As cloud adoption accelerates in the UAE, expectations around control of data, systems, and AI are more clearly defined. For government and regulated industries, digital sovereignty is no longer a background consideration; it is shaping every major cloud decision. The question is no longer whether to adopt cloud technologies, but how to do so while meeting increasingly precise sovereignty requirements.
IDC data shows that adoption of sovereign cloud offerings in the region is already quite strong, with increased momentum expected through 2026. Organizations in the UAE now view data sovereignty and access to sovereign cloud environments as essential criteria when selecting AI partners.
At this exclusive gala dinner facilitated by IDC, discover how the UAE Sovereign Launchpad by e& enterprise and Amazon Web Services (AWS), enables government and regulated industries to innovate with confidence while maintaining trust, control, and regulatory alignment.
Sovereign Cloud
Day 1
Welcome & Networking Reception
Opening Address
Khalid Murshed
Chief Executive Officer, e& enterprise
Chris Erasmus
General Manager, UAE & RoMENA, AWS
The UAE’s Digital Sovereignty Vision
The UAE Sovereign Launchpad — Enabling Trusted, Compliant Cloud
Executive Panel Discussion
Ranjit Rajan
Vice President, Research (META), IDC
Hamzah Nazmi A. Al Najjar
Sector Lead, AWS
Closing Remarks
Networking dinner
Speakers
Khalid Murshed
Chief Executive Officer
e& enterprise
Read Bio
Khalid Murshed
Khalid Murshed is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of e& enterprise. Prior to this, he was the Chief Technology & Information Officer (CTIO) of e& UAE. With over 26 years of experience in the MENA telecom industry, he brings a wealth of expertise in technology leadership and operational excellence.
During his tenure as Chief Technology & Information Officer of e& UAE, Khalid spearheaded several groundbreaking achievements, including the deployment of the region’s first enhance 5G Standalone network and achieving the world’s fastest 5G speeds of 30.5Gbps and aggregated 5G-Advanced speed of 62Gbps. Under his leadership, e& UAE also set benchmarks in completing trials of ultra-high-speed optical solutions and net-zero 5G Massive MIMO site deployments at COP28, aligned with the group’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
He joined e& in 2013 as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for e& Egypt (formerly Etisalat Misr), where he played a critical role in launching the 4G network alongside various mobile networks, establishing the company as the second leading telco in Egypt. Following this, he assumed the role of e& UAE’s CTIO in January 2022. Prior to joining e&, Khalid held leadership roles at Emirates Telecommunications Company (du) as Vice President Mobile Access Network and at Mobily as Director of Network Development, where he was instrumental in overseeing the development and optimisation of mobile networks.
Drawing upon his technological expertise, strategic vision, and deep understanding of industry trends, Khalid’s leadership is set to drive innovation and transformation at e& enterprise, further strengthening the company’s position as a digital transformation leader in the region and beyond.
Khalid holds a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Khalifa University in the UAE.
Event Sessions
Wednesday, February 11 2026 7:00 pm | Location:
Opening Address
Chris Erasmus
General Manager, UAE & RoMENA
AWS
Read Bio
Chris Erasmus
Event Sessions
Wednesday, February 11 2026 7:00 pm | Location:
Opening Address
Ranjit Rajan
Vice President, Research (META)
IDC
Read Bio
Ranjit Rajan
Event Sessions
Wednesday, February 11 2026 7:55 pm | Location:
Executive Panel Discussion
Hamzah Nazmi A. Al Najjar
Sector Lead
AWS
Read Bio
Hamzah Nazmi A. Al Najjar
Event Sessions
Wednesday, February 11 2026 7:55 pm | Location:
Executive Panel Discussion
Partner
Hosted by
e& enterprise | AWS
e& enterprise
At e& enterprise, we specialise in supporting governments and large-scale organisations undergo successful digital transformations. Through optimising operational efficiencies, enhancing customer engagement, and empowering data-driven decision-making, we enable seamless, sustainable, and secure transitions into the ever-evolving digital era. Currently operating in the UAE, KSA, Egypt, and Oman; our cutting-edge digital solutions are specifically designed to deliver tangible business value and address the unique challenges faced by organisations and executives across various industries. With a proven track record, extensive consulting expertise unrivalled technical experts and the ability to deploy and manage complex solutions, we collaborate closely with our customers, providing tailored solutions that empower them to navigate their end-to-end digital transformation journey and turn their vision into reality. To learn more, please visit https://www.eandenterprise.com/
Privacy Policy: https://www.eandenterprise.com/en/general/privacy-policy.html
AWS
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 111 Availability Zones within 35 geographic regions, with announced plans for 15 more Availability Zones and five more AWS Regions in Mexico, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. 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.
Venue
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Atlantis Ballroom A
Crescent Rd – Nakhlat Jumeira – Dubai
Discover a setting unlike any other. From intimate gatherings to grand, awe-inspiring celebrations, this venue offers spaces designed to create unforgettable experiences. Guests can enjoy an elegant cocktail reception set against the mesmerizing backdrop of a 65,000-marine-animal aquarium or indulge in an exquisite dinner in Dubai’s most exclusive hotel suite. Every detail, from the world-class catering to the impeccable service, ensures each moment is elevated into something truly extraordinary.