Artificial Intelligence in the Middle East
Many still view the Middle East through the lens of oil, reducing its ambitions in artificial intelligence to mere efforts to catch up.
The reality is far deeper. The region is undergoing an unprecedented strategic transformation, grounded in sovereignty and long-term vision, and driven by a determination to shape the future according to our national priorities, not according to external dictates.
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a headline topic at conferences; it has become a cornerstone of policy-making, economic diversification, and the strengthening of digital identity. Today, ministries and regulatory bodies are making decisions not merely about selecting technologies, but about defining the contours of their nations’ futures. The question is no longer whether we will use AI, but whether we will participate in shaping its future before it reshapes us.
We are not seeking to replicate Silicon Valley. We are building our own model, driven by our needs, supported by flexible policies, rapidly evolving infrastructure, and institutions redefining their roles. In a region unburdened by many historical constraints, we have a genuine opportunity to bypass traditional stages and leap directly to more advanced models—not because we are behind, but because we possess the courage to reimagine the rules of the game.
Behind every headline about an “AI summit,” discussions led by ministers, urban planners, and education experts revolve around fundamental questions: How do we build governance rooted in our values? How do we empower our youth to be creators of technology, not just its users?
These are not marginal questions; they are the foundation upon which regional sovereignty in the age of AI is built.
From smart cities in the Gulf to policy laboratories in North Africa, from predictive healthcare to judicial automation, each country has its own experience. What unites these experiences is confidence in the capacity to compete. We are not waiting for an invitation to participate in shaping the future; we are creating it.
We have the expertise. We have the vision. What we need today is for our voice to be heard with confidence and clarity. The next phase of AI development will not be measured by technology alone, but by the quality of leadership, the level of trust, and by voices capable of speaking about real transformation because they have lived it and contributed to its creation.
This is the role I believe in: helping governments transition from aspiration to actual implementation, with responsibility and sustainable impact.
