Across the Middle East, artificial intelligence has moved from concept to competitive necessity. From energy and finance to public services and manufacturing, organizations are racing to embed intelligence into their operations — and governments are leading the charge with national AI strategies that align with ambitious transformation visions like Qatar National Vision 2030 and Saudi Vision 2030.

Yet, as AI adoption accelerates, one critical truth is emerging: successful AI depends on strong information foundations. The region’s CIOs and digital leaders are realizing that without trusted, unified, and governed data, even the most sophisticated AI models struggle to deliver consistent business value.

Emerging Trends in the Region

Middle Eastern enterprises are rapidly shifting from pilot projects to scaled AI adoption. Cloud investments are expanding, cybersecurity maturity is improving, and the appetite for data-driven decision-making is growing. Organizations are also moving toward platform-based strategies, replacing disconnected tools with unified systems that can manage information across the entire life cycle — from creation and collaboration to compliance and analytics.

A major trend is the rise of AI-empowered business autonomy: enabling non-technical teams to leverage AI directly for insight, automation, and innovation. This shift reflects a growing desire for agility, where business users are no longer dependent on IT to act.

Challenges Hindering AI Value

Despite the momentum, challenges persist. Many enterprises still operate with fragmented data silos, inconsistent governance, and limited access to AI-ready talent. Data privacy, regulatory alignment, and trust in automated decision-making remain ongoing concerns. Without addressing these fundamentals, organizations risk missing the true potential of AI — not because of technology limitations, but because of information immaturity.

Expert Perspective

As OpenText experts emphasize, AI without information is imagination. To unlock the next wave of transformation, Middle Eastern enterprises must strengthen their information architecture — ensuring it is secure, governed, and connected.

By embedding AI into every layer of the intelligent enterprise, organizations can achieve what regional leaders now demand: agility, autonomy, and resilience. Those who build this foundation today will define the Middle East’s next decade of innovation, efficiency, and growth.