Registration & Networking

Beyond Reality: The Grand Magical Opening

Step into the extraordinary as Golden Buzzer winners of America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, James & Marina, kick off the Middle East CIO Summit 2025 with a mesmerizing blend of mind-reading, illusion, and interactive magic. This spellbinding opening will leave you questioning reality and set the stage for an unforgettable experience.But the magic doesn’t end here—James & Marina will be your hosts, infusing every session with their world-class mentalism and charisma for an electrifying experience!

IDC Welcome Address

Jyoti Lalchandani

Head of WW Events & MD – META, Central Asia, India, IDC

Government Insights: AI, Cyber Resilience & National Growth

HE Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity Council for the UAE Government, delivers the opening address, exploring how AI is transforming cybersecurity, digital resilience, and national innovation. As AI reshapes industries and cyber threats evolve, his insights will set the stage for discussions on securing the future in an AI-powered world.

Advisory Council Felicitation

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.

Crawford Del Prete

President, IDC

Agentic AI for Enterprises: Driving Business Transformation

This keynote will highlight the transformative power of agentic AI in reshaping enterprises and businesses. It will explore its core capabilities in autonomous decision-making and multi-agent orchestration, presenting high-impact use cases and real-world examples with compelling ROI. The session will outline essential components for successful adoption, address challenges like ethical considerations and workforce readiness, and offer strategic considerations. It will conclude with a future outlook.

Topics to be covered:

– Introduction to agentic AI and its potential for enterprise and business transformation
– Core capabilities of agentic AI
– Multi-agent environments and orchestration needs
– The business case: Uses cases and expected ROI from adopting agentic AI
– Real-world examples
– Essential components for successful enterprise adoption
– Challenges and strategic considerations
– Future outlook of agentic AI in business

Managing AI Adoption: Internal Readiness & Change Management in the Age of AI

As the MENA region enters the “Intelligent Era,” organizations must do more than implement new technologies — they must evolve to be more agile, resilient, and human centric in the face of digital disruption. This session will explore how AI is transforming industries by enhancing both employee and customer experiences. It will showcase critical insights on aligning AI with business objectives, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and leading through effective change management. And with a focus on internal readiness, strategic leadership, and responsible AI integration, attendees will be presented with proven strategies to help their organizations embrace AI effectively and navigate this transformative journey for long-term success.

Agentic Experiences Will Power the Next Digital Revolution

Agentic is a new way of building digital experiences powered by innovations in AI. It takes us away from building deterministic digital journeys to probabilistic. This requires a complete rethink across the entire stack and the talent base. This session will introduce the audience to agentic, how to leverage it now, and how to unlock significant business value.

Unleashing Efficiency: The Synergistic Relationship Between AI and Low-Code Process Automation

The power and promise of AI have led many government and business leaders to adopt an “AI Everywhere” mindset. Across the Middle East, governments and organizations alike are prioritizing AI. Recently, Abu Dhabi announced its Government Digital Strategy 2025–2027, with the goal of becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government across all digital services. AI and low-code process automation have a synergistic relationship, enabling and enhancing the other. This session will explore how low-code automation enhances operational capabilities and provides the necessary data, consistency, and scalability for AI to thrive. This will enable Abu Dhabi and other governments in the region, as well as private organizations, to fully realize the potential of AI-driven innovation

AI-Native Products: Driving Enterprise Efficiency and Informed Decision-Making

As AI adoption accelerates, enterprises will face a critical challenge — generic AI models that are not built for the scalability, modularity, security, or integration that businesses require. This session will explore how domain-specific AI solutions are being pioneered to drive real business outcomes. It will also highlight a foundational AI platform designed to integrate various models and enable scalable, agentic AI solutions tailored to enterprise needs. Additionally, the session discusses an approach to responsible AI, examining how large language models are built to ensure trust and provide equitable access to AI.

Enabling Industries: The Global AI Infrastructure Capacity Build Out

AI-First Enterprise: A CIO’s Journey!

Tea / Coffee & Networking Break

Engage, Explore, and Network—Where technology meets unforgettable moments!

Make the most of your networking break with exciting experiences! Enjoy coffee or ice cream from the Robotic Arm Café, capture memories at the AI Photobooth, and refresh at the Mocktail Station. Pick up your exclusive AI T-shirt, craft a signature scent at the Perfumery Station, or get a fun Caricature. Need a quick check-up? Visit the Health Zone for expert advice.

Refresh & Regroup

Lunch