Agenda
IDC CIO Summit 2026
Day 1
Registration & Networking
Building the CIO roadmap for the agentic era
Scaling AI across the enterprise, embracing the shift to agentic era, strategies for success & growth
IDC Welcome Address
Jyoti Lalchandani
Head of WW Events & MD – META, Central Asia, India, IDC
Government’s role in advancing the AI vision: Middle East’s unique advantages
The Middle East is becoming a focal point for global AI investment. With favorable regulatory environment, clear data sovereignty goals, and long-term AI roadmaps, regional governments are enabling a thriving, trusted AI ecosystem. This session explores how public-private partnership redefines innovation, how to take the momentum forward, and how CIOs across the Middle East can seize this moment to shape the region’s AI future.
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.
Meredith Whalen
Cheif Research and Data Officer, IDC
Scaling AI for the Agentic Future: Closing the Enterprise Gaps
Bridging the divide between AI ambition and execution to prepare for autonomous, enterprise-scale systems
The Evolving Role of the CIO: From IT Leader to Business Strategist
How CIOs are shaping enterprise direction and boardroom priorities
Horizon Technologies: The Next Wave of Industry Transformation
Exploring emerging technologies that will redefine industries and reshape global economies
Building a Sustainable Infrastructure Backbone for the GenAI Wave
As Gen AI and agentic AI adoption accelerates, the Middle East faces rising demand for high-performance, scalable, and energy-efficient infrastructure. This session explores how next-gen data centers and HPC architectures can power the region’s AI ambitions while ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
Bridging the Talent Gap to Realize Middle East’s AI Ambitions
AI ambition in the Middle East is soaring, but the talent gap is widening. This session examines how enterprises, government and academia can address critical shortages in AI and data skills in 2026
Technical Debt as a Strategic Lever
Managing legacy systems and debt reduction to unlock innovation capacity
Resilience by Design
Building adaptable architectures to withstand disruption and volatility
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.
Technology Focus Group Session – Cluster A (Parallel Sessions)
12:15 pm – Opening Act
12:20 pm – Session Overview
Attend the Track, Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to win iPhone 16
Track 01: Agentic AI: Strategic Opportunities and Operational Challenges for CIOs
Rebuilding Businesses for the Future: AI, Computer Vision, Robotics, and Digital Twins
From Challenges to Solutions: Achieving Quality Excellence in an App-Centric World
Government Transformation through AI: Opportunities and Challenges
Mobile Versus Back-End DevOps: Five Differences
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Track 02: Scaling AI for the Agentic Future: Closing the Enterprise Gaps
The Cloud to Edge Continuum for AI Excellence
Accelerate ROI from your AI/Copilot Implementation
Building AI Centers of Excellence: A Global Perspective for the MEA Region
Is Your Enterprise Ready to Tackle the Complexities of AI Development?
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Track 03: Building the Data Foundation for the AI-centered Enterprise
Beyond the Technology: Enhancing Digital Experiences for CIOs
Unlocking the Value of AI with a Data Streaming Platform
Secure, Intelligent, and Personalized: The Future of Digital Experiences with GenAI
Real-World Success in the AI Era: Leveraging Cloud, Data, Business Intelligence, and Generative AI
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Track 04: Agentic AI: The Next Frontier in Cybersecurity Challenges
Preparing for the Future Threat Landscape: Cloud Security Trends
Data-driven Decision Making: Empowering Organizations for Success
Supercharge AI Anywhere!
Coding Reinvented: How AI Agents Are Shaping the Future of Software Development
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Technology Focus Group Session – Cluster B (Parallel Sessions)
12:15 pm – Opening Act
12:20 pm – Session Overview
Attend the Track, Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to win iPhone 16
Track 05: Cybersecurity Investment Strategies: Where to Place the Next Dollar
Data Resilience to Keep Your Business Running
Evolution of the SIEM for the AI Era
Building Networks for AI Workloads
Next-Gen Identity Security: Passwordless Authentication
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Track 06: Future-Proofing the Enterprise IT Portfolio
Breaking Software Delivery Barriers with AI-Powered Low Code
Embracing the Future: Leveraging AI and ML in Cloud Environments
Copilot-First, Future-Ready: AI-Led Contact Centers Revolutionizing Customer Experience!
Building an Intelligent Data Infrastructure for Accelerating AI Adoption
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Track 07: Cybersecurity in the Boardroom
Risk, Readiness, and Recoverability
AI in Oil and Gas: Driving Efficiency and Sustainability
Smarter AI, Stronger Apps
Taking Control and Securing your Cyber Physical Systems
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Track 08: Digital Sovereignty
Protecting Critical Infrastructure from the Rise of AI-Borne Threats
The GenAI Adoption Journey for Enterprises
The Cloud Imperative: Enabling AI-powered Business Transformation
The Future of Enterprise Cloud: Faster, Smarter, Serverless
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Refresh & Regroup
For The CIO- By The CIO Tracks
Track A
Agentic AI in action: Industry use cases and early wins
Managing cost and deriving value out of AI
Track B
Cross-Functional Collaboration in the Future Enterprise
From pilots to platforms: Taking agentic AI to scale
Lunch
Day 2
Registration & Networking – Arrive Early & Stand a Chance to Win Prizes
IDC Welcome Address
Ranjit Rajan
Vice President, Research (META), IDC
Governance Beyond Compliance
Using regulation as a catalyst for trust, transparency, and resilience
AI for the CIO Agenda: From Hype to Enterprise Value
Practical frameworks for moving beyond pilots to measurable business outcomes with AI and GenAI
Responsible AI Leadership
How CIOs can embed ethics, governance, and transparency into enterpriseAI strategies
Navigating AI regulation: What CIOs must prepare for
Intelligent Automation and Productivity
Leveraging automation to reshape business processes and workforce value
Innovation at Scale
Translating pilots and proofs-of-concept into enterprise-wide transformation
Summit Tracks (Parallel Sessions)
11:00 – Opening Act
11:05 – Session Overview
Attend the Track, Ask Questions, Rate Sessions & Stand a Chance to win iPhone 16
Summit Track A: Security for autonomous systems: Risks and countermeasures
Maximizing AI Adoption in a Safe and Secure approach
Observability for AI Models, Services & Applications
Turn the Promise of AI into Practice
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
Summit Track B: Navigating the Agentic Shift: CIO Priorities for Change and Continuity
AI-Powered ITOps for Sustainable Business Growth
From Data Silos to AI Insights: How To Power Intelligent Enterprises
Revolutionizing Customer Experience: Integrating Digital Business Strategies in CCaaS (Contact Center as a Service) Solutions
Announcement of the iPhone 16 Raffle Draw Winner
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.