H.E. Eng. Anas Al-Reemi serves as Vice Governor of Technologies and Solutions at Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority. He is a value-driven executive with 20+ years of strategic leadership in digital transformation and technology innovation, and is a visionary leader shaping Saudi Arabia’s digital evolution through large-scale initiatives that enhance efficiency, elevate global rankings, and drive sustainable growth. He has a proven track record of success in driving enterprise-wide transformations, from pioneering Saudi Arabia’s first full cloud migration to launching digital platforms that revolutionized judicial services and education. Over the course of his career, he has led key national platforms, including Najiz, Gov.sa, and MoE, ensuring seamless change management and stakeholder collaboration to drive measurable impact.

Mubaraka Ibrahim is a widely-lauded digital transformation generalist in the medical and government sectors. Currently serving as CIO of the Information Sector — and as Director of Health Information Systems — in the recently established Emirates Health Services Establishment, her 20+ year career includes serving as Deputy Head of all computing functions at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). There, she led over 160 key personnel on multiple federal healthcare technology initiatives, such as Riayati (the National Unified Medical Record) patient integration project and Tatmeen (Track & Trace), designed to secure pharmaceutical supply chains and strengthen post-pandemic resilience.

An inaugural member of HIMSS Middle East, Mubaraka has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, exhibitions, and discussions — both regionally and internationally. She was recognized among the Top 50 Middle East IT Leaders by the HIMSS organization, received the Women’s Leadership Award in 2018, and was honored with the GovTech Innovation Award in 2020 as Woman in Government of the Year.

As a member of the UAE Government Team for the Next 50, she continues to build on an impressive series of career achievements.

Academically, Mubaraka holds a Master’s degree in Information Management Systems from the American University in Washington, D.C., a Healthcare Leadership Diploma from the Harvard School of Public Health, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Kuwait University.

Yazeed Al Otaibi serves as assistant deputy minister for planning and digital transformation within Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health (MOH). He possesses vast experience in the areas of business and digital healthcare transformation, having delivered a number of key strategic transformational programs for the Ministry. For example, he led and directed the delivery and execution of the MOH Digital Strategies, the National Digital Health Blueprint, and the Digital Health Governance Frameworks. Over the course of his career, he has led multiple functions within the ehealth and digital transformation deputyship, such as the Office of Strategy Management, the Enterprise Architect Function, and the Digital Program Management Office.

Mr. Almulla has an extensive experience in the field of I.T. for over 25 years. He has received Bachelor of Science from The University of Arizona in Computer Engineering in the year 1987 and completed his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from University of New England, Australia in the year 1993. Additionally, Mr. Almulla has completed the “Program for Executive Development” from International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Mr. Almulla has been working in all the areas in Information Technology department such as Application Development, Information Security, Architecture Designing and Networking, Process Control, etc. He started his career as a Programmer in 1988 in Dubai Aluminium Company Limited, and is currently Chief Technology Officer, Emirates Water and Electricity Co..

Bandar Alshahrani serves as executive director of the digital and technology division at Rua Al Madinah Holding Company, a PIF company. In this role, he is leading the development and execution of Rua’s digital transformation strategy. With over 20 years of experience in the digital and technology domains, Bandar is passionate about leveraging technologies, innovations, and digital transformation to enable business excellence and sustainability. Previously, he served as head of digital and innovation at ARDARA Development Company, also a PIF company, where he established the organization’s digital and innovation function and developed the ARDARA Digital Strategy aimed at diversifying the Kingdom’s economy and creating a positive social impact. He has also served as CIO at Ma’aden and was an integral developer of the Maaden Digitalization Strategy 2025 and a member of the Board of Managers of Ma’aden Fertilizer Company.

Eng. Huda Ahmed Mohsen , Chief of Information Technology at the Ministry of Information, leading the digital transformation and modernization of the ministry’s IT ecosystem. With extensive expertise in upgrading IT infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity frameworks, and enabling advanced e-government services, she has successfully directed numerous strategic projects across all information technology sectors. Her leadership focuses on driving innovation, strengthening digital governance, and empowering the public sector through secure and efficient technological solutions.

Essa serves as Chief Technology Officer at Ooredoo Kuwait, where they lead strategic planning, development, and implementation of cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and enhance the company’s telecommunication infrastructure. With 20 years of experience in the telecom industry, Essa has a proven record in managing large-scale network deployments, 5G rollouts, and the integration of next-generation technologies such as IoT and AI. Previous to their role as CTO of Ooredoo Kuwait, Essa was Director of Radio Access and Network Planning, where they successfully launched 5G, 4G, and 3G Networks, IP and Transmission works, including end-to-end management of Ooredoo Radio Network evolution, country-wide. They also played a key role in the continued development and execution of strategic objectives driven by Ooredoo Group, with its recent strategic announcement of establishing the largest Tower Company in the MENA region, which feeds the demand for environmentally friendly solutions and sustainability. Moreover, Customer Experience was at the heart of their strategies deployed for Network Anomaly Detection using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for critical use cases, to deliver seamless performance on all application levels.

Jayesh Maganlal currently serves as group chief information and digital officer (GCIDO) at ROSHN Real Estate, where he drives the company’s digital transformation and innovation agenda. With more than 22 years of experience leading technology and business transformations across various industries in global multinationals, as well as regional industries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, Jayesh is a highly accomplished executive. Before joining ROSHN Real Estate, he held several leadership positions in the region, including CIO at Damac, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, and a government-owned budget airline in Dubai. He has a proven track record of delivering successful technology and business initiatives that result in significant cost savings, revenue growth, and improved customer experiences. With extensive experience in solving various business challenges across all technology areas in diversified industries, Jayesh is highly adept at grasping complexity and driving simplicity. He has a win-win mindset and excels at building profitable long-term relationships while helping companies grow. As a digital evangelist, Jayesh champions the use of data and technology practices to instil a digital mindset from the top down.

Manoj Bhojwani serves as global CIO at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, where he leads technology transformation, business digitization, and innovation. He is a highly experienced technology executive with over 30 years in digital, technology, and organizational transformation. He has held prominent roles at Oracle, JP Morgan Chase, Credit Suisse, and HSBC, maintaining a strong focus on the wealth management sector. Notably, he spearheaded the creation of Asia’s first digital private bank. As global CIO of wealth and private banking at HSBC, he drove a global technology transformation, prioritizing a cloud-first approach to modernize platforms across client segments. Known for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, he is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within the organizations he serves.

Methodical Executive Vice President, and Persistent, Innovative, and Forward-thinking CIO with 25+ years of experience in the Technology banking and financial services industry.
Utilizes progressive expertise, professional acumen, and strategic vision to drive optimized outcomes and digitally transformative initiatives that yield exceptional bottom-line performance,
Developed Technology vision and strategy, steering the implementation of the Technology Strategic Plan.
An energetic leader with a passion for people development, a track record of recruiting and retaining top talent, and a demonstrated ability to effectively lead and work in a highly matrixed global environment.
An innovator who stays current and ahead with new market trends and innovations in technology, digital banking, and the leadership of enterprise IT.
Proposes and initiates new technologies towards providing the leading digital banking solution, full STP, and end-to-end proven customer experience.
Adept in building and managing digital factories, IT Operations related to Applications Management, Infrastructure and Cloud Operations, and Services management.

Mohammad Alharbi serves as the assistant deputy minister for digital and innovation within Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). He is an experienced business-oriented executive with in-depth technical knowledge of ICT and corporate strategy development. He has more than 20 years of experience in multicultural organizations in different fields, including oil and gas, telecommunications, and government. He led the first ever cloud migration of government IT systems in Saudi Arabia. As an assistant deputy minister for digital and innovation, he manages an extensive technology portfolio, oversees digital transformation strategy and implementation, and manages IT services and operations. He also encourages innovation via the use of emerging technologies such as AI.

Mohannad AlSalmi is the CIO of Flyadeal. He has over 28 years of experience in IT and digital transformation. Throughout his lengthy career, he has held key roles in various organizations where he has been instrumental in developing and leading digital strategies, road maps, and projects. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the top 10 CIOs in the Middle East by IDC. He is also a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach who has earned a leadership and management qualification from the International Air Transport Association.

Mounir Abdel-Moujoud serves as executive director of group technology at Aldar. He is a visionary technology executive with over 20 years of global experience leading transformation across industries, including real estate, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and defense. Recognized for his ability to translate complex challenges into actionable strategies, Mounir has played a pivotal role in reshaping how organizations operate, grow, and innovate in today’s digital economy. He brings a unique blend of strategic foresight, operational rigor, and human-centric leadership — driving change not just through systems and structures, but through people and purpose. His career has been defined by helping organizations stay ahead of disruption while building the next generation of leaders and capabilities. Mounir is also an active speaker and advisor on topics ranging from digital transformation to organizational agility and tech-enabled business reinvention.

Rasha Abu Al Saud is the the Chief Technology Officer and technology professional responsible for the development and implementation of infosec strategies and controls. He is proficient in all aspects of information security, technology risk management, and business continuity. He further has the capacity to implement international standards and best practices, including PCI-DSS, COBIT, ISF, ISO, CMMi, and Six Sigma.

Saket Saith is a seasoned professional at the forefront of digital transformation, specializing in the convergence of strategy and execution. Currently serving as the group chief technology and data officer at RAKBANK, Saket has over 25 years of experience in leading technology and data initiatives, ensuring the delivery of innovative and customer-centric solutions. Prior to this, he held pivotal roles, including chief technology officer, at Barclays in the United Kingdom, and various leadership positions at DBS Bank in Singapore, where he played a crucial role in digital transformation, enterprise architecture, and IT strategy. He is passionate about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and big data, and how they can be leveraged to create value for customers, businesses, and society at large. Saket’s career spans the globe, contributing significantly to the growth and innovation of renowned financial and technology organizations. His expertise encompasses enterprise architecture, IT business strategy, software engineering, and operating models.

Srinivasan Sampath is the CIO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). He is responsible for driving FAB’s technology and transformation strategy and preparing for the next generation of digital banking services. He has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry and has delivered several large integration programs in multiple regions. He specializes in creating business value, bolstering employee engagement, and strengthening business relationships. In recent years, he has been involved in leading digitization programs covering end-to-end digital customer experience and process automation. In addition, he has been a chairperson and member of several advisory boards. He was involved in implementing the first cross-border blockchain remittance transaction between two major banks.

Saud Al Dhawyani is a seasoned technology leader who currently serves as the group chief platform officer of Emirates NBD, one of the largest banks in the MENAT region. He is at the helm of Emirates NBD’s business platforms encompassing core banking, payments, trade finance, treasury, and enterprise systems. Previously, he served as the chief technology officer of the bank and was instrumental in driving its technological evolution. He led more than 1000 engineers in executing one of the largest digital transformations of its kind in the financial industry. His distinguished career spans both the private and public sectors. He previously held technology and leadership roles at esteemed institutions such as Dubai Courts, NASDAQ Dubai, and Commercial Bank of Dubai. With over two decades of experience, his expertise ranges from architectural and agile operating model transformations to cloud computing, DevOps, and data.

A talented professional with 30 years of in depth experience in the IT industry. An innovator, with keen entrepreneurial instincts and exquisite technical leadership skills in turning emerging technologies into viable business ventures, transforming ideas into operationally robust technical platforms. Has effective leadership skills in inspiring employees to reach their full potential, setting and maintaining high standards of integrity, honesty and transparency.

With an extensive experience as Executive-Level IT and Communications. Holding various leadership positions within the MOD, continuing to serve as General director of information technology in MOD, providing leadership and direction to a number successful major IT Projects. Main areas of expertise include Service Management, Infrastructure, Security, Programme, and Vendor management. Personal skills include commercial acumen and innovation together with constructive mediation and resolution to accomplish Organizational Goals.

A pioneer who can react to a variety of scenarios and able respond when situations arise without being passive. An associate degree knowledgeable leader with a transparent thirty year account and leadership expertise within MOD, motivated by desirous to deliver the goals and objectives of Vision 2030.

Yousef A. Alsuhaibani serves as the CIO of Mobily. His leadership, strategic thinking, and in-depth technical knowledge of ICT supports the growth of the business and allows for the implementation of new initiatives. He has always relied on his knowledge, expertise, and passion for science and technology to influence every employment position he has held. He also knows the impact digital transformation can have on companies and society at large. He has led companies to success by introducing solutions and novel changes over his career spanning more than 17 years. He is an expert in multicultural organization and possesses numerous certifications in the IT field.

Jyoti Lalchandani is a seasoned business executive with more than 25 years of experience in emerging markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). In his role as IDC’s Group Vice President and Regional Managing Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META), he has been instrumental in establishing IDC’s presence in the region – first, through the initial expansion of the Dubai headquarters and then by spearheading the development of IDC offices in Johannesburg, Istanbul, Riyadh, Casablanca, Lagos, Nairobi, and Cairo.
Jyoti is responsible for the planning, development, implementation, and coordination of IDC’s market intelligence and advisory services, sales, conferences and events, go-to-market services, and office development activities across the META region. As a respected authority on emerging market tech trends, he is also regularly invited to speak at major industry events throughout the region and is frequently quoted by both the national and international media.
His field of expertise includes key tech areas such as cloud, analytics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, and he is well known for providing guidance on digital transformation strategies for the entire C-suite. He is a trusted advisor to senior executives in the supplier/enabler space across the ICT ecosystem, as well as to tech buyers from the CIO and line-of-business communities.
Starting at IDC’s CEMA (Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) headquarters in 1995 in Prague, the Czech Republic, Jyoti served as IDC’s regional consulting manager. In this role, he headed several country-based project teams that advised local and multinational IT vendors on issues relating to entry strategy, competitor analysis, ROI analysis, distribution and partner evaluation, and market segmentation. He later took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the CEMA software practice, in which he was responsible for overseeing all related research (applications, system infrastructure, and tools) and advisory work across emerging EMEA countries.
Before joining IDC, Jyoti served on the national board of international non-profit organization AIESEC, where he managed the association’s partnership agreements with leading Indian conglomerates. He graduated from Loyola College, India, where his studies focused on strategy management and business policy. He later attended a corporate-sponsored program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts.

H.E.Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti Head of cyber Security United Arab Emirates Government. Dr. Al Kuwaiti is currently holding the position of the Managing Director of the National Data Centre under the Supreme Council for National Security. He is also working as Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Homeland Security Program at Rabdan Academy. In his current role Dr. Al Kuwaiti aims to create a fully governed approach to data privacy, sharing and processing as well as the unification and connectivity of government systems and digitization towards a smart government In 2013, Dr. Al Kuwaiti joined the National Electronic Security Authority and held He held various positions. As the Executive Director of Government Operations, where he managed the National and International government relations. Executive Director of Operations Analysis and Cyber Security. In 2011, Dr. Al Kuwaiti was the Chief Technical Analyst at Ministry of Interior where he directed and managed various technical and administrative tasks. He also held other positions, such as Operations Director and CTO of the Counter Terrorism Center. He was also stationed as a Defense, Air, and Naval Military Attaché at the Embassy of The United Arab Emirates in Washington, D.C. Dr. Al-Kuwaiti has published numerous studies and lectured at many conferences such as IEEE, RSA, Cyber Warfare Europe, Tele Strategies, ISS World MEA, IDEX, International Anti-Cyber Crimes Conference, Future War Summit etc., Dr. Al-Kuwaiti presented the UAE Cyber Security Framework at INTERPOL in Singapore. He also organized various events such as National Cyber Security Exercise and Cyber Quest. His interests are consulting on detecting, monitoring and responding to cyber warfare, Network Forensics, Corporate Governance & Process, and national cyber policy. He is an honorable member of Society of Engineers – UAE, IEEE Society, Golden Key National Honor Society and Computer Society. He is a visiting lecturer on Cyber Security at few universities such as Khalifa University and National Defense College in Abu Dhabi. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Al-Kuwaiti holds a Doctorate in Computer Engineering and Network Security from George Washington University in the USA and a M.Sc. degree in Telecommunications and Computer Networks. He also holds a M.A. degree in International and Civil Security. Dr. Al-Kuwaiti has won various awards such as Best Lecturer, Dean honors list, leadership Awards, best Design Projects.

Dr. Saeed is a futurist, thought leader, AI ethicist, Author, and Public keynote speaker. He has been in many positions: the founder and former Director General of the Emirates ID Authority, a former member of the scientific advisory committee of the UAE Space Agency, and a former Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on information technology.
Currently, He is the director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai, a visiting lecturer at Oxford University course: Artificial Intelligence: Generative AI, Cloud and MLOps (online), president of the UAE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), a member of the Global Future Council of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Metaverse, a UNESCO co-Chair on anticipatory systems, and he is on industrial advisory boards of several universities in the UAE. Dr. Saeed is on the advisory board of several international forums including the World Ethical Data Foundation, friends of the forum committee of the Dubai Future Forum, and a senior fellow of the AI 2030: Responsible AI for a Better World initiative.
He co-authored the book Digital Nation: How the UAE is building a future based on tech innovation. He has written several articles and reports that were published in Harvard Business Review Arabia, MIT Technology Review Arabia, and Dubai Policy Review Journal. He has been invited to speak at prestigious universities and international platforms including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the WEF, the UN, and OPEC.

Sunil Karkera serves as the CEO of BORN, a company that is part of Tech Mahindra. He is a designer, engineer, and start-up entrepreneur in Silicon Valley with over 25 years of experience in the areas of customer experience design and digital transformation. Over the course of his career, Sunil has launched three successful start-ups, scaled engineering at MySpace, and founded and led reputed agencies in the fields of design, engineering, and industrial design.

Miguel is an ICT executive with over 30 years of international experience. He is the COO of e& enterprise, the digital transformation arm of e&. He looks after business and operations across all its solutions portfolio, ranging from datacenters and multi-cloud services to AI enabled business solutions and customer experience platforms.
Previously he served 8 years as the CEO of Emitac Enterprise Solutions, one of the leading regional Systems Integrator, based in Dubai, where he led a successful transformation from a traditional Value-Added Reseller to a vibrant Solutions and Services firm with a growing focus on Cloud, Big Data and Security.
Prior to Emitac, Miguel was one of the founders and managing partners of Swissrisk Group, a European software services company that grew from zero to more than 1,000 professionals in less than 7 years. Miguel started his career in Hewlett Packard Consulting where he spent 10 years.
Miguel holds a Masters in Computer Science and an Executive MBA by IE – Instituto de Empresa in Madrid.

Ayman El-Hattab is Nintex’s Vice President for growth markets across the ECEMEA region. He has 20 years of experience in senior management roles across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Thanks to his business astuteness, his passion for technology, his ingenuity in asking difficult questions, and his ability to see the big picture, he has always challenged customers to dig deeper and reach the core of what they truly need. He has crafted many successful digital solutions and automation propositions for 750+ customers across 100+ countries. For seven consecutive years, he received the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award. He also was a Microsoft regional director for the MEA region for two years. He is a writer of two best-selling books and a speaker at different international technology events. He has also mentored start-ups through their business model development and product management.

Ashish Koshy serves as chief operating officer at Inception, where he drives the development of an integrated ecosystem of AI-powered solutions and forges impactful partnerships across public and private sectors to accelerate technological innovation. In his previous role, Ashish was instrumental in scaling up G42 Healthcare from a start-up into a regional leader in advanced diagnostics and digital health, and played a key role in the formation of M42, one of the UAE’s largest healthcare companies. His leadership has delivered transformative growth, national programs, and impactful healthcare initiatives. Named one of Forbes’ Top 100 Healthcare Leaders in the Middle East (2022 and 2023), Ashish is known for turning visionary ideas into real-world impact.

Talal Alkaissi is the EVP Chief Product & Global Partnerships Officer at Core42, A G42 Company. He is an accomplished business leader with extensive experience across a diverse range of industries, including technology, space, energy, and government. With a proven track record of developing robust strategies, overseeing investment opportunities, and engaging in high-level multinational trade discussions, he brings a wealth of experience to his current role.

Prior to joining G42, he spent two years at the UAE Space Agency as a senior advisor to the director general. He also worked as a senior advisor for commercial affairs at the UAE Trade and Commercial Office at the UAE Embassy in Washington D.C for 9 years.

Victoria Mendes is an IDC senior research analyst specializing in markets in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META). She currently heads IDC’s regional server and storage market intelligence team and conducts research into the passive components of datacenter infrastructure. In the last decade, she has built strong relationships with regional vendor communities and distribution networks in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Victoria has worked on consumer and enterprise technology consulting projects and previously led IDC’s tablets market research in the Middle East and Africa, which included training and mentoring other analysts. Her areas of expertise include servers, storage, converged systems, cloud IT infrastructure, passive datacenter components, and networking.

Haitham Elkhatib is the co-founder and CRO at UnifyApps, a complete agentic AI platform for enterprises. He is a seasoned professional with over 20+ years of experience in the technology industry. Haitham has held various leadership roles over the course of his career, and has a proven track record of driving revenue, growth, and innovation. His expertise spans across multiple regions, including the Middle East and North Africa, where he has successfully led teams to achieve significant milestones. Haitham is widely known for his strategic vision and commitment to excellence.

Suraj Godse is a Senior Research Analyst in the IT Services, Data, and Analytics group for IDC Middle East and Africa (MEA). He is primarily responsible for Worldwide Semiannual Services Tracker inputs from the MEA region. He is the primary point of contact for the worldwide team regarding data-related requests for IT services.

Suraj introduced a global product called the Services Contract Database (SCD) in 2020 and has successfully managed it. He also manages the AI Tracker, Enterprise Intelligence Tracker, and CX Services Tracker for the MEA region. Suraj has contributed to multiple consulting projects on topics related to IT services, software, cloud, security, 5G, telecoms, and IoT. He is particularly focused on covering the latest 5G developments, not only in the region but globally, and tracking other telecom business services.

Prior to joining IDC, Suraj covered the South Asia and Middle East region for Frost & Sullivan, producing market research reports and performing consulting assignments that explored a broad range of issues in ICT services.

Suraj Godse earned an MBA in marketing from the MIT School of Management and a BE in information technology from Pune University, India.

Krishna Chinta directs telecommunications and Internet of Things (IoT) research and consulting projects for IDC Middle East and Africa. He has more than 15 years of experience in telecoms and IoT markets. In his current role, Krishna is responsible for consulting projects that involve go-to-market strategies, market entry strategies, and effectively managing competition. Krishna drives IDC’s IoT spending guides for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. He also authors thought leadership documents and makes regular appearances in regional media. Krishna has been conducting research and advisory projects in the Middle East, Africa, India, and other emerging markets for 15+ years. Krishna has deep industry knowledge and hands-on research and consulting experience. He has developed good relationships with regional telecom operators. Krishna is regularly involved in consulting projects tasked with addressing strategic issues like market opportunity assessment, planning, new market entry, and ways to overcome competitive threats in emerging markets.

Yogesh is the editorial director for events – India and META (Middle East, Turkey & Africa) for Foundry (an IDG, Inc. Company). In an earlier role spanning over seven years, he was the executive editor for Foundry, the world’s largest technology media, research and data services conglomerate. Today, he leads the content curation and moderates the events (in-person and virtual) for Foundry brands – CIO and CSO – in India. He is also involved with editorial content, video interviews for CIO.COM in India and Middle East.
Yogesh has been with Foundry (earlier IDG Communications) for over seventeen years. He hosts the annual awards and symposium programs in India including CIO100 Awards, CSO100 Awards and Premier100 (Channel) Awards, since over a decade. From 2024 onwards, he will be responsible to launch Foundry’s awards program – CIO100, CSO30, CIO50 – in META region.
A keynote speaker, social media influencer and knowledge enthusiast, Yogesh impacts the technologists’ community (CIOs, CSOs, CDOs, ITDMs, Channels) across the enterprise technology ecosystem in India and globally. In 2019, Yogesh was recognized as ‘Star Editor’ or ‘B2B Influential Editor’ from an elite list of 26 tech editors across IDG globally.
With over two decades of experience in the media industry including seventeen years at Foundry, he kick-started his journalism career with The Times of India (Bennet Coleman & Co.) in 2003. He later joined IDG as senior correspondent for weekly publication ChannelWorld in 2007. Yogesh holds a Computer Engineering degree from Mumbai University.

Jebin George joined IDC’s vertical markets group in 2009. As a research analyst, he is responsible for the verticals research and analysis practice in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, including assessment of market sizing, market trends, forecasting, and vendor strategies for the region. He contributes to consulting and advisory projects and prepares and publishes reports focused on this region.

Having worked as a research analyst with SunTec Business Solutions, a software product company in India, George possesses strong product marketing and market research experience. At SunTec, he handled primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative analysis, market sizing, competitor analysis, analyst relations, and worked with analytical tools. He was also involved in business writing, research interviews, collateral development, and market requirements documents (MRD) and business requirements documents (BRD).

George’s academic background includes a postgraduate degree in management from SCMS, Kochi, and a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Madras University. In addition to his native Malayalam, he speaks English and Hindi.

Georges Bou-Issa is a business development associate at Inmind.ai, where he combines his expertise in IT, DevOps, and full-stack development to drive strategic growth. Transitioning from a technical role to business development, he leverages his experience in infrastructure, software development, and cloud computing to bridge technical innovation with business needs. He plays a key role in aligning Inmind.ai’s advanced AI-driven solutions with market demands, helping the company expand its offerings in AI, digital twins, and robotics across various industries.

Ankit Rajpal is Veeam Software’s senior territory manager for the South Gulf region. He is a data resilience expert who helps enterprises protect their most valuable asset — their data. He understands the growing threat of cyberattacks and the critical importance of incorporating cybersecurity measures into data protection strategies. Since joining Veeam in 2015, Ankit has consulted with clients to implement robust data protection, disaster recovery, and hybrid cloud strategies with a focus on cybersecurity resilience.

Rami Bou Hadir serves as a presales solution architect at Mendix, where he drives low-code adoption by advising customers on overcoming software delivery challenges and accelerating digital transformation. He embarked on his low-code journey over a decade ago, building enterprise applications on Mendix. Passionate about technology, he discovered low-code as the perfect blend of innovation and simplicity. Over the years, Rami became the first Mendix Expert Certified professional in the Middle East, led teams to deliver impactful solutions for key customers, and trained over 50 developers, empowering them to excel in low-code development. Dedicated to mobilizing organizations to deliver better software, faster, Rami continues to lead the way in low-code innovation.

Sandesh Bhatkal serves as global business leader for AI cloud at Tata Communications. With 23 years of experience in various corporate roles, he excels in selling technology solutions that drive business transformation. Through a consultative selling approach, he has built strong client relationships and established himself as a trusted advisor to large clients. During 17 years at IBM, Sandesh was responsible for selling infrastructure and software solutions. He also gained experience in product management and account management roles. His professional journey at IBM India and Hewlett-Packard highlights his strategic thinking and innovative leadership. For the past three years, Sandesh has concentrated on AI product sales, staying at the forefront of technology.

Ravi Bldev Singh serves as Commvault’s senior director of sales engineering for emerging markets, with responsibility for the Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, Baltics, Adriatic, and CIS regions. He leads a team of experts who provide cyber-resilience systems design and advisory services to enterprises across various industries. Prior to joining Commvault, Ravi served as chief technology officer for cyber-resilience across the EMEA region at EMC/Dell, where he advised C-level technology decision makers on their cyber-recovery and -resilience strategies.

Saif AlRefai serves as OPSWAT’s solution engineering manager for the META region, where he leads a team of engineers in delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructure protection. With over 10 years of experience in engineering cybersecurity products, he is renowned for his expertise in designing and deploying hundreds of projects across critical infrastructure areas. Saif continues to drive innovation in cybersecurity, ensuring that clients benefit from advanced, reliable solutions that address today’s most pressing security challenges. His focus on government, military and financial sectors has established him as a trusted advisor and thought leader, offering a wealth of expertise to the cybersecurity community.

Aaron is based in Dubai and is the Director for Middle East & Africa. With 11+ years of industry experience, he has worked in a wide range of industry sectors, including Financial Services, Retail, Insurance, Government, and Telecommunications. Aaron is a GIAC Certified Defence Analyst (GCDA), and has extensive knowledge in incident response, threat hunting, vulnerability management, cyber security operations, threat intelligence, and cyber security consultancy

Sheik Abideen serves as the regional director for MEA at Securonix. He is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of expertise in cybersecurity, SaaS, and cloud solutions, specializing in the Middle East market. Since joining Securonix in 2019, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth across the region. Known for his deep industry knowledge and strategic leadership, he has driven business success and strengthened Securonix’s presence in the MEA market. His extensive experience and innovative approaches have established him as a trusted leader and key contributor to advancing the cybersecurity landscape in the region.

Eduardo Amaral serves as director of quality management, DevOps, and automation at Noesis. He brings over 25 years of extensive experience in the IT industry. His career features impactful contributions across the ecommerce, insurance, retail, and asset management sectors, reflecting his adaptability and comprehensive expertise in diverse business environments. Driven by a management philosophy focused on collaboration and stakeholder engagement, Eduardo fosters a culture of continuous improvement. His ability to lead complex projects and technical initiatives highlights his commitment to creating value and delivering impactful results. In addition to his professional work, Eduardo is an active speaker at industry conferences, where he shares his expertise in the areas of quality management, DevOps, and automation.

Rajesh Ramasamy serves as managing director and regional head for EMEA at Whatfix, where he helps organizations accelerate digital transformation, modernize their digital core, and achieve cost efficiency while enhancing employee digital dexterity. He specializes in empowering enterprise clients with cutting-edge digital adoption solutions and collaborates with companies across industries such as BFSI and life sciences to deliver tailored strategies that align with enterprise digital objectives, including the adoption of generative AI. By streamlining workflows and optimizing platform utilization, Rajesh drives measurable outcomes, positioning Whatfix as a trusted partner in achieving sustainable transformation and operational excellence.

Steve Fernandes serves as Confluent’s senior manager for solutions engineering. He is a seasoned IT professional with 26 years of experience in the tech industry, and possesses extensive expertise in presales, consulting, and systems integration solutions. During his career he has covered a wide range of IT infrastructure areas, including data pipelines, cloud computing, enterprise storage, and security, among others. Steve has built and led international teams to foster innovation across the business and bridge the gap between stakeholders and IT teams. With his multicultural background and understanding of various industry verticals like healthcare, oil and gas, government, education, aviation, and finance, he’s played a pivotal role in shaping and achieving the strategic ambitions of his clients in the Middle East. Steve has recently completed a post-graduate program in AI from the university of Texas McCombs and is leveraging that knowledge to build out new AI capabilities within the data streaming space.

Ali Nahle serves as a senior technology advisor at Kyndryl. He is an experienced technology consultant and evangelist in hybrid IT/cloud digital transformation technologies with a 12+ years career of excellence in solutions design, presales consultancy, revenue growth, and exceptional customer service. Ali has worked across both technical and sales roles over the years, establishing clients across a broad range of industries in various countries. He is passionate about the latest technologies in virtual reality, augmented reality, AI, and video game development, and loves to publish insights into their creative use cases in the form of written and video content.

Karthikeyan Gunasekar serves as Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s solutions category lead for the Aruba cloud platform in the EMEA region. He has 21 years of experience in delivering customer-focused outcomes and use cases. He works on digital transformation and the integration of digital technology into all areas of business. He strives to fundamentally change how customers operate and deliver value through great business outcomes and return on investment.

Samah Seddeik serves as LinkDev’s presales lead and has over a decade of experience in CRM strategy development and implementation. Specializing in Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform, he has helped numerous enterprise customers optimize operations and achieve business goals. With a strong background in business consultancy, Samah excels at bridging the gap between technology and business needs, delivering innovative and practical solutions. He is dedicated to driving digital transformation and enhancing customer experiences through cutting-edge technology.

Enas Ashraf is Crayon’s senior manager for digital evolution and innovation. She is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of global experience in driving digital transformation across industries such as telecommunications, government, utilities, banking, and logistics. In her current role, she specializes in helping organizations unlock the potential of advanced technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT to foster innovation and accelerate adoption. Enas is deeply focused on building AI centers of excellence, implementing scalable solutions, and delivering transformative outcomes. With a proven track record of collaborating with ecosystem partners and managing large-scale initiatives, her expertise lies in guiding businesses to thrive in an evolving digital economy through innovative and impactful strategies.

Aly Hassballah has served as director of delivery and solutions at CODE81 since February 2024. In this role, he takes a seasoned approach to driving value and performance spanning cross-function teams within the digital transformation and technology industry. He leads a high-performance technical and presales team that is committed to the delivery of innovative, cutting-edge solutions tailored to CODE81’s client needs. Aly is known for continuously fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. He is credited with enabling the success of CODE81’s sister company, CNS Middle East, where he established himself as a trusted advisor who provides expert guidance on extracting value-driven outcomes from technology solutions. He also held leadership positions with industry leaders Mendix and Omnix, helping them to establish and expand their presence across the MEA region.

Mouteih Chaglil is the CEO of Bespin Global. He is regarded as a trusted technology advisor by numerous enterprises in the MEA region, given his 15 years of experience and 20 certifications in the IT industry. He has helped world-renowned companies in many different sectors, including retail, automotive, and oil and gas, embrace cloud technologies. His goal has always been to help businesses transform into data-driven organizations. He empowers clients with cloud, DevOps, agile development, and data analytics technologies and helps them build artificial intelligence platforms.

Tariq Salameh leads Cloudera’s solutions engineering team for the Middle East and Türkiye. With a strong background gained at Oracle, Informatica, and Cloudera, he specializes in AI, machine learning, data management, and cloud. He actively drives data and AI transformation projects, helping enterprises navigate on-premises, public, and private cloud ecosystems. He is passionate about data and AI innovation and remains dedicated to empowering customers in their data-driven journey.

Mete Baydar serves as the vice president of strategic partnerships at Appcircle, where he focuses on mobile DevOps automation for enterprises. He is a product marketing professional with a 20-year career. He previously held key roles in product strategy at Samsung Electronics and served as a country manager at PlayStation. Mete’s expertise lies in understanding the pivotal role of mobile applications in the evolving tech landscape.

Abdullah Masud is a senior sales engineer at Ping Identity. He is a motivated and driven individual who possesses great communication skills. Abdullah has a passion for technology and a desire to pursue a career that operates within the field. He has a proven track record of working as part of a team and leading business units.

Mustafa Cantekin is a solutions engineering leader at Couchbase. He has 10+ years of experience in the IT industry. His professional journey began as a software engineer, providing him with a deep understanding of software development principles and challenges. Today, he specializes in delivering innovative and impactful solutions for complex business problems, with a particular focus on challenging engagements such as application modernization, multicloud strategies, and edge computing.

Walid Issa heads NetApp’s technical solution organization for the Middle East and Africa region. He has more than 20 years of experience in business development, management, and information technology, specializing in the areas of datacenters, security, networking, cloud, data management, and solution design. Prior to joining NetApp, Walid worked for a variety of leading multinational companies, including Cisco, NCR, and IBM.

Uğur Özata is a regional sales manager at Oredata, where he spearheads sales, business growth, and expansion across the Middle East. With 18 years of sales and technical experience across a range of industries and sectors, he brings specialized expertise in AI, Big Data Analytics, cloud migration, and infrastructure services, consistently delivering value to clients throughout their cloud journeys.

Bachir Moussa serves as vice president of sales for the MEAR region at Nozomi Networks. He is responsible for helping large industrial organizations and critical infrastructure operators in the region secure and monitor their operational technology and Internet of Things networks. Bachir has an extensive background and deep technical knowledge. Throughout his career, he has helped many customers in their path to digital transformation. Prior to joining Nozomi Networks, Bachir held several positions at Cisco, Riverbed Technology, Telstra, and Dimension Data.

Archie Sharma is a seasoned engineer and technology leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and scaling AI-powered solutions. As the chief operating officer, GTM, at Zencoder, he is spearheading the development and deployment of AI coding agents to revolutionize software development workflows. Previously, Archie served as chief operating officer at HappyFox, focusing on AI agents for customer support and ITSM. His expertise extends to AI-driven collaborative work management tools, as demonstrated by his successful tenure at Wrike, where he more than tripled the company’s value and oversaw its acquisition by Citrix for $2.25 billion. With a strong background in AI, software development, and global strategy, Archie has also held executive roles at leading tech companies like HubSpot, OpenX, and Western Digital.

Emre Öget is a partner at Retter, where he serves as the company’s chief operating officer. With extensive experience in building scalable serverless solutions for enterprises, he specializes in transforming businesses through innovative technologies, focusing on AI and cloud infrastructure. Emre is passionate about creating value-driven digital ecosystems and empowering teams to deliver exceptional results.

Mr. Almulla has an extensive experience in the field of I.T. for over 25 years. He has received Bachelor of Science from The University of Arizona in Computer Engineering in the year 1987 and completed his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from University of New England, Australia in the year 1993. Additionally, Mr. Almulla has completed the “Program for Executive Development” from International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Mr. Almulla has been working in all the areas in Information Technology department such as Application Development, Information Security, Architecture Designing and Networking, Process Control, etc. He started his career as a Programmer in 1988 in Dubai Aluminium Company Limited, and is currently Chief Technology Officer, Emirates Water and Electricity Co..

Adam Lalani serves as the CTO of Alliad, one of the world’s leading providers of supply chain services. He is an award-winning digital transformation and information security strategist who led the development of the GCC’s first production grade supply chain blockchain platform. Early in his career, Adam worked for one of the U.K.’s oldest high street chains where he was tasked with a Y2K driven phase-out of old IBM AS/400 mainframes. He then worked on an automation project for 150 stores across the U.K. Later, he worked as the IT manager for Europe and the Middle East for the steel trading subsidiary of Arcelor Mittal (Macsteel) before joining ESHIPS, the Gulf region’s largest private ship owner. Adam subsequently worked for Tristar, the City of Westminster, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Worldwide Flight Services. He is a certified ITILv3 Expert, a PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner, and a member of the British Computer Society.

Ahmed Al Zarouni serves as the head of IT at ICD, where he always encourages creativity, best practices, high performance, and security as a minimum for any project or task undertaken. His core areas of expertise include governance (compliance, business continuity, risk management, disaster recovery, management of IT departments, and various safety and security standards), infrastructure (servers, virtualization, storage, networking, CCTV, and IP telephony), IT support services, cybersecurity, IT operations, advanced online and app services, ERP, HR, business operations, application and mobile development, websites, online services, and social media. Over the course of his career, he has authored a book on technical thinking, appeared on various technology-related television shows and radio channels, produced over 300 technical videos on YouTube, and conducted dozens of technical awareness training programs for organizations across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He has also written technical articles for both the Al Roeya and Gulf News newspapers, developed three social media sites, and developed more than 12 mobile apps while also reviewing and helping other developers with their own projects. He served as a member of GISEC’s advisory board between 2018 and 2022, and as a CIO Majlis board member between 2020 and 2022.

Yousef A. Alsuhaibani serves as the CIO of Mobily. His leadership, strategic thinking, and in-depth technical knowledge of ICT supports the growth of the business and allows for the implementation of new initiatives. He has always relied on his knowledge, expertise, and passion for science and technology to influence every employment position he has held. He also knows the impact digital transformation can have on companies and society at large. He has led companies to success by introducing solutions and novel changes over his career spanning more than 17 years. He is an expert in multicultural organization and possesses numerous certifications in the IT field.

Khaled has total of 12 years experience in the diversity technology fields, Automatio, Digital Transformation, IT Operation and Management. Khaled has held critical positions in mining & manifestations companies, banking and telecommunications FinTech companies. Khaled is certificate from Harvard Business School as Master of Business Essentials- Credential of Readiness, COBIT Framework from ISACA organization and ITIL framework from Exin school also in additional to lot of management and technical certificates.

Dion Thorpe serves as vice president of digital at Bahri (formerly the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia). He is an award-winning tech leader who specializes in digital strategy and delivery. He leads international teams in implementing cutting-edge digital strategies, focusing on enterprise architecture, multicloud AI, automation, and IoT across eight countries and seven companies within the organization.

Paul Potgieter serves as the director of technology and digital platforms at NEOM, where he is responsible for how NEOM/Oxagon accelerates its goal to be relevant and differentiated in a digital platform era by leveraging digital technology to increase NEOM`s digital business within the construct of a cognitive city. Prior to joining NEOM, Paul served as managing director and Middle East board director at global systems integrator Dimension Data/NTT Middel East. He led the expansion of Dimension Data/NTT into the Gulf region and was responsible for the overall viability of the business. With over 20 years of experience in leading multinational technology businesses and being responsible for growth and expansion strategies across diverse regions, Paul ignites and unlocks key business levers across financial, operational, technology, and strategic paradigms to accelerate businesses to success. He shapes business value through technology and symbiotically merges these domains, allowing individuals and organizations to forge forward with confidence, elevating their leadership vision to exponential heights and delivering organizational value across their stakeholder value chain. Paul is also the South African Business Council Chairman for the Middle East, where he leads the national agenda across trade and commerce between for the UAE and Africa by connecting, facilitating, and accelerating business-to-business and business-to-government strategies.

Saket Saith is a seasoned professional at the forefront of digital transformation, specializing in the convergence of strategy and execution. Currently serving as the group chief technology and data officer at RAKBANK, Saket has over 25 years of experience in leading technology and data initiatives, ensuring the delivery of innovative and customer-centric solutions. Prior to this, he held pivotal roles, including chief technology officer, at Barclays in the United Kingdom, and various leadership positions at DBS Bank in Singapore, where he played a crucial role in digital transformation, enterprise architecture, and IT strategy. He is passionate about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and big data, and how they can be leveraged to create value for customers, businesses, and society at large. Saket’s career spans the globe, contributing significantly to the growth and innovation of renowned financial and technology organizations. His expertise encompasses enterprise architecture, IT business strategy, software engineering, and operating models.

Mounir Abdel-Moujoud serves as executive director of group technology at Aldar. He is a visionary technology executive with over 20 years of global experience leading transformation across industries, including real estate, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and defense. Recognized for his ability to translate complex challenges into actionable strategies, Mounir has played a pivotal role in reshaping how organizations operate, grow, and innovate in today’s digital economy. He brings a unique blend of strategic foresight, operational rigor, and human-centric leadership — driving change not just through systems and structures, but through people and purpose. His career has been defined by helping organizations stay ahead of disruption while building the next generation of leaders and capabilities. Mounir is also an active speaker and advisor on topics ranging from digital transformation to organizational agility and tech-enabled business reinvention.

Georges De Moura is the Vice President of Information Security and CISO at EDGE Group, an Advanced Technology and Defence international conglomerate headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He has 20+ years’ experience in information technology and cybersecurity across multiple industries, including aerospace, defense, and Aviation. Prior to taking on his current role, he oversaw the Cyber Resilience portfolio at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity. Before joining the World Economic Forum, he was the global CISO at Etihad Aviation Group, where he directed the execution of a major holistic cybersecurity transformation program. He also headed the information technology and cybersecurity organizations for all USA entities at Thales Group. He also served as a member of the IBM Security Board of Advisors and the Airbus STAR Advisory Group.

Based in Dubai, Giovanni Everduin serves as chief strategy and innovation officer at Commercial Bank International. He is also the bank’s head of ventures. He is a Harvard Business School alum with a creative, entrepreneurial background, who is passionate about the intersection of tech and impact, particularly around leveraging new technologies like AI and blockchain to support global and local sustainability goals. Giovanni also serves as an advisor and mentor to several start-ups and founders within the fintech and AI space, and currently sits on the boards of Zypl, a Series-A AI and synthetic data start-up; Tekle Holographics, a leading geospatial holographics company; Luna PR, a fintech-, AI-, and web3-focused PR firm; and Tumar, the fund between the World Bank and the government of Kazakhstan. He has over 20 years of experience driving change and delivering strategic benefits to organizations across the globe.

Manoj Bhojwani serves as global CIO at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, where he leads technology transformation, business digitization, and innovation. He is a highly experienced technology executive with over 30 years in digital, technology, and organizational transformation. He has held prominent roles at Oracle, JP Morgan Chase, Credit Suisse, and HSBC, maintaining a strong focus on the wealth management sector. Notably, he spearheaded the creation of Asia’s first digital private bank. As global CIO of wealth and private banking at HSBC, he drove a global technology transformation, prioritizing a cloud-first approach to modernize platforms across client segments. Known for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, he is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within the organizations he serves.

Nikolai Belstein is the CISO of Boubyan Bank, a leading digital and innovation bank in Kuwait. He has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, spanning various roles and sectors. He holds multiple certifications — including CISSP, CCISO, CCSP, and CEH — which demonstrate his deep knowledge and proficiency in the industry. As CISO, he is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the bank’s cybersecurity program, securing its cloud journey, and promoting a culture of strong information security. He works closely with business and executive stakeholders to determine cybersecurity risks and minimize exposure. He is a seasoned leader and expert with a proven track record of delivering results, driving innovation, and safeguarding organizations and their business assets. He previously managed the security operations center, computer security incident response team, and infrastructure security and vulnerability management teams at Danske Bank.

Majed Mohammad Alshodari serves as general director of the IT department at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. He is also a member of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce’s Communications and IT Committee and a member of the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants, which is based in New Mexico. As part of his responsibilities, he helps establish future strategies, improve corporate governance, oversee operational plans, and analyze financial reports, revenue, and other expenses. He is a well-known business leader and an executive player with an intelligible passion for technology, cybersecurity, shared services, digitization, corporate strategy, and organizational change management. He has received numerous technology and innovation awards that have been based on his credibility and experience in delivering complex business development initiatives.

Dr. Ali Al Sanousi is the executive director of clinical information systems at Hamad Medical Corporation. He is a visionary digital transformation healthcare entrepreneur focused on improving the quality of care through the use of information technology. He is an analytical thinker with a strategic expertise in implementing new concepts and deploying end-to-end solutions such as electronic medical records systems and biomedical systems in large-scale medical facilities. Dr. Ali has extensive experience in executive-level management and business development. He serves as an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, and as director of the university’s Clinical Informatics Fellowship Training Program. He also sits on the steering committee of the National Qatar Health Information Exchange QHIE-HUB Program of the Ministry of Public Health, and is the clinical lead for the enterprise-wide Clinical Information Systems (CIS) program being implemented in 15 hospitals, 31 healthcare centers, and numerous specialty clinics across the state of Qatar.

Gaurav Duggal is a seasoned technology executive with nearly two decades of experience in driving security and IT initiatives across diverse sectors. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of IT and Security at Jio Platforms Limited, Gaurav combines visionary leadership with a deep commitment to innovative problem-solving. His expertise spans critical areas such as cybersecurity, generative AI, blockchain, and agile methodologies, enabling him to navigate complex technological landscapes and implement robust security frameworks.

Gaurav’s multidisciplinary skill set empowers him to address the intricacies of modern security threats, develop proactive strategies, and lead transformative initiatives that ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information. His forward-thinking approach positions him as a pivotal leader in the intersection of technology and security, driving innovation while maintaining a strong focus on risk management and compliance.

Gaurav is author of METAVERSE Simplified, and he also has 20+ patents with international coverage: An MIT alumni; he is currently pursuing a PhD from BITS, Pilani, to enhance his understanding of emerging security challenges and solutions in an increasingly digital world.

Mohannad AlSalmi is the CIO of Flyadeal. He has over 28 years of experience in IT and digital transformation. Throughout his lengthy career, he has held key roles in various organizations where he has been instrumental in developing and leading digital strategies, road maps, and projects. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the top 10 CIOs in the Middle East by IDC. He is also a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach who has earned a leadership and management qualification from the International Air Transport Association.

Essa serves as Chief Technology Officer at Ooredoo Kuwait, where they lead strategic planning, development, and implementation of cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and enhance the company’s telecommunication infrastructure. With 20 years of experience in the telecom industry, Essa has a proven record in managing large-scale network deployments, 5G rollouts, and the integration of next-generation technologies such as IoT and AI. Previous to their role as CTO of Ooredoo Kuwait, Essa was Director of Radio Access and Network Planning, where they successfully launched 5G, 4G, and 3G Networks, IP and Transmission works, including end-to-end management of Ooredoo Radio Network evolution, country-wide. They also played a key role in the continued development and execution of strategic objectives driven by Ooredoo Group, with its recent strategic announcement of establishing the largest Tower Company in the MENA region, which feeds the demand for environmentally friendly solutions and sustainability. Moreover, Customer Experience was at the heart of their strategies deployed for Network Anomaly Detection using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for critical use cases, to deliver seamless performance on all application levels.

Dr. Hamad Khalifa Al Nuaimi is the head of the telecommunications division at the general headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police. He has more than 20 years of experience in project management and IT. He is a member of the UAE Leaders Digital Hub and part of the British University Future Program Council. In addition, he routinely serves as a telecom committee manager for most events in Abu Dhabi, including Formula One. He has also been an active member of the Abu Dhabi University Continuing Education Program since 2020. He is a co-founder of Digital Barza, which has more than 100+ members. He won the International Association of Chiefs of Police 40 under 40 award in 2021.

Methodical Executive Vice President, and Persistent, Innovative, and Forward-thinking CIO with 25+ years of experience in the Technology banking and financial services industry.
Utilizes progressive expertise, professional acumen, and strategic vision to drive optimized outcomes and digitally transformative initiatives that yield exceptional bottom-line performance,
Developed Technology vision and strategy, steering the implementation of the Technology Strategic Plan.
An energetic leader with a passion for people development, a track record of recruiting and retaining top talent, and a demonstrated ability to effectively lead and work in a highly matrixed global environment.
An innovator who stays current and ahead with new market trends and innovations in technology, digital banking, and the leadership of enterprise IT.
Proposes and initiates new technologies towards providing the leading digital banking solution, full STP, and end-to-end proven customer experience.
Adept in building and managing digital factories, IT Operations related to Applications Management, Infrastructure and Cloud Operations, and Services management.

Sufiyan Chikhalia serves as the associate director of IT at Sunbulah Group. He oversees IT operations with a combined budget of over $30 million, managing a multinational team of professionals and aligning technology initiatives with corporate strategies to achieve business growth and agility. Sufiyan is a distinguished IT and SAPS4HANA expert with 16+ years of experience driving innovation and operational excellence across the fast-moving consumer goods, third-party logistics, and manufacturing industries. He has successfully delivered large-scale projects that optimize processes, enhance cybersecurity, and reduce costs. Notable achievements include saving $2 million through strategic cost-cutting measures, leading the migration of SAP S/4HANA to the cloud, and upgrading organizational cybersecurity frameworks.

Mubaraka Ibrahim is a widely-lauded digital transformation generalist in the medical and government sectors. Currently serving as CIO of the Information Sector — and as Director of Health Information Systems — in the recently established Emirates Health Services Establishment, her 20+ year career includes serving as Deputy Head of all computing functions at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). There, she led over 160 key personnel on multiple federal healthcare technology initiatives, such as Riayati (the National Unified Medical Record) patient integration project and Tatmeen (Track & Trace), designed to secure pharmaceutical supply chains and strengthen post-pandemic resilience.

An inaugural member of HIMSS Middle East, Mubaraka has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, exhibitions, and discussions — both regionally and internationally. She was recognized among the Top 50 Middle East IT Leaders by the HIMSS organization, received the Women’s Leadership Award in 2018, and was honored with the GovTech Innovation Award in 2020 as Woman in Government of the Year.

As a member of the UAE Government Team for the Next 50, she continues to build on an impressive series of career achievements.

Academically, Mubaraka holds a Master’s degree in Information Management Systems from the American University in Washington, D.C., a Healthcare Leadership Diploma from the Harvard School of Public Health, and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Kuwait University.

Eng. Saad AlQahtani serves as deputy miniser of digital transformation and IT at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment. He is a digital transformation expert who is widely recognized as a highly efficient, ethical, and credible C-level leader and transformation catalyst at all levels of government and the private sector. He has a proven track record of building, leading, and inspiring cross-functional teams, managing complex multi-country/sectors mega projects, creating and delivering sustainable values across verticals, and building reliable digital transformation journeys. He is a high-energy, visionary, and futuristic thought leader with 25+ years of diversified regional leadership experience across the MENA region. Entrepreneurial minded with a broad and deep technical knowledge, his business acumen and effective storytelling skills have enabled him to translate complex technical concepts into plain effective language to influence C-level executives and stakeholders. Prior to joining the Ministry of Investment in 2024, he was group chief shared services officer at AlBawani Holding, having previously served as assistant deputy minister for digital technologies at the Ministry of Health.

Eng. Huda Ahmed Mohsen , Chief of Information Technology at the Ministry of Information, leading the digital transformation and modernization of the ministry’s IT ecosystem. With extensive expertise in upgrading IT infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity frameworks, and enabling advanced e-government services, she has successfully directed numerous strategic projects across all information technology sectors. Her leadership focuses on driving innovation, strengthening digital governance, and empowering the public sector through secure and efficient technological solutions.

Eng. Meshal is a veteran in Information Security Management and Technology Transformation, serving as both the Chief AI Officer overseeing AI adoption across the Ministry of Finance, and driving digital transformation and cybersecurity initiatives across the Ministry and Federal Government. Under his leadership, the Ministry harnesses the latest emerging technologies, including robotics, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence, in line with the UAE’s Vision & Strategies.
Previously, Eng. Meshal managed Information Security and technical operations at Dubai Holding Group and its entities. He was also a member of the UAE mGovernment Committee, spearheading the UAE Federal Government’s transformation into a Smart Government.
He is recognized as a leader in government innovation, having helped establish the Federal Government’s first digital innovation center, which fosters a culture of forward-thinking solutions and creative problem-solving across government entities.
Throughout his extensive career in leading cybersecurity incident handling for the UAE government and other sectors, Eng. Meshal’s deep expertise in information security and technology has enabled him to make significant contributions in this field. His responsibilities have included heading the UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT), where he led cybersecurity incident response, digital forensics initiatives, and awareness campaigns across the UAE government.
Having started his career with ETISALAT as an Internet Security Engineer, Eng. Meshal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications Engineering and a Master’s degree in Information Security from Khalifa University (KU).

Eric Helmer serves as the senior vice president and global chief technology officer of Rimini Street. In this role, he is responsible for advising clients on strategic innovation initiatives that align with financial, technical, and functional long-term corporate goals across applications that include Oracle, SAP, IBM, and Microsoft. These initiatives are designed to maximize the effectiveness of mission-critical enterprise software systems.

Martin Tombs serves as the vice president of go-to-market analytics at Qlik. He is a seasoned expert in the technology sector with extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of the evolving data landscape. He has been instrumental in guiding customers through the complexities of data management and helping organizations unlock the full potential of their data-driven strategies.

Youhanna Sidrak serves as OutSystems’ regional sales director for the MEA region and has over 19 years of experience in the software industry. Throughout his career, Youhanna has provided efficient and effective solutions in different industries and markets, helping customers overcome their challenges and empowering teams to achieve their digital transformation aspirations. Currently, his mission is to empower every organization to innovate through the power of OutSystems’ high-performance, low-code platform.

Osman Sief is a sales leader specializing in digital transformation and AI-driven solutions. As vice president of sales and marketing Envnt, he drives business growth through innovation and strategic partnerships. With a strong background in regional sales and customer engagement, Osman is committed to leveraging technology to empower clients and expand market influence.

Zaid Ghattas is AMD’s commercial lead for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, with responsibility for driving revenue among commercial, enterprise, and public sector end users and solution providers across the region. He has worked at top global IT companies such as VMware, HP, Intel, Epson, and OKI Printing Solutions in over 20 different markets. Zaid’s expertise spans sales and marketing strategy, leadership, and people management. He is a qualified thought leader in AI, neural networks, and high-performance computing within the ICT domain.

As the head of cybersecurity at a Leading Bank in Qatar, Nikunj Desai leads the design and implementation of cybersecurity solutions, policies, and operations to protect the bank’s assets, data, and customers from cyberthreats. He also manages incident management and threat management within the cybersecurity function and oversees a global team of cybersecurity professionals. Nikunj leverages more than 25 years of experience and expertise in network security, cloud security, IT operations, SIEM, endpoint solutions, and cyberdefense centers to deliver customized and effective cybersecurity solutions. He is passionate about cybersecurity and enjoys mentoring and sharing his knowledge with others. Nikunj holds the CISA, GCIH, and AWS Architect certifications and is always eager to learn new skills and technologies.

Abdulrahman Safwat serves as a solutions engineer at Cloudflare. He is an experienced IT professional with over eight years of experience in the cybersecurity industry. He started as a pre-sales consultant at a leading cybersecurity distributor, where he specialized in designing and presenting security solutions, providing technical support, and ensuring successful product deployments. In his current role, Abdulrahman architects and delivers advanced web security and performance solutions, in addition to Cloudflare’s zero trust and SASE products. He holds a wide range of specialized certifications and is dedicated to helping organizations navigate digital challenges.

Charbel Khneisser serves as Riverbed Technology’s vice president of solutions engineering in the EMEA region. He also lectures in the Faculty of Engineering at Saint Joseph University. He is responsible for strategically and tactically driving technical sales across Riverbed’s comprehensive portfolio of end-to-end visibility and network and acceleration solutions. He focuses on cross-functional alignment, best practice development, and knowledge sharing across the EMEA region. He has 18+ years of technical experience in the IT industry, encompassing networking concepts, application architectures, security models, and service management tools. Previously, he served as the solution architect lead consultant for the Saudi Ministry of Communication and IT, where he was responsible for managing and implementing the Yesser eGovernment program and the Saudi National Digital Certification Center.

Roman Spitzbart serves as Dynatrace’s vice president of solutions engineering for the EMEA region. He has focused on improving monitoring and performance for more than 10 years and has given large and small companies strong insights into their applications. At Dynatrace, he is responsible for the solutions engineering team covering EMEA. He helps customers and prospects understand the uniqueness of Dynatrace’s approach and identify how to unlock its value.

Dr. Alexey Sidorov is the chief evangelist at Denodo. He was born with a passion for data programmed in his DNA and began his career 27 years ago building a volumetric model of radioactive pollution within the Chernobyl nuclear disaster zone for the Russian Academy of Science. He has since earned a reputation for being a trusted strategic adviser across all aspects of data management. Prior to joining Denodo, Alexey built and managed enterprise-wide data integration platforms for industry giants like Nokia and Deutsche Bank. In the last 15 years, he has been helping many companies across three continents to digitally transform their businesses with cutting-edge data technologies from Teradata and Informatica.

Larbi Belbecir serves as a senior solutions consultant at Boomi, where he thrives on collaborating with leading organizations to help them break down silos and enhance operational efficiency to deliver tangible business outcomes. Previously with IBM, he has more than 12 years of experience in helping enterprise clients across multiple industries accelerate their digital transformation journey through AI-infused integration and business automation solutions.

Adrian Hayes is a record-breaking adventurer, speaker, corporate coach, and sustainability ambassador. A former British Army Gurkha officer and Airbus sales director, he has set two Guinness world records for polar expeditions – for reaching the Earth’s ‘3 Poles’ in the shortest period of time in history and for the Arctic’s longest unsupported snow-kiting expedition to date.