CIO Summit Saudi Arabia
The Rise of Agentic Systems
Celebrating 16 years of thought leadership, the IDC CIO Summit – Saudi Arabia returns on 28–29 September 2026 in Riyadh as the country’s premier gathering of technology decision-makers.
Saudi Arabia is entering a decisive phase of its digital transformation as Vision 2030 nears completion. Backed by a $100 billion national AI investment, the Kingdom is accelerating adoption of AI, automation, and data-driven innovation, though most organizations remain in early stages.
The rise of Agentic AI heightens the need to modernize legacy systems, strengthen data foundations, expand AI talent, and align with national digital sovereignty priorities.
The IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2026 will convene senior leaders from government, industry, and technology to define strategies for responsible, scalable AI deployment and support the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global hub for digital intelligence.
IDC Saudi Arabia Advisory Council 2026
Yazeed Alotaibi
Assitant Deputy Minister for Planning & Digital Transformation
Ministry of Health (MOH)
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Dr. Abdulrahman Al Khnaifer
Chief Information Officer
King Saud University (KSU)
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Dr. Akram Nour
Chief of Digital Transformation
Misk Foundation
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Dr. Eyad Buhulaiga
Chief Data & Digital Strategy Officer
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)
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Ibraheem Sheerah
Group Chief Transformation Officer
Saudia Airlines
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Jayesh Maganlal
Chief Information & Digital Officer
ROSHN
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Paul Potgieter
Chief Information Officer
NEOM
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Eng. Manal Al-Bawardi
Chief Information Officer
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM)
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Yazeed Alotaibi
Yazeed Alotaibi serves as assistant deputy minister for planning & digital transformation within Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health (MOH). He possesses vast experience in the areas of business and digital healthcare transformation, having delivered a number of key strategic transformational programs for the Ministry. For example, he led and directed the delivery and execution of the MOH Digital Strategies, the National Digital Health Blueprint, and the Digital Health Governance Frameworks. Over the course of his career, he has led multiple functions within the ehealth and digital transformation deputyship, such as the Office of Strategy Management, the Enterprise Architect Function, and the Digital Program Management Office.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al Khnaifer
Dr. Abdulrhman Alkhanifer is a digital transformation consultant specialized in building the digital journeys CX/UX. Currently, he is the CIO at King Saud University. Also, he serves as the CEO of K-Devs company. Dr. Alkhanifer received his PhD from Rochester Institute of Technology in NY,USA.
Dr. Akram Nour
Dr. Akram Nour, PhD, is recognized as one of Saudi Arabia’s most influential digital leaders, spearheading transformative initiatives across both public and private sectors. As chief digital officer at the Misk Foundation, he is responsible for leading the digital transformation across the Misk ecosystem, which includes key projects such as iLmi, Misk Art, and the Smart City project in Misk City. His efforts focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and data intelligence into the kingdom’s digital strategy, empowering youth and fostering innovation in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Dr. Nour’s professional journey spans academia, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership. His diverse experiences include co-founding start-ups and leading national digital programs, showcasing his ability to turn visionary ideas into impactful and sustainable transformations. He continues to inspire a new generation of leaders, demonstrating his commitment to cultivating a digital-first culture that enhances innovation and societal advancement within the kingdom.
Dr. Eyad Buhulaiga
Dr. Eyad Buhulaiga is a pioneering leader in data, digital, and industrial transformation, currently serving as Chief Data Management & Digital Strategy Officer at Saudi Electricity Company. Drawing on his IT management background and deep expertise in cyber-physical systems and Manufacturing Operation Management, he spearheads the Data Management Office, Enterprise Architecture Office, and digital venture initiatives. Guided by a passion for smart plants and cities, Eyad’s mission is to harness advanced technologies to create sustainable, future-ready ecosystems that benefit generations to come.
Ibraheem Sheerah
Ibraheem Sheerah lives by the principles: “Family is the foundation of purpose,” “Transformation begins when we choose courage over comfort,” and “Every system thrives when leadership and collaboration align.” He is an accomplished board member and transformational leader with over 25 years of diversified experience across aviation, logistics, defense, infrastructure, and public-sector reform. He currently serves as Chief Transformation Officer of Saudi Arabian Airlines Group, leading enterprise-wide transformation across its portfolio.
Ibraheem began his career as an engineer in 1999, progressing to senior leadership roles in project management, strategy, and business development with national champions such as Advanced Electronics Company (AEC, a SAMI subsidiary) and Saudi Railways Company (SAR, a PIF company). From 2016 to 2021, he played a pivotal role in advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs, including the Privatization Program and the Quality of Life Program. Since 2021, he has been at the helm of the Saudia Airline Group’s transformation, leading enterprise-wide strategic change, driving performance improvement, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth across the airline, cargo, maintenance, logistics, and training divisions. Central to this work has been his focus on engaging people, building trust, and effectively managing resistance, recognizing that lasting transformation succeeds only when teams are inspired, aligned, and empowered to embrace change.
As a board member across multiple organizations, Ibraheem brings governance discipline, strategic foresight, and transformation expertise to the boardroom, guided by the principle: “Strong governance empowers sustainable growth.” A champion of innovation and entrepreneurship, he has helped build new businesses and support founders in scaling their ventures, believing that “Entrepreneurship succeeds when curiosity meets execution.”
He holds multiple academic degrees and has completed more than 46 executive programs from leading institutions including Harvard, MIT, and INSEAD. Recognized among the MiSK 2030 Leaders, he is a sought-after international speaker, sharing insights on leadership, strategy execution, and industry transformation.
Jayesh Maganlal
Jayesh Maganlal currently serves as group chief information and digital officer (GCIDO) at ROSHN Real Estate, where he drives the company’s digital transformation and innovation agenda. With more than 22 years of experience leading technology and business transformations across various industries in global multinationals, as well as regional industries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, Jayesh is a highly accomplished executive. Before joining ROSHN Real Estate, he held several leadership positions in the region, including CIO at Damac, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, and a government-owned budget airline in Dubai. He has a proven track record of delivering successful technology and business initiatives that result in significant cost savings, revenue growth, and improved customer experiences. With extensive experience in solving various business challenges across all technology areas in diversified industries, Jayesh is highly adept at grasping complexity and driving simplicity. He has a win-win mindset and excels at building profitable long-term relationships while helping companies grow. As a digital evangelist, Jayesh champions the use of data and technology practices to instil a digital mindset from the top down.
Paul Potgieter
Paul Potgieter is a technology leader at the forefront of AI and industrial innovation in the Middle East. As part of the senior leadership team at NEOM’s advanced and cognitive industrial city, Paul is driving the integration of artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and sustainable industry to help shape the world’s most advanced manufacturing ecosystem as Chief Information Officer.
He also serves as board director of the South African Business Council, strengthening economic and technology collaboration between Africa and the Gulf region.
Recently recognized by MIT Sloan Management as one of the Top 50 AI Leaders in the Middle East, Paul is known for bridging the gap between boardrooms and borders, transforming ambitious ideas into scalable, real-world impact.
Eng. Manal Al-Bawardi
Manal Albawardi is the Chief Information Officer of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), where she leads the university’s digital strategy, enterprise technology, and innovation agenda in support of education, research excellence, and national priorities.
She holds a Master of Science in software engineering from DePaul university in Chicago and an MBA from ie business school and has completed advanced executive education programs at Harvard University, London Business School, and the Wharton School, with a focus on leadership, strategy, innovation, and digital transformation. Manal is also a first-cohort graduate of the Misk 2030 Leaders Program, a flagship initiative designed to prepare national leaders to advance Saudi Vision 2030.
With deep expertise at the intersection of technology, governance, and artificial intelligence, Manal brings a pragmatic, strategic perspective on AI adoption, data-driven decision-making, and digital resilience in complex organizations. Her work emphasizes aligning emerging technologies with institutional strategy, ethical governance, and long-term sustainability.
As a CIO, she is an active voice in shaping conversations on the evolving role of CIOs in the age of AI, particularly within higher education and research-driven environments.
Expert Perspectives
Hear from global thought leaders, visionary CIOs, and celebrity speakers redefining technology, leadership, and innovation across the region.
IDC Opening Keynote: The AI Moment: Strategies for CIOs in the Middle East
Matt Eastwood | IDC
SVP, World Wide Research
Matt Eastwood
Matt Eastwood is Senior Vice President of IDC’s enterprise infrastructure, cloud, telecom, security, developers, channels and enabling technology research groups. Mr. Eastwood and his team research people, process and technology trends affecting the enterprise technology marketplace worldwide. Mr. Eastwood first joined IDC in 2000 as part of the server team and his responsibilities have evolved and expanded during his tenure. In his current role, he leads a team of more than 100 analysts providing insights and analysis to IT suppliers, buyers, investors, and distributors through more than 75 syndicated research programs. Mr. Eastwood also leads IDC’s BuyerView primary research programs which are focused on defining emerging trends in cloud, developers, service providers, edge, AI and security.
Mr. Eastwood joined IDC in 2000. He provides in-depth market analysis, research, and consulting on all aspects of the enterprise infrastructure marketplace to IT professionals, investors, resellers and technology suppliers. During his tenure at IDC, Mr. Eastwood has led IDC primary research focused on emerging trends in enterprise systems and data centers. This primary research allows IDC to make continuous assessments regarding how customers are deploying and using enterprise infrastructure power digital transformation. Recent topics covered in Mr. Eastwood’s research include: Software Defined Infrastructure, Integrated infrastructure, Convergence, Disaggregated Infrastructure, Virtualization & Automation, Cloud Computing, High Availability, Platform Migration and Datacenter Workloads. Mr. Eastwood also serves as IDC’s lead analyst covering Dell and VMware.
Prior to joining IDC, Mr. Eastwood worked for twelve years as a senior project manager and environmental consultant at CDM Smith in Boston. Mr. Eastwood was responsible for managing the planning and design of large environmental infrastructure projects including wastewater collection and treatment facilities. In addition, Mr. Eastwood served as Operations Manager of the firm’s New England practice.
Mr. Eastwood received a bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston and earned his MS in Engineering Project Management from WPI in Worcester, MA. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Massachusetts.
Event Sessions
Day 1 9:05 am
IDC Opening Keynote: The AI Moment: Strategies for CIOs in the Middle East
Our Partners
UnifyApps
UnifyApps is the Enterprise Operating System for AI that empowers organizations to transform into AI-native enterprises. Its horizontal platform connects systems of record, knowledge, and activity, enabling enterprises to find data, think with AI models, and act within business workflows—turning stalled GenAI pilots into scalable, production-grade solutions.
With thousands of pre-built integrations and an LLM-agnostic design, UnifyApps helps enterprises operationalize AI securely and confidently. Founded in 2023 and backed by WestBridge Capital, ICONIQ, and Elevation Capital, UnifyApps is headquartered in New York with a presence across the Americas, EMEA, and India.
Learn more at www.unifyapps.com or follow UnifyApps on LinkedIn.
Zero&One
Zero&One is a leading AI & Cloud Solutions expert that leverages the innovative capabilities of the cloud to help customers build new revenue streams, increase efficiency, and deliver incredible experiences. Founded in 2017, Zero&One has since evolved into a full lifecycle cloud adoption enabler. As an AWS Premier Consulting Partner, the company brings unmatched AWS expertise to support organizations throughout their digital transformation journey.
DStation
DStation is a data governance and maturity orchestration partner serving organisations across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.
As AI, automation, and advanced analytics accelerate, many organisations face a growing challenge: technology adoption is moving faster than governance maturity. This creates what we call the Governance Gap.
DStation works with enterprises, regulated organisations, and digital transformation leaders to strengthen data governance frameworks, align technology infrastructure with regulatory expectations, and embed governance directly into operational systems rather than policy documents.
Our focus is helping organisations move from periodic compliance exercises to continuous operational readiness, improving data maturity, accountability, and trust.
In an AI-driven economy, data is no longer just an asset. It is capital, currency, and the foundation of digital sovereignty.
DStation’s product is launching summer of 2026 with a mission to help organisations turn regulatory intent into operational certainty.
NourNet
Zoho Corporation
For more than 25 years, Zoho has been committed to building software and technology that help businesses excel. From small companies to large organizations, more than 130 million users worldwide rely on Zoho to get work done. Zoho is privately held and profitable with more than 18,000 employees. Its privacy-first approach, long-term thinking, deep engineering focus, and customer-centric philosophy make it one of the world’s most prolific technology companies. Headquartered in Chennai, India, Zoho has additional offices in the United States, Japan, China, Canada, Singapore, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. For more information, visit www.zoho.com
Cloudflare
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company on a mission to help build a better Internet. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.
Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.
Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at radar.cloudflare.com.
ManageEngine
ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of IT management solutions for organizations across the world. With a powerful, flexible, and AI-powered digital enterprise management platform, we help businesses get their work done from anywhere and everywhere—better, safer, and faster. To learn more, visit www.manageengine.com
Veeam
Veeam is the Data and AI Trust Company, specializing in helping organizations ensure their data and AI are fully understood, secured, and resilient to enable the acceleration of safe AI at scale. As the market leader in both data resilience and data security posture management, Veeam is built for the convergence of identity, data, security, and AI risk.
Veeam delivers deep contextual intelligence across every data asset, identity, and AI model. The company governs access for both humans and AI agents, automates privacy, compliance, and remediation processes, and protects and recovers organizations from modern threats — including ransomware, disasters, AI errors, and ensuring the restoration of clean, trusted data. Veeam empowers organizations to move beyond simply protecting data, enabling them to activate and unlock its full potential.
Headquartered in Seattle with offices in more than 30 countries, Veeam protects over 550,000 customers worldwide, including 82% of the Fortune 500, who trust Veeam to keep their businesses running. Learn more at www.veeam.com or follow Veeam on LinkedIn @veeam-software and X @veeam.
Learn more at www.veeam.com or follow Veeam on LinkedIn @veeam-software and X @veeam.
ONE ECM
ONE ECM is your “Digital Information Partner,” providing on-premise and cloud solutions to manage the complete information lifecycle. Specialising in Enterprise Information and Legal Management, Cognitive Intelligence, and Intelligent Document Processing, ONE ECM is ISO and ICV certified, enabling digital transformation through customer-centric expertise, proven best practices, and global support footprint across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and beyond.
Netskope
Netskope, a global SASE leader, helps organizations apply zero trust principles and AI/ML innovations to protect data and defend against cyber threats. Fast and easy to use, the Netskope One platform and its patented Zero Trust Engine provide optimized access and real-time security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go. Thousands of customers trust Netskope and its powerful NewEdge network to reduce risk and gain unrivaled visibility into any cloud, web, and private application activity—providing security and accelerating performance without trade-offs.
FileOrbis
FileOrbis is an on-premise file management and sharing system that is equipped with unique usage and control features. It is a safe, fast and easy platform that can be integrated into file structures, security solutions, and you can start using it quickly by integrating it into existing user permissions and file environments. It collects all file environments that your users have access on a single screen. It provides easy and location-independent file access to users via mobile, web and Outlook Add-in. Your users can easily share their files within the establishment and exchange files with external users, without file size limit. While your users gain a comfortable and safe working environment, you can increase the manageability of your establishment’s files, control access permissions – report, prevent sensitive data leakage, or even economize the workload you spend on IT needs of your end users.
Skillsoft
We believe skills fuel growth. For organizations. For learners. For whatever comes next.
At Skillsoft, our mission is to empower every organization and every learner to turn constant change into continuous growth. We do that by helping customers understand what skills matter, build real capability through learning, and move forward with confidence as work evolves.
This belief is grounded in decades of learning expertise and shaped by what leaders and learners need today: clarity, readiness, and progress they can see and feel.
Barco
About Barco
Barco, headquartered in Kortrijk (Belgium), is a global company leading in visualization, networking, and collaboration technology. Its innovative solutions drive advancements in the healthcare, enterprise, and entertainment markets. At the heart of Barco’s success are over 3,000 dedicated ‘visioneers’, each passionately contributing to driving change through technology.
Barco is listed on Euronext (BAR), Reuters (BARBt.BR), and Bloomberg (BAR BB). For further insights, please visit www.barco.com.
DigiNation
We deliver intelligent, tailored solutions that help organizations automate, integrate, and scale.
Traditional/Low-Code/No-Code development, ECM/DMS/CMS, Workflow Automation, RPA, AI Ecosystems & LLM Solutions, RPA, Data Analytics & Visualization, ESB/API Management, DevOps, and UI/UX.
HCLTech
HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 227,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Semiconductor, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Mobility and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending March 2026 totaled $14.7 billion. To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.
AWS | Zero&One
Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 123 Availability Zones within 39 geographic regions, with announced plans for 7 more Availability Zones and 2 more AWS Regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Chile. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.
Privacy Policy: https://aws.amazon.com/privacy/
Zero&One
Zero&One, Part of NTT Data, is a leading AI & Cloud Solutions Expert that leverages the innovative capabilities of the cloud to help customers build new revenue streams, increase efficiency, and deliver incredible experiences.
Privacy Policy: https://zeroandone.me/privacy-policy.html
Security Matterz
Security Matterz is a premier cybersecurity company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to protecting your digital landscape with cutting-edge solutions.
With a legacy of safeguarding critical assets since 2007, we are known for our expertise, innovative approach, and unwavering commitment to cybersecurity excellence. We help businesses across the Middle East stay secure, resilient, and ahead of emerging threats.
Kualitatem
Kualitatem helps enterprise technology leaders ship faster, reduce release risk, and build quality into their software delivery — not bolt it on after the fact.
Across 3,000+ engagements in banking, healthcare, government, finance, and telecom, Kualitatem has helped CIOs and engineering leaders fix the gaps that slow down digital transformation: inadequate QA maturity, security vulnerabilities in production, compliance blind spots, and testing bottlenecks that delay every release cycle.
The firm brings independent validation through TMMi Level 5, SOC 2,and ISO 27001:2022 certifications — with delivery teams across the globe.
For technology leaders under pressure to deliver more with less margin for error, Kualitatem is the partner that makes quality a competitive advantage, not a constraint.
Cloudypedia
AvePoint
AvePoint is the global leader in data protection, unifying data security, governance, and resilience to provide a trusted foundation for AI. More than 25,000 customers rely on the AvePoint Confidence Platform to secure, govern, and rapidly recover data across Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, and other cloud environments. With a single platform for lifecycle control, multicloud governance, and rapid recovery paired with clear ownership across the business, we prevent overexposure and sprawl, modernize legacy and fragmented data, and minimize data loss and interruption. Our global partner ecosystem includes 5,000 MSPs, VARs, and SIs, and our solutions are available in over 100 cloud marketplaces. To learn more, visit www.avepoint.com
