IDC & NTT DATA Roundtable
Ambition, Engineered: Cloud Strategy for Saudi Arabia's AI Roadmap
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Saudi enterprises are setting ambitious AI goals: faster innovation, enterprise-wide scale, and stronger
governance over how AI gets used. IDC’s research across the Middle East shows that 43% of organizations say pursuing those goals has directly accelerated their move to cloud, and 24% have already rewritten their cloud strategy specifically to keep pace with AI.
IDC and NTT DATA are hosting a roundtable for CIOs in Riyadh on October 12, centered on the same question IDC posed to enterprises across the region: what really determines the progress and success of an enterprise’s AI strategy?
IDC’s own research points CIOs toward the decisions that actually determine that: where will AI run, can the infrastructure support it, is it resilient and compliant, can it operate at scale, and can the organization afford it sustainably. Join us as we unpack some of the most critical decisions that define the AI roadmap for Saudi enterprises.
Key Discussion Areas
The Infra Behind the AI Ambition
AI ambition is setting the pace for cloud decisions right now. For Saudi enterprises, that
means the cloud strategy gets built around what AI needs, not the other way around.
Modernization Aimed at AI
Legacy applications are the quiet blocker on most AI roadmaps. Many enterprises hold onto them to avoid disrupting the business, but an AI roadmap that’s serious about scale has to deal with modernization first.
Sovereign Architecture
Sovereignty isn’t a policy checkbox anymore. It’s a design decision built into the cloud architecture from the start, especially as geopolitics increasingly shapes where data and workloads can sit.
AI and Cloud Cost Control Equation
Getting the AI right also means getting disciplined about which parts of cloud actually deserve the investment.
Agenda
IDC & NTT DATA Roundtable
One Day Event
Registration & Networking
IDC Keynote: The Ambition Behind the Roadmap
Roadmaps usually list what’s coming next. This keynote explains why it matters- connecting the roadmap’s biggest bets to the market pressure driving them and the outcomes they’re already producing.
Jebin George
Senior Research Manager, Cloud and Datacenter Services, IDC
Modernization Aimed at AI
For a decade, modernization meant migrating to the cloud. That phase is done- and organizations that stop there are only halfway to where they need to be. NTT DATA’s own guidance frames this as “Modernization 2.0”: cloud-native infrastructure was never the end goal- it’s the foundation for intelligent, agentic platforms. This keynote makes that shift concrete.
Open Discussion: Why AI on Cloud, Why Now: What’s Compelling Saudi CIOs to Decide
Saudi CIOs are past asking whether to move to AI on cloud- sovereignty rules, national AI ambitions, and rising competitive pressure have made this a board-level decision. This session pairs IDC’s market perspective with NTT DATA’s delivery perspective to unpack what’s really driving the call.
Jebin George
Senior Research Manager, Cloud and Datacenter Services, IDC
Summary & Closing Remarks
Dinner & Networking
Speakers
Jebin George
Senior Research Manager, Cloud and Datacenter Services
IDC
Read bio
Jebin George
Jebin George is part of IDC’s Enterprise Infrastructure global research domain. He focuses on cloud, datacenter, and infrastructure adoption trends across the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, with particular emphasis on how cloud strategies are evolving in the era of AI and increasing digital sovereignty requirements. His research provides strategic guidance to hyperscalers, telecom operators, system integrators, and enterprise CIOs as they navigate hybrid multicloud adoption, AI-driven infrastructure modernization, and sovereign cloud frameworks.
Jebin brings 20 years of technology market research experience, including 16 years with IDC Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa. Throughout his tenure, he has led syndicated research, custom consulting engagements, and executive advisory initiatives focused on the evolution of the cloud market, hyperscaler ecosystems, and enterprise digital transformation strategies. Prior to IDC, he worked with SunTec Business Solutions, where he supported global market research and consulting initiatives for international ICT markets.
Event Sessions
One Day Event 7:45 pm
Open Discussion: Why AI on Cloud, Why Now: What’s Compelling Saudi CIOs to Decide
Saudi CIOs are past asking whether to move to AI on cloud- sovereignty rules, national AI ambitions, and rising competitive pressure have made this a board-level decision. This session pairs IDC’s market perspective with NTT DATA’s delivery perspective to unpack what’s really driving the call.
One Day Event 7:00 pm
IDC Keynote: The Ambition Behind the Roadmap
Roadmaps usually list what’s coming next. This keynote explains why it matters- connecting the roadmap’s biggest bets to the market pressure driving them and the outcomes they’re already producing.
Partner
NTT DATA
NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader in AI and digital infrastructure. We accelerate client success and positively impact society through responsible innovation. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group.
