Leading in the Age of AI-Native Organizations: From AI Ambition to Execution
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Overview
AI investment across the Middle East is entering a decisive growth phase. IDC projects that regional AI spending in META will reach $25.9 billion by 2029, expanding at a 42% CAGR, driven by national and enterprise commitments to building AI-powered digital economies.
As AI strategies mature, conversations are moving beyond proofs of concept toward proof of value, embedding AI into mission-critical environments. However, the path to scale remains complex. IDC research indicates that, on average, only two out of nine AI use cases successfully progress from initial idea to measurable impact.
As Qatar works toward its vision to be a global leader in AI, the focus is increasingly on operationalizing AI responsibly, securely, and at scale.
Hosted by UnifyApps in collaboration with IDC, Leading in the Age of AI-Native Enterprises, is a closed-door executive roundtable convening senior leaders from government and enterprise organizations to examine how AI is advancing from experimentation to real-world execution.
Structured as a peer-led, discussion-first forum, the session emphasizes practical insights, shared experiences, and execution realities prioritizing meaningful dialogue over theory or product-centric narratives.
Key Discussion Themes:
How Leadership decisions evolve as AI scales across mission-critical environments
Operating models that enable enterprise-wide AI execution
Architectural foundations for secure, scalable AI deployment
Governance frameworks aligned to public-sector and large-enterprise constraints
Agenda
Leading in the Age of AI-Native Organizations: From AI Ambition to Execution
One Day Event
Registrations & Welcome
UnifyApps Welcome Address
Abdullah Abu-Hakmeh
Country Manager, Qatar, UnifyApps
Welcome & IDC Keynote – From Experimentation to Business Value: Navigating the Great AI Shift
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META), IDC
From AI Pilots to AI-Native Organizations: Unifying Data, Governance & Actionability
Rami Bou Hamdan
Vice President, UnifyApps
Beyond AI Pilots: The Architecture That Scales
Roland Boulos
Vice President, Go-to-Market, UnifyApps
Coffee Break
Panel Discussion – From AI Ambition to Execution: What It Really Takes to Run AI at Scale
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META), IDC
Fatma Al Sowaidi
IT Director, Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA)
Bashar Yaieesh
ISV Leader – Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Google Cloud
Rami Bou Hamdan
Vice President, UnifyApps
Closing Remarks
Rami Bou Hamdan
Vice President, UnifyApps
Networking Lunch
Speakers
Fatma Al Sowaidi
IT Director
Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA)
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Fatma Al Sowaidi
Fatma Al Sowaidi is the Director of Information Technology at the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA), where she leads the strategic development and transformation of the organization’s technology landscape. With over 18 years of experience in the IT sector, she has been instrumental in driving innovation, operational excellence, and the adoption of next‑generation digital capabilities within the regulatory environment.
Fatma oversees enterprise-wide technology strategy, major digital transformation initiatives, and the implementation of cloud, network, cybersecurity, business continuity, and disaster recovery programs. Under her leadership, the QFCRA became the first government entity in Qatar to operate fully on the cloud—an achievement that significantly strengthened operational efficiency, resilience, and alignment with the country’s broader digital agenda.
She also leads the development and execution of the QFCRA’s Artificial Intelligence strategy, positioning the authority as a regional benchmark for regulatory modernization. Her vision centers on leveraging AI to enhance supervisory effectiveness, streamline operations, and elevate regulatory excellence.
Abdullah Abu-Hakmeh
Country Manager, Qatar
UnifyApps
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Abdullah Abu-Hakmeh
Rami Bou Hamdan
Vice President
UnifyApps
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Rami Bou Hamdan
Roland Boulos
Vice President, Go-to-Market
UnifyApps
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Roland Boulos
Roland Boulos serves as UnifyApps’ vice president of go-to-market strategy and solution consulting. In this role, he leads global solution consulting initiatives, advising enterprises on how to operationalize AI at scale and translate strategy into measurable business outcomes across industries. He is a frequent speaker at industry forums, where he shares practical insights from real-world projects on enterprise AI adoption and the structural changes required to unlock sustainable transformation.
Bashar Yaieesh
ISV Leader – Middle East, North Africa and Turkey
Google Cloud
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Bashar Yaieesh
Harish Dunakhe
Senior Research Director, Software & Cloud (META)
IDC
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Harish Dunakhe
Harish Dunakhe leads IDC’s research & advisory practice for the software program in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey (META) region.
He is responsible for a team of research analysts and manages the delivery of insights in IDC’s software program and syndicated research. Harish and his team have expertise in studying technology trends to provide our clients with thought leadership and actionable insights. He is based in Dubai.
Harish has a strong understanding of leveraging technologies to solve business problems in the public sector, travel & transportation, hospitality, IT, and retail. He has significant knowledge of emerging technologies such as blockchain, RPA, artificial intelligence, and cloud. He works with clients to understand the intricacies, opportunities, and challenges involved in their technology transformation journeys.
Harish brings more than 17 years of experience working with leading system integrators and other technology companies across the Middle East, South Asia, and India. Prior to joining IDC, he held senior roles spanning technology sales strategy, program governance, and large account business planning at Global MNCs such as Wipro, DXC Technology, and Sonata Software.
