Accelerating together: Balancing urgency, intention, and partnership in the AI Era
By Naim Yazbeck, President, Middle East and Africa (MEA)
Across the Middle East and Africa, we’re living one of the most transformative moments in our history. Governments and organisations across all industries are shaping what the digital era looks like – on their own terms and at incredible speed.
From ministries in Abu Dhabi to innovation hubs in Kenya, leaders are using AI to drive growth, inclusion, and global competitiveness.
Having spent more than two decades working in this region, I have seen firsthand the ambition and resilience that define it. My own journey—from my first professional steps in Riyadh, to leading teams in the UAE, and now working closely with partners and customers and partners across the Middle East and Africa —has reinforced one simple truth: leadership is about presence. You build trust by being there – by listening to policymakers, collaborating with engineers and learning from students. Real progress happens when we show up, consistently, whether it’s in a boardroom in Riyadh or a classroom in Cape Town.
Moving fast, with purpose and governance
Recently at GITEX in Dubai, I was reminded of the remarkable pace of change across the Gulf. The UAE continues to set new benchmarks for innovation, while Saudi Arabia is pursuing its AI-first vision with equal determination.
Both are investing heavily in digital infrastructure and talent – not to catch up, but to lead. In the UAE, for example, we have launched a national skilling initiative to train 100,000 government employees in AI as part of the UAE’s broader AI Strategy 2031 and our commitment to train 1 million learners in AI skill by 2027.
In Saudi Arabia, we’ve empowered over 300,000 people with digital skills this year, and—through our partnership with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)—we’re co-establishing an AI Centre of Excellence to advance responsible AI and nurture local talent. In 2026, our cloud datacenter region will go live in the Kingdom, providing government and private sector companies with secure, scalable infrastructure to enable innovation and growth, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
I’ve been always someone who likes to move fast. But as we accelerate in the era of AI, it’s essential to balance speed with governance. Sustainable progress requires frameworks that build trust and ensure that AI delivers real value for society.
In South Africa, we’re seeing thoughtful steps toward inclusive regulation that supports both local startups and global enterprises. Nedbank, for example, is using Microsoft’s AI solutions to drive innovation and efficiency in financial services, while the Microsoft AI Youth Project is equipping young South Africans with essential AI skills for the future. Across the continent, leaders are building the structures needed to ensure technology serves everyone—safely, equitably, and with long-term impact in mind.
Africa’s innovators are also shaping the global AI ecosystem—developing models, applications, and solutions that reflect the continent’s creativity and diversity. These stories show how local talent and partnerships are delivering real progress and ensuring the benefits of AI reach communities across the region.
Collaboration at scale: Public/private partnerships & cross-border alliances
No single organization or government can realize the promise of AI alone. The most meaningful progress happens when public and private sectors, regulators, and industry leaders work together toward shared goals.
These partnerships extend beyond technology. They align with national visions, drive economic diversification, and create opportunities that are both sustainable and inclusive.
We see this in the Gulf’s giga projects, in the rise of sovereign-cloud infrastructure, and in Africa’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystems. Cross-border collaboration is enabling knowledge transfer, fostering innovation, and ensuring that the benefits of AI genuinely reach people everywhere.
Building the AI-ready ecosystem: Skilling, inclusion, and infrastructure
Preparing for the future starts with people. In the UAE, national strategies are focused on executive education to lead in tomorrow’s digital economy. In Saudi Arabia, a new generation of innovators is emerging. In South Africa, the focus on inclusive language models and developer communities continues to grow.
Across Africa, startups are transforming creativity into competitiveness – supported by infrastructure that enables homegrown solutions to flourish.
But infrastructure alone is not enough. It must be paired with a commitment to inclusion, trust, and continuous learning – because human capital is the real foundation of every AI-ready nation.
For example, in the UAE, the partnership between e& UAE and Microsoft launched an ‘AI for Business Skilling Programme’ aimed at empowering SMBs with tailored AI learning tracks for leaders, business users and educators.
And in Saudi Arabia, the Azure + Databricks collaboration with Microsoft is expanding access to analytics and AI capabilities for local businesses – tied to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its push to democratise AI and data skills. These are examples of how skilling, infrastructure and inclusion must go hand-in-hand.
Tangible impact: From national wins to regional scale
Every AI initiative must tie back to a real outcome – a national priority, a business goal or a community need.
Technology for technology’s sake is not enough. The most impactful initiatives—whether in the UAE’s test-bed environment, Saudi Arabia’s giga projects, or South Africa’s public sector growth—are those that solve real problems and deliver measurable results.
The next wave of growth will come from connecting youth to skills, mentorship, and infrastructure, turning local creativity into regional competitiveness.
A call to action
The opportunity ahead is immense. But it will only be realized if we act boldly, collaborate deeply, and keep people at the center of everything we do.
I stand ready to partner, lead, and help shape a digital future that works for everyone. The time to act is now.