CXO Insight Middle East - September 2018

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Welcome to the inaugural edition of CXO Insight Middle East. With a digital-first approach, our mission is to uncover stories of business transformation in the Middle East. The rapid uptake of digital technologies such as AI, blockchain and cloud computing is helping countries in the region to wean themselves off oilbased economies and reshape the future. Artificial intelligence is a case in point. The UAE has set up probably the world’s first ministry dedicated to AI. Not far away, Saudi Arabia is building a $500 billion digital city named NEOM. This AI-infused digital city will have more robots than humans and run entirely on renewable energy. Saudi’s neighbour Bahrain is aiming to be a regional fintech powerhouse and has already set up a hub to foster startups in this domain. On the connectivity front, 5G is being piloted by major telecom operators in almost all Middle Eastern countries and we are likely to see commercial launches as early as next year. This new generation of mobile technology is expected to accelerate the adoption of the Internet of Things and Smart City initiatives.