Doha, Qatar: As the Middle East accelerates its investments in artificial intelligence (AI), experts see the region, including Qatar, playing a growing role in shaping the next phase of AI infrastructure, enterprise deployment, and next-generation video technologies.
Speaking to The Peninsula, market experts highlight how AI giants are beginning to view the region as more than just a market and a long-term strategic base for computing, infrastructure, and innovation.
This growing momentum is reflected in the region’s key AI events, including the Global AI Show Riyadh, AI Everything Abu Dhabi, the World AI Expo Dubai, World AI Summit Qatar and Web Summit Qatar.
“I think anything that helps people get together is helpful,” Amit Jain, AI expert, said. “It’s not an academic conference, but it’s very good for business, for fundraising, and for bringing founders and investors together.”
He described the Middle East as a particularly attractive environment for AI development due to its fast-growing economies, new business formation, and government-backed infrastructure investments.
From an infrastructure standpoint, he pointed to the energy sector as one of AI’s biggest bottlenecks.
“Energy is one of the biggest concerns for computing,” he said. “Energy is abundant in this region. Land is abundant. Solar panels and data centres are probably the best use of desert land. Solar installed in the desert is immensely productive; there’s energy almost every day of the year.”
Adding to this view, Abdul Aziz, a regional technology strategist, said the Middle East is increasingly positioning itself as a competitive hub for AI infrastructure. “The combination of capital availability, policy support, and access to energy resources gives this region a structural advantage in scaling AI capabilities,” the expert said. “Countries like Qatar are moving quickly to build ecosystems that attract global tech players.”
Aziz stated that such advantages could position the region to become one of the world’s leading producers of AI computing output if development continues at the current pace.
He noted that AI deployment is expanding inside corporations for marketing, internal communications, education, and training functions, reflecting a broader shift from experimentation to operational integration.
The industry analyst emphasised the growing role of enterprise adoption in driving demand.
“We are seeing AI move from pilot projects into real business applications,” Aziz said.
“This transition is creating sustained demand for data infrastructure, cloud services, and skilled talent across the region.”
For Qatar and the wider region, where smart infrastructure and digital transformation are high on national agendas, these developments could open new pathways for collaboration between governments and global AI innovators.
Experts add that the Middle East’s blend of capital, energy resources, and ambitious development plans may place it firmly at the centre of AI’s next chapter.
