics to finetune campaigns.
In both, AI isn’t replacing developers. It’s changing what developers actually work on. Less grunt work, more smart problemsolving.
Why Businesses Should Pay Attention
AI can speed up launches, cut costs, and help you build smarter, more localized websites. But — and this is important — the final polish still needs human oversight. In GCC markets, that’s especially true because of cultural expectations; in North America, it’s about brand personality and nuance.
AI can speed up launches, cut costs, and help you build smarter, more localized websites. But — and this is important — the final polish still needs human oversight. In GCC markets, that’s especially true because of cultural expectations; in North America, it’s about brand personality and nuance.
Final Thought
AI isn’t taking over web development in the GCC or North America — but it’s definitely changing how things are done.
The companies winning right now are the ones blending AI speed with human insight. That’s what gets you a site that not only launches faster but also connects better with your audience — whether they’re in Toronto, Vancouver, Riyadh, Dubai, or Doha.
If you’re curious about using AI to upgrade your next website, we’re already building AIpowered websites for clients in both markets.
