IDC CIO Summit 2026

11–12 Feb 2026

Atlantis – The Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

IDC CIO Summit 2026

Middle East

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The CIO Playbook: The Rise of Agentic Systems

Celebrating 19 years of thought leadership, the IDC CIO Summit – Middle East returns on 11–12 February 2026 in Dubai as the region’s premier gathering of technology decision-makers.

 

This year’s edition explores the rise of AI-native enterprises and the Agentic Stack — intelligent systems that enable real-time decision-making, adaptability, and innovation. With regional AI spending forecast to reach $11.4B by 2027, CIOs must balance bold innovation with governance, trust, and integration.

 

Bringing together 500 CIOs, technology leaders, and global experts, the Summit offers strategic insights, real-world case studies, and practical guidance to help organizations architect the next generation of digital enterprises.

 

IDC Middle East Advisory Council 2026

H.E. Mohammad Hassan

H.E. Mohammad Hassan

Executive Director, Statistics & Data Science Sector

UAE Federal Competitiveness & Statistics Centre (UAE)

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Yazeed Abdulallah Alotaibi

Yazeed Abdulallah Alotaibi

Deputy Minister for Planning and Digital Transformation

Ministry of Health (KSA)

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Ahmad M. Al Mulla

Ahmad M. Al Mulla

Chief Technology Officer

Emirates Water and Electricity Co. (UAE)

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Latifa Al Shehhi

Latifa Al Shehhi

Director of Investment Data Department and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO)

Ministry of Investment (UAE)

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Eng. Huda Ahmed Mohsen

Eng. Huda Ahmed Mohsen

Chief of Information Technology

Ministry of Information (Bahrain)

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Mai B. AlOwaish

Mai B. AlOwaish

Chief Executive Officer

Kuwait Credit Information Network Company (CINET)

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Essa Haidar

Essa Haidar

Chief Technology Officer

Ooredoo (Kuwait)

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Mounir Abdelmoujoud

Mounir Abdelmoujoud

Group Chief Information Officer & ED Group Technology

Aldar (UAE)

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Thuraya Al Harthi

Thuraya Al Harthi

Director, Government Unified eServices Portal

Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (Oman)

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Jayesh Maganlal

Jayesh Maganlal

Group Chief Information & Digital Officer

ROSHN Real Estate (KSA)

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Manoj Bhojwani

Manoj Bhojwani

Chief Information Officer

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (UAE)

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Srinivasan Sampath

Srinivasan Sampath

Head of GTTO Business Intelligence and Planning

First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE)

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Saud Al Dhawyani

Saud Al Dhawyani

Group Chief Platform Officer

Emirates NBD (UAE)

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Mamoun Al Homssey

Mamoun Al Homssey

Chief Technology Officer

Ajman Bank (UAE)

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Expert Perspectives

Hear from global thought leaders, visionary CIOs, and celebrity speakers redefining technology, leadership, and innovation across the region.

9:20 am

IDC Opening Keynote: The AI Moment: Strategies for CIOs in the Middle East

AI, predicted to have a $19.9 trillion impact on the global economy by 2030, is reshaping economic landscapes, creating new revenue streams, and redefining competitive advantages. This session will provide unique insights and analysis drawn from IDC’s extensive study of CIOs and key decision-makers across the Middle East. It will provide a deeper understanding of current and planned AI strategies and use case road maps, covering key topics such as AI-ready data, unified governance, fit-for-purpose and scalable infrastructure, and AI talent.

Meredith Whalen | IDC

Chief Research and Data Officer

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Meredith Whalen

Event Highlights 2025

Our Partners

Venue

Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai

Atlantis Ballroom
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.

Insights

Discover thought-provoking articles from IDC analysts, strategic partners, and end-user speakers. Explore expert viewpoints on the latest tech trends, real-world transformation stories, and forward-looking insights shaping the digital future.

AI Infrastructure: The Foundation of the Agentic Era

The world is entering a defining moment for digital infrastructure. Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to ubiquity, and with it, a new operational paradigm is taking shape — one where agents rather than applications become the primary engines of digital value creation. This is the dawn of the agentic AI era, and its success depends on one thing above all else: robust, intelligent, and scalable infrastructure.

Matt Eastwood
IDC
SVP, WW Research
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Getting Your Data AI Ready.

It has become a common refrain – getting data governance right is key to a successful AI strategy! This conventional wisdom is very true, but it is not a new problem. For as long as I have been involved in IT, both as an analyst and as a CIO, companies have struggled with wrangling the various data sets across the applications running at the organization.

Bob Parker
IDC
SVP, Software and Services Research
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Vision to Reality: How Governments are Empowering the Middle East’s AI Future

IDC predicts that AI will have a cumulative global economic impact of $19.9 trillion by 2030, driving 3.5% of global GDP growth. Governments will play a strategic dual role – both shaping policies for secure, impactful, and responsible adoption of AI across industries, and acting as major buyers of AI to transform public programs and services, enhancing operational efficiency and achieving mission outcomes.

Massimiliano Claps
IDC
Research Director
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