Qatar poised to strengthen regional AI leadership through global tech partnerships

Doha: Qatar is poised to bolster its role as a regional leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation through strategic global technology alliances. However, transforming these aspirations into tangible economic and business benefits hinges on the ability of entities to transition from experimental AI initiatives to fully integrated technologies across core operations.

Joseph Abboud, a Technology Consulting Partner at PwC Middle East, emphasized during a conversation at MWC26 Doha that the event presents Qatar with an opportunity to enhance its global technological standing and forge partnerships that translate innovation into practical results. Abboud highlighted that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has laid a solid groundwork for AI-driven expansion, with governments prioritizing AI and digital transformation as key national priorities, while companies continue to invest in the necessary infrastructure, platforms, and capabilities to scale emerging technologies.

For Qatar, Abboud noted, international cooperation can expedite the development of these capabilities, connect technology investments with real business needs, and showcase how AI can deliver measurable value. Despite this, moving from AI experimentation to large-scale adoption poses significant challenges for organizations across the region.

According to PwC research, while 59% of GCC technology leaders believe their data, platforms, and governance frameworks are prepared to support AI at scale, many are still in the process of developing the capabilities needed for enterprise-wide transformation.

The challenges are multifaceted, involving both technical and organizational aspects. Scaling AI agents is hindered by 47% of GCC technology leaders citing legacy system integration and regulatory requirements as key obstacles, while skills shortages, governance, and data quality also remain significant concerns. Abboud stressed that organizations in Qatar must move beyond isolated AI use cases by enhancing their data foundations, overhauling workflows, and establishing clear accountability for AI outcomes.

The growing influence of AI is also transforming the role of chief information officers (CIOs), who are increasingly expected to act as strategic business leaders rather than just overseers of IT operations. PwC research indicates that the proportion of GCC technology leaders viewing orchestrating technology, AI, and people as their primary responsibility is projected to rise from 35% to 45% within the next 12 to 18 months.

Concurrently, 43% of these leaders expect IT performance to be measured primarily against business outcomes, up from 16% today.

For CIOs in Qatar, this means assuming greater responsibility for how technology contributes to business growth, productivity, and operational transformation. While technical expertise remains crucial, Abboud pointed out that business acumen, financial accountability, and the ability to align people and technology are becoming equally vital.

Another critical challenge for organizations investing in AI is demonstrating tangible returns. Despite rising technology spending, measuring the actual contribution of AI to business performance remains a challenge. PwC research shows that 93% of GCC technology leaders with visibility into their AI budgets anticipate increasing their spending, yet only 25% possess advanced AI cost-management capabilities, and only 5% can directly tie AI spending to business value.

Abboud urged organizations to move beyond the scale of their AI investments to focus on the outcomes generated by those investments.

To achieve genuine success with AI, businesses in Qatar must establish clear performance measures from the outset, understand the full cost of implementation, and prioritize solutions that deliver measurable returns. He emphasized that AI success should ultimately be measured by business outcomes rather than the sheer number of technologies deployed.

In addition to investing in emerging technologies, modernizing existing digital infrastructure will be essential for organizations to fully leverage AI. Abboud cautioned against viewing innovation and infrastructure modernization as competing priorities, noting that even advanced AI solutions may struggle to deliver consistent value without the right technological foundations.

For organizations in Qatar, the priority should be targeted modernization, focusing on improving data quality, strengthening system integration, and developing platforms capable of supporting AI at scale. The goal should be to create a technology environment that not only supports innovation today but also remains scalable, secure, and resilient for the future.