AI, Sovereignty, and Resiliency

23 Apr 2026

United Arab Emirates

AI, Sovereignty, and Resiliency

What CIOs Must Prioritize Now

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Overview

The Middle East is navigating an extraordinary phase of geopolitical and economic change. As always, technology leaders must respond proactively – not only to mitigate risk, but also to sustain innovation and business continuity in a complex environment. The current crisis is introducing new variables into the global technology economy. Energy price volatility, supply chain pressures, and capital constraints may moderate certain areas of technology spending in the near term. IDC’s latest outlook indicates that IT spending in the Middle East and Africa is expected to grow by around 5% in 2026, with a downside scenario of 3-4% growth should geopolitical pressures persist.

Join Us

IDC Middle East Virtual Roadshow will help understand how forces are reshaping CIO priorities across the Middle East and what they mean for technology investment, AI adoption, and enterprise resilience in the months ahead.

Key Imperatives

Resilience

Strengthening infrastructure, disaster recovery, and business continuity to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Digital Sovereignty

Expanding nationally controlled digital infrastructure and secure data ecosystems to support strategic autonomy.

AI Innovation

Continuing to invest in AI-driven capabilities that enhance productivity, automation, and competitive advantage.

Cybersecurity

Protecting digital infrastructure and enterprise operations amid heightened cyber risk.

Agenda

AI, Sovereignty, and Resiliency

One Day Event

11:00 am

Welcome Address

11:05 am

IDC Keynote: The CIO Agenda Reset: What’s Changing for Technology Leaders in the GCC

11:20 am

When the Unexpected Happens: Rethinking Business Continuity for Modern Enterprises

11:35 am

Cloud That Doesn’t Stop: Architecting for Availability When It Matters Most

11:55 am

Disaster Recovery Reimagined: Preparing for Disruption Before It Happens

12:05 pm

Track A: AI Innovation

12:05 am – 12:15 am

Keeping the AI Momentum: Innovation When Conditions Get Tough

12:15 am – 12:25 am

Responsible AI and digital trust

12:25 am – 12:35 am

Generative AI transformation

Track B: Investment Priorities

12:05 am – 12:15 am

Doing More with Less: Balancing Cost Pressures While Sustaining Innovation

12:15 am – 12:25 am

When Supply Chains Shift: Navigating Infrastructure and Technology Disruptions

12:25 am – 12:35 am

Innovation vs. Resilience: How are Investment Priorities Changing?

12:35 pm

Summary & Takeaways, IDC

12:45 pm

Close of Event

Speakers

Ranjit Rajan

Ranjit Rajan

Vice President, Research (META)

IDC

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