IDC Qatar CIO Summit 2025
ProceedingsArchitecting an AI-Fueled Business
Qatar is rapidly transforming into a tech-driven economy under its National Vision 2030 and national AI strategy, emphasizing innovation and economic diversification. The government is heavily investing in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, AI, big data, IoT, sustainability, and cybersecurity to advance Smart City projects and enhance public services.
With 69% of organizations prioritizing AI investments (IDC META Survey), Qatar is positioning itself as a leading regional tech hub. Business and technology leaders are focusing on strategies for the efficient, secure, and scalable deployment of AI, including GenAI, to boost agility and innovation while managing risks.
The 2025 edition of the IDC Qatar CIO Summit will feature a stellar line up of C-suite executives, influential analysts, industry thought leaders, international speakers, and market-leading solution providers. Together, they will discuss AI’s role as the leading technology enabler of business strategy and the endless potential it provides enterprises across the region. This premier gathering of ICT experts will examine the industry’s hottest topics, trends, and challenges, providing essential guidance on adapting to an unpredictable business landscape, implementing new business models, and scaling massively in the AI-powered digital economy.
Key Theme
Expert Perspectives
IDC Opening Keynote: CIO Strategies for Thriving in the Agentic AI Era
As AI unleashes a wave of investment and innovation worldwide, Qatar is making significant moves to position itself as a global AI hub. Across industries, CIOs are building strategies for an AI-fueled business future. Generative AI, and now Agentic AI technologies, are already accelerating digital business transformation, and promise to have significant impact on digital innovation, customer experience and operational efficiencies. As they prepare their organizations for the Agentic AI era, CIOs need to develop critical capabilities around use case prioritization, AI governance, skills development, infrastructure for AI, and data-readiness. This session will provide Qatar CIOs with a playbook to help focus their efforts, address challenges, and unlock value from AI investments.
Ranjit Rajan | IDC
Vice President, Research (META)
Ranjit Rajan
Event Sessions
Wednesday, November 12 2025 9:25 am | Location:
IDC Opening Keynote: CIO Strategies for Thriving in the Agentic AI Era
As AI unleashes a wave of investment and innovation worldwide, Qatar is making significant moves to position itself as a global AI hub. Across industries, CIOs are building strategies for an AI-fueled business future. Generative AI, and now Agentic AI technologies, are already accelerating digital business transformation, and promise to have significant impact on digital innovation, customer experience and operational efficiencies. As they prepare their organizations for the Agentic AI era, CIOs need to develop critical capabilities around use case prioritization, AI governance, skills development, infrastructure for AI, and data-readiness. This session will provide Qatar CIOs with a playbook to help focus their efforts, address challenges, and unlock value from AI investments.
Wednesday, November 12 2025 9:15 am | Location:
IDC Welcome Address
Delegate Journey

Knowledge Hub
Analyst Spotlight
From eGovernment to Invisible Government
AI and GenAI are transforming government operations across the Middle East and beyond. To harness their full potential amid geopolitical shifts, digital sovereignty issues, and rising citizen expectations, leaders must go beyond technology adoption—revisiting governance, risk management, and culture to build competencies that drive sustainable innovation and transformation.
Massimiliano Claps
Research Director
IDC
Read More
Analyst Spotlight
Enabling Security Outcomes with Artificial Intelligence
GenAI isn’t coming, it’s already here, reshaping what’s possible. Amid the hype and past disruptions like COVID-19, we often overlook how cybersecurity has matured. Once a niche concern, it now sits in the C-suite. Cyberattacks pose not only technical threats but also strategic business risks—today, cyber risk equals business risk.
Frank Dickson
IDC
Group Vice President, Security & Trust
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Partner Spotlight
From Digital Native to AI Native: The Next Five Years
We’ve seen this movie before. In the 1990s, enterprises either rebuilt for the web or bolted on a browser layer and hoped for the best. The winners rewrote. The same pattern is unfolding now — with AI. Only this time, the change will be faster, deeper, and more unforgiving.
Haitham Elkhatib
UnifyApps
Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer
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Partner Spotlight
The Race to Embrace AI: Building the Intelligent Enterprise in the Middle East
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.
Geritt Otto
OpenText
Lead Solution Consultant
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Partner Spotlight
The GenAI Shift: Redefining How Enterprises Think, Work, and Grow
The next wave of transformation is not digital — it’s intelligent. Generative AI (GenAI) is rewriting how organizations create value, drive innovation, and sustain growth. What once seemed like a disruptive experiment is now the foundation of a new business model — one built on adaptive intelligence and continuous reinvention.
Serhat Gezgin
NTT DATA Business Solutions
Managing Director Qatar & Lebanon
Read MoreVenue
Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas
Experience the elegance of the Grand Hyatt Doha — a landmark of luxury and innovation, perfectly suited to host the IDC Qatar CIO Summit 2025.
Ballroom Name: Al Silia Ballroom