Dubai, February 21, 2025 — The 18th annual IDC Middle East CIO Summit concluded yesterday with resounding success, reinforcing its status as the region's premier platform for technology decision-makers. Held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on February 19–20, 2025, under the theme "Architecting an AI-Fueled Business," the summit provided a deep dive into AI's transformative potential, equipping enterprises with strategies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Setting the tone for the event, Jyoti Lalchandani, IDC's group vice president and regional managing director for META, Central Asia, and India, underscored AI's game-changing role in the digital era. "AI is no longer just a future ambition — it is today's competitive advantage. With a projected $19.9 trillion impact on the global economy by 2030, AI is reshaping industries, creating new revenue streams, and redefining the role of technology leaders." His keynote unveiled groundbreaking insights from IDC's extensive research around critical areas such as AI adoption road maps, AI-ready data governance, scalable enterprise infrastructure, and the pressing need for talent development to bridge the region's growing skills gap.
The summit featured specialized technology tracks tailored to a variety of industry priorities, including AI-enabled applications, AI and GenAI investments, next-generation data strategies, cloud security, modern cybersecurity, software development, and IT automation in the AI era. Each track delivered valuable perspectives on how enterprises can navigate the challenges of AI adoption while maximizing business outcomes.
The event opened with a thought-provoking address from H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, who outlined the critical role of AI in strengthening cybersecurity, national digital resilience, and economic growth. His insights laid the foundation for key discussions on securing organizations in an AI-driven landscape.
A major highlight of the summit was the exclusive "For the CIO, By the CIO" leadership sessions that saw respected industry experts share their firsthand experiences of driving AI-powered transformation strategies. The discussions addressed a series of vital topics, such as strategies for attracting, retaining, and upskilling IT talent for AI-driven enterprises, fostering cross-functional collaboration in future enterprises, optimizing IT spending while maintaining innovation, and leveraging AI to deliver superior customer experiences.
In addition, a high-profile government CIO panel, moderated by Jyoti Lalchandani, brought together esteemed officials, including Lt. Col. Saeed Al Shebli, deputy director of the digital security department at the UAE's Ministry of Interior; Eng. Saad AlQahtani, deputy minister of digital transformation and IT at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment; Eng. Huda Ahmed Mohsen, chief of IT at Bahrain's Ministry of Information Affairs; and Eng. Meshal Bin Hussain, chief AI officer and IT director at the UAE's Ministry of Finance. The panel explored how AI is revolutionizing public services, digital governance, and national digital transformation strategies across the region.
Looking ahead, IDC is thrilled to announce the 19th edition of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit, which will take place next year on February 11–12. As AI continues to redefine industries, next year's summit promises to deliver even deeper insights into the evolving digital landscape. More details will be unveiled in the coming months.
For more information, please contact Sheila Manek at smanek@idc.com or on +971 4 446 3154. You can also join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #IDCMECIO.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.
IDC in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa
For the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Riyadh, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cairo, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai. Our coverage couples local insights with international perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC MEA currently fields over 130 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region. To learn more about IDC MEA, please visit www.idc.com/mea. You can follow IDC MEA on Twitter at @IDCMEA.
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Dan Burgin
Vladislav Sopov