Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (DUBAI)
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a topic confined to tech labs, it is central to national policy conversations across the world.
At the World Governments Summit 2026, Samer Abu-Ltaif, President of Microsoft EMEA, said that regional policymakers and government leaders are all converging around a single pivotal axis, which is the role of AI in driving performance, attracting investment, and shaping the future of governance.
“I am proud to see that today, all the key discussions, whether among policymakers, economic diversification leaders, or strategy makers, centre on AI’s transformative power,” Abu-Ltaif said while addressing the media during the summit.
He noted that the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, are models of success for digital and AI transformation in the region.
Abu-Ltaif also highlighted the importance of regulatory innovation to enable investment, adding that the Arab region must study and scale successful initiatives, especially those in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
“We need to replicate these efforts across the region to achieve broad impact,” he added.
He also stressed the need to upskill public sector workers, urging core industries like energy to embrace digital transformation in the region.
“It is not just about AI replacing jobs, it is about retraining, reimagining and building capacity,” Abu-Ltaif said.
