ME EMERGING AS WORLD'S NEXT AI EPICENTRE

Region operationalising Al at enterprise scale for economic models, says Avtar Sehmbi

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Once considered a technology follower, the Middle East is rapidly redefining its role on the global stage, emerging as a powerhouse in artificial intelligence (AI). Driven by visionary policies, sovereign investment, and an unwavering commitment to data and compute sovereignty, Gulf nations are advancing Al far beyond experimentation into the core of national economies.

"Artificial intelligence is no longer experimental here," says Avtar Sehmbi, member of the Forbes Technology Council and Fast Company Executive Board. Sehmbi, a global executive who has planned and executed large-scale transformations at HSBC, Deloitte, Cigna, and Verizon, believes the region is setting a precedent. “The Gulf is operationalising it at enterprise scale and anchoring it into national economic models. That combination is rare, even among developed markets.”

State-led strategy and global ambition