The Technology Express Magazine | Edition: December 2025

A New Benchmark in Smart Services
Dubai’s Digital Twin Traffic Management
The Great GenAI Budget Shift
UAE’s Stellar Year in Orbit and Beyond
December 2025 thetechnologyexpress.com
COVER
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Autonomous Vehicles Transform UAE Logistics
November 2025
October 2025
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Abu Dhabi Dominates the Data Race
GITEX 2025: Showcasing UAE’s Tech Leadership
A New Benchmark in Smart Services
Dubai’s Digital Twin Traffic Management
The Great GenAI Budget Shift
UAE’s Stellar Year in Orbit and Beyond
December 2025
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Why Single-Cloud Strategy Is Costing Enterprises Billions
UAE Sets Global AI Governance Standards
UAE's Cross-Border Innovation
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“Smart cities are not about technology, they are about creating
ecosystems where innovation serves humanity.”
— H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Khoshaimy, Secretary General, Abu
Dhabi Executive Council
As 2025 draws to a close, the UAE stands at a
transformative inflection point. This final edition
of The Technology Express celebrates a year of
extraordinary technological achievement, marking the
culmination of strategic investments, visionary leadership,
and relentless innovation that have positioned the Emirates
as the world’s preeminent smart cities laboratory.
Our Cover Story, the Top 100 Game Changers in the
UAE Tech Ecosystem 2025, honours the government
leaders and technology innovators who have architected
this remarkable year. These visionaries have transcended
incremental progress, instead orchestrating fundamental
shifts across artificial intelligence governance, sovereign
cloud infrastructure, digital transformation at scale, and
the convergence of physical and digital systems defining
tomorrow’s intelligent cities.
This December edition illuminates the complete smart
city ecosystem. From Dubai’s AI-driven digital twin traffic
management system optimizing real-time congestion, to
Abu Dhabi’s integrated health information exchange serving
over 800,000 citizens, these initiatives represent the
operational reality of smart services working in concert.
We examine the critical infrastructure, data centres, 5G
networks, IoT ecosystems, and blockchain rails, underpinning
this transformation, alongside candid analysis of mega-city
implementation challenges where ambition meets reality.
Beyond core smart city coverage, this edition explores
the capital flowing into the UAE’s technology landscape:
$3 billion in hyperscaler data centre investment, $250
billion in global Web3 opportunity, autonomous vehicle
deployments revolutionizing logistics and mobility, and the
AI infrastructure positioning the UAE as a trusted ecosystem
for institutional capital and innovation.
Whether architecting smart services integration, deploying
autonomous systems, or navigating AI governance frameworks,
this edition provides the strategic insights needed to
understand and lead the intelligent cities revolution being
engineered in the Emirates.

TECH
8
20
Smart Service:
A New Benchmark in Smart
Services
Digital Twin:
Dubai’s Digital Twin Traffic
Management
16
22
Interview:
The Shift from Collateral-Based
Lending to Data-Based Lending
Drive to the Future:
Ceer’s First Electric Vehicle
Revolutionising the EV Market

24
102
2025
Cover Story:
Top 100 Game Changers in the
UAE Tech Ecosystem 2025
Six Q1 2025 Launches
One quarter of launches
added more UAE-built
capability to orbit than
many countries
achieve in years.
Thuraya 4 – Comms Backbone
Space Tech: New geostationary communications
2025 Orbit
capacity
Snapshot:
supporting regional
UAE’s
connectivity
and secure links.
Stellar Year in Orbit and Beyond
MBZ-Sat – Advanced
Imaging
The most advanced UAE
Earth-observation satellite,
providing high-resolution
imagery for government and
commercial use.
90
108
Ground Segment &
Control
Mission control and data
centers in the UAE turn raw
satellite feeds into usable
intelligence and services.
Foresight &
Others – The Constellation
Al Ain Sat-1, HCT-SAT-1 and
Foresight phases expand climate,
land-use and environmental
monitoring capacity.
UnionSat – First
Radar Eye
UAE’s radar satellite unlocks
night and all-weather imaging
for environment, security and
infrastructure monitoring.
Enterprise Adoption:
The Great GenAI Budget
Shift
Blockchain:
The $250 Billion Web3
Opportunity
INSIDE

Smart Services
A New Benchmark in
Smart Services
Silicon Park Dubai’s smart integration of sixty interconnected
urban services increases efficiency
Silicon Park’s unified ecosystem reveals operational
tensions between vendor capabilities, regulatory
mandates, and resident expectations. Analysis of
how consolidated IoT architecture exposes system
interdependencies, security vulnerabilities across 60+
service touchpoints within Dubai’s flagship smart city
demonstration project.
8 \ December 2025
Dubai’s Silicon Park represents
the most ambitious smart
city integration experiment
in the Middle East, consolidating
60 distinct digital services into a
unified operational ecosystem that
extends beyond traditional infrastructure
concepts. Developed by du
and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority
at an investment of AED 1.3 billion,
this sprawling 150,000-square-meter
development connects electric
vehicle charging infrastructure, smart
furniture systems, advanced IoT
environmental monitoring, comprehensive
digital governance services,
and real-time facility management
through a centralized data architecture
spanning the entire development
zone. Rather than existing as
isolated service islands, each component
feeds data into a consolidated
control centre managed through
an integrated operations platform,
creating unprecedented interdependency
across all urban functions
throughout the development of
smart services, strengthening processes
and securing systems.

thetechnologyexpress.com
Technical Integration Complexity
The technical complexity underlying
Silicon Park’s integration challenges
conventional understanding of smart
city deployments globally. Each of
the 60 services operates through
proprietary protocols requiring
constant real-time data synchronization,
creating multiple critical failure
points across the entire ecosystem.
EV charging stations communicate
real-time load data to energy
management systems that simultaneously
feed building automation
networks and resource planning systems.
Motion sensors trigger smart
lighting adjustments while feeding
surveillance data into security operations
centres continuously. Environmental
monitors measuring air quality,
noise levels, and temperature
fluctuations send real-time alerts
to facility management systems
that automatically activate HVAC
adjustments and alert maintenance
teams immediately. Smart fountains
and irrigation systems adjust water
consumption based on precipitation
forecasts and seasonal variations.
Waste management sensors optimize
collection routes while parking
occupancy sensors reduce vehicle
circulation time significantly. This
hyperconnected architecture means
that a single compromised sensor or
misconfigured gateway can cascade
failures across seemingly unrelated
service domains, a critical risk that
traditional single-function deployments
never confronted historically.
Security and Vendor Coordination
Security implications permeate every
architectural layer of Silicon Park’s
integrated model fundamentally.
The system’s centralized data spine
creates an exceptionally high-value
attack surface that malicious
actors could potentially exploit to
simultaneously compromise parking
systems, building access controls,
and utility management networks.
du and Orange Business Services
implemented multi-layered security
protocols including network segmentation,
zero-trust authentication
frameworks, and AI-driven anomaly
detection systems that continuously
monitor 60+ service streams for unusual
traffic patterns. Despite these
comprehensive defenses, the vendor
coordination required to maintain
security across heterogeneous
devices represents an ongoing significant
operational burden. Different
manufacturers follow different
firmware update schedules, forcing
du’s security operations teams to coordinate
complex patch deployment
sequences that must account for
This system serves
as a cornerstone in
cementing DSO’s
position as a technologically
advanced
zone, offering residents
and business
partners a seamless
and intelligent living
and working experience.”
— Eng. Muammar Al Katheeri,
Chief Officer,
Dubai Integrated Economic Zones
Authority (DIEZ)
service continuity while maintaining
system protection across thousands
of interconnected devices deployed
throughout the facility and adjacent
operational zones.
Vendor Ecosystem and Resident
Experience
The vendor ecosystem managing
Silicon Park’s technical infrastructure
reveals inherent tensions
between city objectives and commercial
interests clearly. du functions
simultaneously as primary tenant,
infrastructure operator, and technology
provider, creating potential
conflicts of interest regarding which
services receive development priority
and computational resources
allocation. Orange Business Services
manages system integration across
vendor-specific platforms while
negotiating compatibility standards
with manufacturers including Siemens
for building automation, Cisco
for networking infrastructure, and
specialized IoT device manufacturers
worldwide. Each vendor advocates
for proprietary solutions that would
lock the ecosystem into their specific
technology roadmap, incentivizing
residents toward particular charging
networks, parking systems, and
preferred digital service providers exclusively.
Residents and businesses
operating within Silicon Park experience
this fragmentation as artificial
constraints on vendor choice and
service portability, contradicting the
project’s stated objective of creating
seamless integration. Operational
data reveals hidden complexity
underlying Silicon Park’s impressive
statistics demonstrating structural
challenges. Achieving synchronization
across 60+ services requires
constant manual intervention by
du’s operations teams managing
real-time coordination of service
updates, vendor communication protocols,
and emergency response procedures
throughout daily operations.
Silicon Park’s integration architecture
produces rigid interdependencies to
prevent cascading failures.
December 2025 / 9

UAE News
UAE Leads World in
Rapid Workplace
Adoption of Artificial
Intelligence
The UAE has emerged as the global
leader in workplace AI adoption,
with 59.4% of employees
using tools like Copilot and ChatGPT
daily. Backed by a decade of strategic
investment, advanced infrastructure,
and supportive legislation, the nation
has accelerated innovation across key
sectors. Its expanding AI ecosystem
showcases how long-term vision and
talent development drive transformative
national progress.
UAE Telecom du
Unveils Cloud Miner
to Transform Bitcoin
Mining Access
du has launched Cloud Miner, the
UAE’s first telecom-backed cloud
mining service, simplifying Bitcoin
participation for residents. Using nationwide
data centres, users can rent
computational power via a subscription
and start mining instantly without handling
hardware or maintenance. With
transparent contracts, strong security,
and regulatory compliance, Cloud Miner
enhances accessibility and reinforces
the UAE’s growing leadership in finance.
Dubai Launches $680k
Create Apps Championship
to Boost Tech
Talent
Dubai has introduced the third Create
Apps Championship, offering
AED2.5 million ($680,000) in
funding and new award categories to
attract global tech talent. Part of the
wider Create Apps in Dubai initiative,
the programme strengthens the city’s
innovation ecosystem and supports
world-class digital solutions. Featuring
four award categories, including the new
Longevity App of the Year, the competition
rewards impactful, youth-driven,
and highly innovative applications.
Winners can earn up to AED1 million
($272,000), reflecting Dubai’s commitment
to empowering developers and
advancing its digital economy. With new
accelerator tracks, mentorship access,
and expanded development support,
the initiative enables creators to scale
applications internationally while boosting
the emirate’s position as a leading
global technology hub.
Space42 and ICEYE Launch Three SAR Satellites
for UAE Constellation
Space42 and ICEYE have
launched three new SAR satellites
Foresight-3, Foresight-4,
and Foresight-5 significantly expanding
the UAE’s Foresight Constellation
in Low Earth Orbit. Using Space42’s
AI-powered GIQ platform, the constellation
delivers high-resolution geospatial
intelligence, improved monitoring,
and faster decision-making. This milestone
strengthens the UAE’s growing
space capabilities and supports its
long-term National Space Strategy
goals while boosting efforts.
UAE Launches First
AED-Backed Stablecoin
to Advance
Digital Finance
The UAE has introduced Zand AED,
the nation’s first regulated multichain
AED-backed stablecoin,
marking a significant breakthrough in
advancing the Dirham into the global
digital economy. Fully backed one-to-one
by segregated AED reserves and supported
by independently audited smart
contracts, it ensures strong transparency,
enhanced security, and dependable
redemption for users. Operating across
several major public blockchains, Zand
AED enables rapid settlements, efficient
cross-border payments, and seamless
integration for developers, enterprises,
and financial institutions. The initiative
reinforces the UAE’s commitment to
building a resilient, future-ready financial
framework that supports tokenization,
next-generation payments, and wider
digital asset adoption. As global stablecoin
usage rises, the launch positions
the UAE as a leading hub.
10 \ December 2025

UAE Launches First
Space-to-Ground
Quantum Communication
Network
The UAE has unveiled plans for its
first space-to-ground quantum
communication network, integrating
satellite systems with sovereign Quantum
Key Distribution (QKD) technology
to enable ultra-secure data exchange
and strengthen national cyber resilience.
Signed during a major aerospace event,
the agreement advances the country’s
quantum strategy by developing, testing,
and demonstrating satellite-based QKD
links for future commercial deployment.
The partnership establishes a structured
framework covering research,
payload design, satellite integration,
and ground infrastructure operations
to accelerate quantum-secure capabilities.
By connecting advanced satellite
platforms with ongoing QKD research,
the initiative enhances next-generation
data security and supports innovation
across non-terrestrial networks, cultivating
national talent.
Emaar and DWTC
Unveil Terra Gardens
at Expo City Dubai
ADNOC Gas Partners
with AIQ, Gecko to
Advance AI Robotics
ADNOC Gas has partnered with AIQ
and Gecko Robotics in a multi-year
agreement to deploy advanced
robotics and AI across its facilities.
The collaboration integrates Gecko’s
inspection robots with AIQ’s deployment
capabilities to digitize workflows,
enhance asset monitoring, and support
predictive maintenance. The initiative
is expected to deliver significant cost
savings, reduce shutdowns, improve
safety, and accelerate ADNOC Gas’s
wider digital transformation.
thetechnologyexpress.com
Microsoft and G42
Expand UAE Data Centres
to Accelerate AI
Growth
Microsoft and G42 are launching
a 200-megawatt data centre
expansion in the UAE as part of a
$15 billion investment to strengthen the
nation’s AI and cloud ecosystem. Operated
through Khazna Data Centres, the
project boosts high-performance computing
capacity and supports enterprise
AI workloads. Backed by major global
partnerships, the initiative advances secure
cloud infrastructure and reinforces
the UAE’s digital transformation goals.
Emaar Properties and Dubai World
Trade Centre have launched Terra
Gardens, the newest phase of the
Expo Living master plan in Expo City
Dubai. Spanning more than 451,000
square metres, the wider development
features five residential communities
and 3,555 units, designed to serve as a
sustainable, people-centric urban hub.
Terra Gardens adds 560 modern homes
centered around landscaped courtyards,
shaded walkways, wellness areas, and
green communal zones that promote relaxation
and active living. The community
includes a central park, jogging tracks,
fitness zones, children’s play areas, and
dedicated spaces for pets, fostering an
inclusive environment. Situated beside
Expo Mall, Terra Gardens enhances
connectivity and strengthens Expo City
Dubai’s reputation as a forward-thinking,
sustainability-driven urban destination.
Terra Gardens underscores Expo City’s
vision for sustainable urban living.
Dubai Police Sets Guinness World Record With
Fastest High-Speed Drone
Dubai Police has set a Guinness
World Record after its high-speed
drone reached 580 km/h, marking
a major breakthrough in rapid-response
innovation. Developed with the Unmanned
Aerial Systems Centre and
collaborators Luke Bell and Mike Bell,
the drone enhances field readiness and
strengthens security capabilities. The
achievement supports smarter operations
and aligns with Dubai’s vision to
lead future policing through advanced
technology adoption, research and
development and developments.
December 2025 / 11

Data Centres
The Data Centre
Infrastructure Rush
Abu Dhabi is set to eclipse Dubai in regional capacity buildout
for data centres
Strategic shifts in location, regulatory frameworks,
and global cloud investments are fueling the UAE’s
bid to become the Middle East’s preeminent digital
infrastructure hub, enabling sovereign data operations
and next-generation enterprise services at scale.
The UAE’s data centre market is
expanding at a near-unprecedented
pace. Investments
from global hyperscalers, regional
telecoms, and sovereign wealth
funds are set to drive the market
beyond $3.3 billion in value by 2030,
representing a tripling from $1.26
billion in 2024 with compound annual
growth rates close to 18 percent.
Historically, Dubai established itself
as the country’s digital infrastructure
gateway, commanding half of the
UAE’s IT load in 2024. However, the
landscape is shifting: Abu Dhabi now
accounts for nearly 40 to 45 percent
of upcoming national data centre
capacity, fueled by sweeping land
acquisitions and rapid facility development
in the capital.​
Khazna Data Centres, owned by AI
powerhouse G42, currently operates
24 live centres, including major buildouts
in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai.
Two new 30MW hyperscale sites will
deepen Abu Dhabi’s dominance, with
national power capacity expected to
approach 850 megawatts by 2029.
12 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
This consolidation in the capital
is underpinned by proximity to
governmental clients, abundant
renewable energy, and robust
land availability for hyperscale
parks and regulated enterprise
hosting.​
Regulatory Edge and Global Hyperscaler
Presence
Global giants, Microsoft, AWS,
Google Cloud, Oracle, and Alibaba,
have launched direct regional facilities
in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, establishing
sovereign cloud zones
designed for regulated industries
and security-conscious multinationals.
Clear data sovereignty
laws and Personal Data Protection
Law (PDPL) requirements reinforce
the focus on in-country hosting
for financial services, healthcare,
and public sector workloads,
raising demand for Tier III and
Tier IV-certified colocation. The
UAE’s regulatory stance, balancing
strict compliance with pragmatic
digital-infrastructure support, has
attracted waves of international
investment and ensures proximity
to submarine cable landing stations
critical for Asia-Europe-Africa
interconnection.​
Enhanced submarine fiber connectivity
further cements the UAE
as a digital bridge linking global
continents and emerging MENA
markets. As new cables come
online, latency declines, bandwidth
increases, and regional hub
competitiveness intensifies.
Colocation Market Shifts and
Edge Innovation
Rising hyperscale capacity is
reshaping competitive dynamics
in colocation. As supply floods
the market, per-rack and per-MW
pricing pressure is mounting, especially
for standard white space.
Providers are seeking differentiation
through advanced security
services, compliance bundles, and
offerings for highly regulated verticals.
Banks, health providers, and
government entities increasingly
request physically and logically
segmented hosting that delivers
auditability against local regulations
and international standards.
Edge computing deployments
are also accelerating as enterprises
seek low-latency compute
for IoT, smart city systems, and
AI workloads at the network’s
periphery. Providers are building
distributed micro data centres in
commercial and industrial corridors,
often with strict uptime and
physical access requirements. This
distributed model complements
hyperscale core facilities, offering
tailored colocation and interconnection
to support new digital
business models.
Strategic Risks: Provider Centralization
in a Shifting Landscape
While many organizations are
attracted to the scale and bundled
services of large international
cloud operators, centralizing on
a single provider brings strategic
flexibility risks. As regulations
evolve, especially around
cross-border data flows and sector-specific
data protection, being
locked to a hyperscale operator’s
platform could limit OCI (operational
control and independence) and
introduce compliance obstacles.
Location and provider selection
are now fundamental architectural
decisions. Enterprises operating
under evolving data residency
rules benefit from multi-cloud and
hybrid architectures, spreading
risk across multiple regulated facilities
and leveraging colocation for
mission-critical systems.
The UAE’s data centre boom
represents a confluence of
regulatory foresight, geographic
advantage, and aggressive public-private
investment. Abu Dhabi’s
ascendancy, coupled with sophisticated
colocation markets and
rapid cloud expansion, positions
the country as the regional nexus
for digital transformation across
industries.
We are investing aggressively in national
digital infrastructure and data sovereignty
to enable the next phase of the UAE’s digital
economy.”
— Fahad Al Hassawi,
Chief Executive Officer,
du
December 2025 / 13

Investment News
OpenAI and Amazon
Sign Historic Cloud
Deal to Accelerate AI
Growth
OpenAI has signed a seven-year,
$38 billion cloud agreement
with Amazon, securing massive
computing power through AWS to
train and operate advanced AI models.
The deal grants access to hundreds of
thousands of Nvidia processors, highlighting
rising demand for large-scale
compute. It also strengthens Amazon’s
infrastructure position while enabling
OpenAI to expand capacity rapidly
as it pushes toward next-gen AI.
Microsoft Invests
$15 Billion to Expand
UAE’s Growing AI Ecosystem
Microsoft will boost its UAE investment
to $15 billion by 2029,
supporting the nation’s goal of
becoming a global AI hub. The funding
expands data centres and deploys tens
of thousands of advanced Nvidia chips to
increase computing power. Through its
partnership with Abu Dhabi–based G42,
Microsoft strengthens cloud capacity,
enhances regulatory cooperation, and
accelerates AI development across
multiple emirates.
Adobe Acquires Semrush
in $1.9 Billion
Deal to Expand AI
Search Capabilities
Adobe has announced a $1.9 billion
all-cash acquisition of Semrush,
a leading platform in generative
engine optimisation and SEO, with the
deal expected to close in the first half of
2026 pending regulatory approval. The
move aims to enhance Adobe’s visibility
and analytics suite as AI-driven search
becomes central to customer discovery.
Executives from both companies
highlighted the growing importance of
understanding how audiences engage
across traditional search, owned channels
and emerging LLM-powered interfaces.
Semrush’s decade of GEO and SEO expertise,
along with strong enterprise ARR
growth, will strengthen Adobe’s ability
to help brands remain discoverable in
shifting digital environments. Together,
the unified platform will offer deeper
insights, improved content workflows
and expanded engagement capabilities
for global marketers.
Anthropic Projects Rapid Growth as Revenue
Targets Reach $70 Billion by 2028
Anthropic expects its revenue to
climb to as much as $70 billion
by 2028, fueled by rapid enterprise
adoption of its AI platforms.
The company projects $9 billion in
recurring revenue this year, supported
by tools like Claude Code and
newly released cost-efficient models.
Growing partnerships with Microsoft,
Salesforce, Deloitte, and Cognizant
are further accelerating Anthropic’s
expansion into large-scale business
environments. This is a major jump
compared to previous years.
UAE Finalizes Second
Retail Sukuk
Agreement to Expand
Investor Access
The UAE Ministry of Finance has
finalized its second Retail Sukuk
agreement with Emirates NBD,
advancing efforts to make government
T-Bonds and T-Sukuk more accessible
to citizens and residents. The initiative
allows individuals to invest through
digital platforms with a minimum entry
of AED 4,000, supporting financial
inclusion and widening the national
investor base. All issuances will appear
on the bank’s platform, enabling easy
subscription, trading, and access to
educational resources designed to
improve financial awareness. Investors
can register using Emirates ID or UAE
PASS, complete KYC requirements, and
review detailed product information
to support long-term planning. As the
retail sukuk program expands, it aims
to deepen capital-market participation
and strengthen the UAE’s vision for a
secure financial future.
14 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Google Opens New AI
Hardware Engineering
Centre to Expand Taiwan’s
Tech Role
Google has opened a major AI
hardware engineering centre in
Taiwan, its largest facility of this
kind outside the United States. The
centre strengthens Taiwan’s importance
in global semiconductor and AI development,
leveraging its deep integration
with industry leaders such as TSMC. The
facility focuses on integrating Google’s
TPU processors into server systems,
supporting the company’s growing
AI infrastructure needs. Since Google
established its Taiwan engineering team
in 2020, the workforce has tripled,
evolving into a hub expected to employ
several hundred specialists. The
initiative reinforces Taiwan’s efforts to
build a secure, high-tech ecosystem
while enhancing global semiconductor
supply-chain resilience. As AI adoption
accelerates worldwide, the centre cements
Taiwan’s expanding role in cloud
and chip innovation.
Snap Secures $400
Million Perplexity
Partnership to
Strengthen AI Strategy
Snap reported strong Q3 results and
announced a $400 million deal to
integrate Perplexity’s AI search into
Snapchat, boosting shares by 16%. The
partnership will provide verified answers
inside the app and begin generating
revenue in 2026. Snap also saw an
8% lift in revenue from direct-response
ads, while daily active users rose to
477 million, signaling steady platform
engagement and growing user base
strengthening AI strategy.
Gamma Reaches
$2.1B Valuation as AI
Platform Hits $100M
ARR
Gamma has raised $68 million in
a Series B round, pushing its
valuation to $2.1 billion as the AI
content-creation platform surpasses
$100 million in ARR and 70 million users.
Despite minimal funding, the company
achieved rapid, profitable growth
with a lean 50-person team. Backed
by Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, and
others, Gamma’s momentum continues
as investor and user interest in Artificial
Intelligence accelerates.
Anthropic Secures
Major Microsoft–
Nvidia Investment to
Accelerate AI
Anthropic has reached a new
partnership with Microsoft and
Nvidia that includes a $30 billion
commitment to Microsoft Azure,
alongside up to $10 billion from Nvidia
and $5 billion from Microsoft. The deal
strengthens ties among leading cloud
and chip providers as demand for AI
computing surges. It also reflects a
shifting competitive landscape as companies
diversify partnerships beyond
single-model ecosystems. Anthropic,
recently valued at $183 billion, continues
rapid enterprise growth and now serves
over 300,000 customers. Under the
agreement, the company will collaborate
with Nvidia on chip development and
commit up to 1 gigawatt of compute
using Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin
hardware. Microsoft will also bring
advanced Claude models to Azure AI
Foundry users worldwide enhacing their
experience.
ACS and BlackRock Advance Toward $27
Billion Data Centre Partnership
Spain’s ACS is advancing toward
a €23-billion ($26.8 billion) partnership
with BlackRock’s Global
Infrastructure Partners to accelerate
large-scale data centre development
amid rising AI compute demand and
limited power capacity. The deal would
see GIP acquire a 50% stake in ACS’s
Digital & Energy division through equity
and debt. As AI workloads surge,
the potential agreement underscores
growing global confidence in digital
infrastructure expansion, particularly
related to data centres.
December 2025 / 15

Interview
MANOJ SUREKA
CEO & Managing Partner,
Synergy Fin. Consulting
16 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
The Shift from Collateral-Based
Lending to Data-Based Lending
Exclusive Interview
Manoj Sureka, CEO & Managing Partner at Synergy Fin. Consulting, is a recognised leader in the finance and
investment sector. Manoj has built a strong reputation for his strategic foresight and ability to foster sustainable
business growth.
At Synergy Fin. Consulting, the firm provides end-to-end fundraising advisory services through private equity, debt, and
trade finance solutions. Their clientele includes SMEs and corporates seeking capital through banks, financial institutions,
sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors. Synergy also offers specialised advisory services in mergers and
acquisitions, joint venture and investment into profitable businesses.
Q: What is data-based lending and how
is it different from collateral-based
lending?
Collateral-based lending relies on physical
assets such as property, machinery, or
deposits as security. Data-based lending
uses real-time business data, banking
transactions, POS sales, invoices, inventory,
and digital behavior, to assess
creditworthiness without requiring heavy
collateral. In the new lending era, data
is not just information, it is collateral.
Q: What kinds of data do modern lenders
analyze to approve loans?
Lenders review bank statement patterns,
POS/ERP sales data, outstanding invoices,
inventory cycles, supplier payments,
customer ratings, and VAT filings. This
creates a holistic picture of business
health. Cashflow tells the truth faster
than any asset on the balance sheet.
Q: How does data-based lending benefit
SMEs?
SMEs get faster approvals, higher eligibility,
and minimal documentation.
Most importantly, they access funding
without pledging assets, helping new
businesses and cashflow-driven sectors
like F&B, retail, e-commerce, and services.
The future of credit belongs to
The future of credit belongs to
businesses that are transparent,
digital, and data-ready.”
businesses that are transparent, digital,
and data-ready.
Q: What role does technology play in
enabling data-driven lending?
AI, APIs, open banking, digital KYC, and
analytics allow lenders to pull verified
financial data instantly. Processes that
earlier took weeks can now be completed
within minutes through automated
scoring models.
Q: Are data-based loans riskier for
lenders?
Not necessarily. While collateral provides
security, it does not guarantee
repayment. Data-based lending offers
predictive insights, identifies early stress
signals, forecasts cashflow, and adjusts
limits dynamically, reducing default risk.
Q: Will collateral-based lending disappear
completely?
No. Large, long-term loans for real es-
tate, construction, or capex-heavy projects
will still require collateral. But for
working capital loans, invoice finance,
revenue-based funding, and SME credit
lines, data-first models will dominate.
Q: How does data-based lending affect
interest rates and loan pricing?
Better data reduces uncertainty. Lenders
can price loans more accurately and offer
lower rates to businesses with strong
digital footprints. This improves portfolio
quality and reduces write-offs.
Q: How can SMEs prepare for a data-first
lending ecosystem?
Digitize sales and expenses, maintain
clean bank statements, use invoicing and
accounting tools, stay VAT compliant,
adopt POS/ERP systems, and encourage
strong customer reviews. A clean digital
footprint directly improves eligibility and
approval speed. Where collateral limits
growth, data unlocks opportunity.
December 2025 / 17

Launch EXPRESS
APPLE VISION PRO 2
THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF SPATIAL COMPUTING
Apple has unveiled the upgraded Apple Vision Pro M5
in October 2025, representing a significant leap forward
in spatial computing with revolutionary processor
performance and enhanced comfort features. Industry expectations
anticipate a full Vision Pro 2 generation arriving
between late 2025 and spring 2026, bringing transformative
capabilities to Apple’s spatial computing platform.
The Vision Pro M5 maintains premium design with glass
front and metal sides construction, weighing approximately
600 grams. The critical enhancement comes through
the completely redesigned Dual Knit Band, replacing the
original cushioned band with soft, breathable fabric that
dramatically improves comfort during extended use. This
ergonomic improvement addresses the original Vision Pro’s
most significant user complaint.
The Vision Pro M5 features dual custom micro-OLED displays
delivering 3,660-by-3,200 pixels per eye with 120Hz
refresh rates. The displays render 10 percent more pixels
than the previous generation, resulting in sharper images and
crisper text. Advanced optics deliver exceptional clarity for
immersive experiences spanning entertainment, productivity,
and creative applications.
The revolutionary dual-chip architecture features Apple’s
M5 chip with 10-core CPU delivering significantly higher multithreaded
performance for faster app loading and seamless
multitasking. The 10-core GPU includes hardware-accelerated
ray tracing and mesh shading, enabling developers to create
visually stunning games. The 16-core Neural Engine executes
AI-powered features 50 percent faster. The dedicated R1
chip processes input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and
six microphones, streaming display images within 12 milliseconds
for real-time world view.
The battery system delivers extended runtime reaching 2.5
hours of general use or 3 hours of video playback enabling
longer work sessions. Storage options begin at 256GB and
extend to 1TB for various content needs.
Advanced connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3
for seamless device pairing. visionOS 26 introduces new
widgets, enhanced Personas, interactive environments, and
advanced Apple Intelligence features supporting additional
languages and capabilities.
Enterprise security features include OpticID iris-based authentication
and comprehensive data encryption. Priced at
$3,499 USD, the upgraded Apple Vision Pro M5 launched
October 22, 2025, through Apple’s official channels globally,
representing Apple’s commitment to delivering the most
advanced spatial computing experience for professionals
and consumers alike.
18 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
BLUESOUND PULSE FLEX
THE COMPACT HI-RES AUDIO POWERHOUSE
Bluesound launches the redesigned Pulse Flex in December
2025, representing the company’s vision of bringing
high-resolution audio into everyday spaces without
compromise. This completely
reimagined all-in-one wireless
speaker combines premium
materials, intuitive design, and
acclaimed audio engineering
in a compact form factor perfect
for kitchens, bedrooms,
and offices.
The Pulse Flex features
modern, minimalist design
with rounded edges that
seamlessly blend into contemporary
interiors. Available
in three stylish finishes Black
Charcoal, White Pebble Grey,
and White Tan the speaker
complements any décor. Optional
accessories including the WM100 wall mount, FS230
stand, and interchangeable fabric grilles enable personalized
styling for various installation preferences.
Inside lies custom-designed SmartDSP amplification technology.
A 4-inch woofer and 0.75-inch tweeter produce 50
watts of total system power,
delivering rich, detailed sound
with exceptional clarity and
depth. The speaker supports
high-resolution formats up to
24-bit/192kHz resolution,
MQA decoding, and DSD256
playback compatibility for
audiophile-grade listening
experiences.
The Pulse Flex excels
through seamless streaming
compatibility with over
20 services including Spotify
Connect, TIDAL Connect,
Qobuz Connect, Apple AirPlay
2, and aptX HD Bluetooth. Advanced
connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E support for enhanced
multi-room performance, USB-C, optical, and analog inputs.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S26 SERIES
THE NEXT GENERATION FLAGSHIP INNOVATION
Samsung is launching the highly anticipated Galaxy S26
series in January or February 2026, representing the
company’s most ambitious flagship lineup with revolutionary
AI integration and transformative camera technology.
The series includes the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and
Galaxy S26 Ultra, delivering premium performance across
multiple price points.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED
display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and peak brightness
of 3,000 nits for exceptional outdoor visibility. The display
integrates advanced adaptive refresh technology for optimized
battery efficiency while maintaining smooth scrolling
and responsive interactions.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra features Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon
8 Elite Gen 5 processor, delivering enhanced performance for
demanding applications, gaming, and AI features. It supports
up to 16GB LPDDR5X memory with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB
storage options. The 5,000mAh battery supports 60W fast
charging for rapid power replenishment.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces revolutionary camera capabilities
with a quad-camera system headlined by an upgraded
200MP primary sensor featuring f/1.4 aperture for
exceptional low-light performance. The system includes 50MP
ultrawide, 50MP periscope telephoto, and 12MP secondary
telephoto cameras for professional-grade zoom. Advanced
AI-powered photography features enable enhanced night
mode and intelligent scene detection.
The standard Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus feature Samsung’s
new 2nm Exynos 2600 processor globally, balancing
performance with improved efficiency. Both introduce a new
50MP primary camera sensor with 12MP telephoto and support
APV codec, enabling 4K 60fps video recording.
December 2025 / 19

Digital Twin
Dubai’s Digital Twin
Traffic Management
Dubai pioneers AI-driven digital twin road network simulation
technology throughout the city
Yutraffic FUSION creates real-time digital twin of
Dubai’s transport network, using sensor data to simulate
traffic and adapt signals dynamically, reducing
congestion by 10-20% and emissions while supporting
autonomous vehicle integration throughout the city
successfully.
RTA partnered with Yunex Traffic
and Scientechnic to deploy
Yutraffic FUSION, marking the
Middle East’s first digital twin traffic
management system. The platform
creates a dynamic, real-time model
replicating and predicting traffic
conditions across the entire road
network using historical patterns and
live sensor input. The system integrates
data from over three million
daily vehicles and 700 million annual
public transport riders, processing
data via AI algorithms to optimize
signal timings and network flows
proactively. Implementation occurs
at key traffic hotspots citywide, with
completion targeted for the first half
of 2026. The USD 45 million investment
reflects RTA’s commitment to
Dubai’s smart city leadership. The
platform supports connected vehicle
technologies and accommodates
future autonomous transport advancements,
ensuring infrastructure
readiness for next-generation mobility
solutions. Digital twin enables
engineers to simulate signal adjustments
and assess network-wide
20 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
impact before implementation,
reducing risks of unintended congestion
and improving operational
efficiency across all managed corridors
and intersections throughout
the city.
Real-Time Adaptation and Predictive
Analytics
Yutraffic FUSION employs predictive
traffic analysis to dynamically
optimize signal timings in
anticipation of expected traffic
movements, enhancing network
efficiency by 15-25% during peak
hours. The system analyzes data
from intersection sensors, GPS
tracking, and public transport
schedules to forecast congestion
patterns up to 30 minutes
in advance. When disruptions
occur such as collisions, road
closures, or special events the
platform adjusts signal phases
and suggests alternative routes to
minimize delays. Machine learning
algorithms continuously refine
predictions based on actual traffic
outcomes, improving accuracy
by 12% monthly. The platform
integrates priority-based traffic
management, adjusting signals to
expedite emergency vehicles and
public transport buses, reducing
response times by 40% and
improving service reliability. Digital
twin simulations allow RTA to eval-
uate multiple scenarios, selecting
optimal strategies before deploying
changes to infrastructure. This
predictive capability transforms
traffic management from reactive
problem-solving to proactive
optimization, changing how urban
mobility operates in high-density
environments systematically.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Benefits
The system achieves significant
ecological benefits through
optimized traffic flow, reducing
vehicle emissions by an estimated
18-22% and fuel consumption by
15% across managed corridors. By
minimizing unnecessary stops and
idling through signal optimization,
the platform directly supports
Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy
2050 and carbon neutrality goals.
Real-time adaptation eliminates
intersection delays, cutting peakhour
congestion by up to 20% and
reducing average commute times
by 12-15 minutes during rush
periods. The system integrates
with Dubai’s broader sustainability
initiatives, including electric vehicle
charging station coordination and
public transport prioritization,
creating multimodal synergy. Air
quality sensors provide feedback
loops, enabling the platform
to adjust traffic patterns when
pollution levels exceed thresholds,
protecting public health in vulnerable
areas. Digital twin allows
authorities to model various traffic
situations and apply the most
environmentally friendly fixes
before real-world implementation,
ensuring data-driven sustainability
decisions. This approach
contributes to Dubai’s objective of
creating eco-friendly mobility solutions
while maintaining economic
productivity and resident quality
of life throughout the emirate.
Partnership Structure and Technology
Integration
The partnership between Yunex
Traffic, Scientechnic, RTA combines
international expertise with
local implementation capabilities,
ensuring seamless deployment
and ongoing support. Yunex
Traffic provides the core Yutraffic
FUSION platform and technical
expertise where travel time reductions
of 15-20% were achieved.
Scientechnic serves as the local
distribution partner, handling
installation, customization, and
maintenance while ensuring
compliance with UAE regulatory
requirements and data sovereignty
standards. RTA contributes
domain expertise, traffic data, and
integration with the existing Dubai
Pulse smart city platform.
This system serves as a cornerstone in
cementing DSO’s position as a technologically
advanced zone, offering residents and
business partners a seamless and intelligent
living and working experience.”
— Eng. Muammar Al Katheeri,
Chief Officer,
Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ)
December 2025 / 21

DRIVE TO THE FUTURE
CEER’S
First Electric Vehicle: Saudi Arabia’s EV Revolution
Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer, is poised to revolutionize
the Kingdom’s automotive landscape with its first EV launch expected by Q4 2026. This
groundbreaking venture is a joint effort between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF),
Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, and BMW, providing critical component technology.
The company has already secured SAR 5.5 billion ($1.4 billion) in partnership agreements,
with over 80% involving local Saudi businesses, demonstrating strong domestic economic
commitment.
22 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Ceer plans to introduce two flagship models initially,
an SUV and a compact family car, with unveiling
scheduled for Q4 2025, followed by production
and market launch in Q4 2026. The company ultimately
aims to roll out seven vehicle models spanning the E,
D, and C segments through 2029, including sedans and
SUVs. Manufacturing takes place at a state-of-the-art
facility in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) with a
planned annual capacity of 240,000 units once operational.
Leveraging partnerships with global suppliers, including
Hyundai Transys for advanced electric drive systems,
the vehicles promise cutting-edge performance optimized
for Middle Eastern climates. The company signed
a SAR 8.2 billion contract with Hyundai Transys to supply
innovative integrated Electric Drive Systems (EDS) that
combine motor, inverter, and reduction gear in a compact
three-in-one unit, enhancing efficiency while reducing
size and weight.
Ceer vehicles are engineered specifically for harsh Gulf
conditions with superior cooling performance exceeding
industry benchmarks. Battery technology offers range
exceeding 500 kilometers on a full charge, with 35-minute
fast charging to 80% capacity using quick chargers.
The vehicles integrate BMW-licensed components and
advanced autonomous driving features tailored for modern
consumer needs.
Ceer has contracted with major tier-one suppliers,
including Lear, FORVIA, JVIS, and Benteler, to localize
vehicle components. The project is expected to contribute
$8 billion to Saudi GDP by 2034 while creating approximately
30,000 direct and indirect jobs and attracting
over $150 million in foreign direct investment.
CEO James DeLuca emphasizes this venture as pivotal
in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, transforming
the Kingdom from an oil-dependent economy to a
sustainable, innovation-driven automotive hub. Ceer’s
aggressive timeline and substantial investments position
Saudi Arabia as a serious global EV player, challenging
established manufacturers with locally-produced, climate-adapted
electric vehicles.
300-325 hp* 550+ Nm* 4.5-5.5s*
Horsepower
Torque
0-100 km/h
* Estimated figures and statistics
December 2025 / 23

COVER STORY
COVER
STORY
24 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
From AI governance and digital banking to smart city design,
climate tech, and entrepreneurship, these trailblazers represent
the energy, innovation, and inclusivity driving the UAE’s ascent as
a global technology hub.
Their collective impact embodies the essence of the UAE’s
leadership vision, where equality and excellence intersect to
redefine innovation.
December 2025 / 25

Abdelhafid Mordi
Chief Executive Officer
Thales UAE & Thales Emarat Technologies
Abdelhafid Mordi is a prominent leader in the UAE’s
advanced technology and defense ecosystem,
serving as the CEO of Thales UAE and Thales Emarat
Technologies. With extensive experience in the aerospace,
security, and digital solutions sectors, he plays a key role in
strengthening the UAE’s sovereign capabilities while driving
the expansion of Thales’ innovation footprint in the region.
Under his leadership, Thales UAE has accelerated its focus
on next-generation technologies such as cybersecurity, secure
communications, air defense systems, digital identity,
and smart mobility solutions. Abdelhafid is instrumental
in aligning Thales’ strategic objectives with the UAE’s national
priorities, including technological self-reliance, digital
transformation, and advanced manufacturing.
At Thales Emarat Technologies, he oversees the development
of high-value engineering and manufacturing capabilities
inside the UAE, creating local expertise in mission-critical
defense and security systems. His leadership supports
the growth of Emirati talent through training programs,
R&D partnerships, and technology transfer initiatives that
contribute to the nation’s long-term knowledge economy.
Abdelhafid’s career is marked by a strong commitment
to innovation, operational excellence, and strategic collaboration.
He actively engages with government entities,
defense partners, and industry stakeholders to build
solutions that enhance national security and operational
efficiency across sectors.
Through his vision and direction, Thales continues to stand
at the forefront of the UAE’s technological advancement.
Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban
Managing Director - MENAT
Google Cloud
Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban is a key driver of digital
transformation across the Middle East, North Africa,
and Türkiye, leading Google Cloud’s strategy and
regional execution with a strong focus on innovation and
long-term scalability. As Managing Director for MENAT,
he leverages deep experience in enterprise technology to
accelerate the adoption of cloud-native solutions, AI integration,
and data-driven architectures across some of the
region’s most dynamic sectors. In the PropTech arena, Al
Thehaiban’s influence is particularly significant. Recognising
that cloud and AI infrastructure are now foundational to
modern real estate operations, he has pushed for solutions
that enhance everything from asset performance
and predictive maintenance to customer experience and
operational transparency. Under his leadership, Google
Cloud has become an enabler for smarter platforms, more
efficient property ecosystems, and the shift toward digital-first
urban development.
Throughout his career, he has been known for pairing
visionary thinking with practical execution, ensuring that
organisations not only adopt advanced technology but also
build the internal capability to sustain it. Beyond corporate
impact, he contributes to ecosystem growth by championing
talent development, local innovation, and cross-industry
collaboration. With a mission rooted in resilience and
future-readiness, Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban continues
to shape the digital outlook of the MENAT region, guiding
businesses through an era defined by AI, automation, and
real-time intelligence.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
Adnan Naseem
Head of Strategic Technology Portfolio
Emirates
Adnan Naseem is one of the key figures shaping the
technological evolution of Emirates, where he leads
the Strategic Technology Portfolio with a clear mandate:
accelerate enterprise-scale AI adoption and enable a
future-ready digital ecosystem across the aviation giant. With
a career rooted in advanced technology strategy, Naseem
brings a rare ability to blend innovation with operational
impact, an essential skill in an industry where speed, safety,
and customer experience converge. At Emirates, he plays
a central role in steering large-scale digital transformation
initiatives, ensuring the organisation remains at the forefront
of intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making,
and AI-powered services. His work spans everything
from modernising core digital infrastructure to deploying
next-gen enterprise AI systems that enhance predictive
maintenance, crew optimisation, passenger experience,
and overall operational resilience. Naseem is recognised
for championing a pragmatic yet forward-looking approach
to technology. He focuses not just on introducing new
tools, but on creating the cultural and strategic foundation
needed for AI to deliver real business value. By aligning
technology portfolios with organisational priorities, he ensures
that innovation directly supports Emirates’ long-term
competitiveness and customer-centric mission. In a sector
undergoing rapid transformation, Adnan Naseem stands
out for his ability to translate emerging technologies into
strategic outcomes. His leadership continues to influence
how aviation leverages data, automation, and AI to shape
the next era of global travel.
Amira Sajwani
Founder & CEO
Prypco
Amira Sajwani is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of
PRYPCO, a pioneering property technology platform
transforming the UAE’s real estate ecosystem since
October 2022. An accomplished Emirati businesswoman,
Sajwani also serves as Managing Director of Sales and
Development at DAMAC Properties and Co-Founder and
COO of Amali Properties. Her comprehensive real estate
expertise and market understanding position her uniquely
to lead PRYPCO’s proptech innovation.
PRYPCO operates as a comprehensive real estate platform
connecting buyers, sellers, investors, brokers, agents, banks
and ancillary stakeholders through a single integrated ecosystem.
The company has provided over AED 10 billion in
mortgage loans, serving 7,600+ clients through partnerships
with 11,000+ brokers and partners across the UAE. PRYPCO’s
service portfolio encompasses PRYPCO Mortgage providing
seamless home ownership pathways, PRYPCO Golden Visa
facilitating long-term residency, PRYPCO Blocks enabling
fractionalised real estate investment and PRYPCO One
providing exclusive property access and referral services.
Sajwani’s achievements reflect her extensive industry
expertise, strategic vision and commitment to ecosystem
democratisation. Her unparalleled real estate knowledge
combined with comprehensive broker and agent networks
spanning 11,000+ professionals position PRYPCO as a
market leader delivering innovative solutions addressing
evolving real estate industry requirements. Sajwani has
been recognised among the Most Influential Young People
Under 30 and Women Building Middle Eastern Tech Brands.
December 2025 / 27

Andrew Jackson
Group Chief AI Officer
G42
Andrew Jackson serves as the Group Chief AI Officer
at G42, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping one
of the region’s most advanced and influential AI
ecosystems. With a deep academic foundation, reflected
in his PhD, and extensive industry experience, he brings
both scientific rigor and strategic clarity to the organisation’s
fast-expanding AI portfolio. At G42, Jackson leads
the development and deployment of cutting-edge machine
learning systems, large-scale generative AI models, and
mission-critical algorithmic solutions that power everything
from healthcare and national-scale digital platforms
to energy, aviation, and smart city initiatives. His work is
defined by a commitment to building AI systems that are
not only powerful but also safe, transparent, and ethically
grounded. A strong advocate for Responsible AI, Jackson
champions frameworks that balance innovation with accountability.
He ensures that G42’s technology roadmap
embeds fairness, governance, and long-term societal impact
at its core, critical elements for AI operating at national and
global scale. Under his leadership, G42 has continued to
push the boundaries of AI research, computational infrastructure,
and cross-sector adoption, positioning the UAE
as a global contributor to next-generation AI capabilities.
He is widely regarded for his ability to translate complex
machine learning concepts into transformative solutions
that deliver real-world value. Vision-driven and scientifically
meticulous, Andrew Jackson stands out as one of the
defining architects of the region’s AI future, shaping how
organisations leverage intelligent systems.
Ashley Woodbridge
Chief Technology Officer - META
Lenovo
Ashley Woodbridge serves as Lenovo’s Chief Technology
Officer for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa,
where he drives the company’s technology strategy
across one of the world’s most diverse and fast-growing
regions. With deep experience spanning engineering, product
innovation, and regional tech leadership, Woodbridge
plays a key role in shaping Lenovo’s device ecosystem for
both consumers and enterprise users. His work centres on
delivering next-generation computing experiences, devices
that blend performance, reliability, and intelligent features
tailored to the needs of modern digital lifestyles. From premium
laptops and tablets to advanced business solutions,
Woodbridge oversees how Lenovo adapts global innovation
to regional market requirements, ensuring customers across
META experience the full power of the brand’s technology
portfolio. A major part of his vision involves elevating the
role of smart devices in productivity, hybrid work, education,
and personal entertainment. He champions Lenovo’s push
into AI-enhanced systems, sustainable product design, and
seamless cross-device integration, areas that are shaping
the future of both consumer electronics and enterprise IT.
Woodbridge is also known for prioritising customer-centric
engineering, ensuring that every new device reflects real-world
use patterns and emerging digital behaviour. His
leadership fosters collaboration with industry partners,
channel ecosystems, and enterprise organisations to
accelerate digital transformation across the region. With
a blend of strategic foresight and technical depth, Ashley
Woodbridge continues to strengthen Lenovo’s position.
28 \ December 2025

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Ashok Khanna
Chief Executive Officer
Al Tayer Motors
Ashok Khanna is a prominent automotive industry
leader in the UAE, serving as the CEO of Al Tayer
Motors, one of the country’s largest and most
influential automotive retail groups. With decades of expertise
in mobility, customer service, and premium brand
management, Khanna has played a central role in shaping
the UAE’s dynamic car retail landscape during a period of
rapid growth and rising consumer demand.
Under his leadership, Al Tayer Motors has strengthened
its position as a trusted destination for some of the world’s
most prestigious automotive marques. The company
represents major European, American and Asian brands
including Ford, Lincoln, Ferrari, Maserati, Land Rover, Jaguar,
Ford Trucks, Foton, VinFast and DEEPAL, each supported
through a robust network of sales, service, and parts centres
strategically located across the Emirates. Khanna’s vision
emphasizes world-class customer experiences, operational
excellence, and deep brand understanding, ensuring that
every interaction reflects uncompromising quality.
As the UAE witnesses a significant surge in car buying,
Khanna has guided Al Tayer Motors to respond with innovation,
customer-centric services, and expanded infrastructure
to meet evolving expectations. His strategic approach
focuses on long-term trust-building, integrating advanced
automotive technologies, and enhancing after-sales capabilities
to maintain brand loyalty.
Beyond managing a diverse luxury, performance and
commercial portfolio, Khanna is recognized for fostering
a culture of growth within the organization.
Aziz Koleilat
President & CEO - MEPAT & CIS
GE Aerospace
Aziz Koleilat is a highly respected aviation and technology
leader who has been driving GE Aerospace’s
strategy and expansion across the Middle East,
Türkiye, Eastern Europe, and the CIS region since 2017.
As President & CEO, he oversees GE Aerospace’s largest
global market for widebody engines, guiding relationships
with some of the world’s most ambitious airline operators
and emerging aviation players.
With a career spanning more than two decades across
healthcare, energy, and aviation, Aziz is known for his ability
to build strong public- and private-sector partnerships.
Before taking on his current role in GE Aerospace, he served
as President & CEO of GE in Iraq and the Levant, where he
led growth across multiple GE business units. His work expanded
further in 2015 when he also assumed leadership of
GE Oil & Gas in Iraq, playing a major role in developing the
country’s critical infrastructure and industrial capabilities.
Earlier in his career, Aziz made significant contributions to
GE Healthcare in the Middle East and Pakistan, strengthening
the company’s regional presence through customer-centric
initiatives, turnkey projects, and strategic partnerships.
His professional journey began with Vietnam Airlines in
Canada before moving into leadership roles with Johnson
& Johnson in Europe and later in Dubai.
Aziz holds an MBA from McGill University and a Bachelor’s
Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western
Reserve University. Today, he continues to champion innovation,
operational excellence, and long-term regional
growth within GE Aerospace’s MEPAT & CIS portfolio.
December 2025 / 29

Carlina Marani
Managing Director - EMEA, Freight & Logistics
Accenture Middle East
Carlina Marani is a seasoned leader at Accenture EMEA,
bringing over two decades of expertise in business
development, digital transformation, and innovation
across the freight, logistics, energy, and public sectors.
As Managing Director, she plays a pivotal role in shaping
strategic initiatives that accelerate digitalisation and deliver
measurable value to clients across the GCC and broader
EMEA region.
With a strong foundation that includes a mini-MBA from
Boston University and London Business School, Carlina
specialises in driving complex, high-impact transformation
programs. Her work centres on harnessing emerging technologies
such as blockchain, IoT, and cognitive solutions to
enhance operational efficiency, improve governance, and
support data-driven decision-making for large enterprises.
Carlina has a proven track record of closing multimillion-dollar
deals exceeding $100 million, underpinned by her
deep relationships with C-suite executives and her ability
to align innovation with real-world business outcomes.
Her leadership style blends strategic foresight with practical
execution, enabling organizations to navigate rapid
technological shifts and maintain competitive advantage.
Beyond her commercial achievements, Carlina is an advocate
for inclusion and diversity, championing initiatives that
promote equal opportunities and empower women in the
technology and consulting sectors. She is also committed
to advancing industry-wide digital transformation, guiding
clients through the adoption of future-forward technologies
that reshape operations and unlock sustainable growth.
Cherian Varghese
SVP - AI, Cloud Infrastructure Growth Markets
Oracle
Cherian Varghese stands as one of the most influential
leaders driving Oracle’s next chapter of global
innovation across high-growth markets. As Senior
Vice President for AI and Cloud Infrastructure, he plays a
pivotal role in shaping how enterprises across the Middle
East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia adopt next-generation
technologies for long-term transformation. Guided
by a clear vision for scalable digital ecosystems, Varghese
champions the integration of AI, high-performance cloud
computing, and modern data architectures to accelerate
business outcomes.
Under his leadership, Oracle has strengthened its presence
in emerging markets that are rapidly embracing digital-first
strategies. Varghese is known for working closely with
governments, enterprises, and partners to build secure,
resilient, and high-availability cloud environments tailored
to regional needs. His approach emphasizes practical
innovation, leveraging AI, automation, and data-driven
intelligence to streamline operations, modernize legacy
systems, and help organizations unlock new opportunities.
With a career spanning multiple decades in enterprise
technology, Varghese brings a unique blend of strategic
foresight and operational expertise. He has consistently
championed the adoption of sovereign cloud, cybersecurity-aligned
infrastructure, and responsible AI frameworks,
ensuring that organizations remain competitive while
adhering to global and local compliance requirements.
Today, Varghese is widely regarded as a catalyst for
large-scale digital transformation initiatives for Oracle.
30 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Fares Akkad
Regional Director - MEA
Meta
Fares Akkad is a prominent technology and business
leader guiding Meta’s strategic direction across the
Middle East and Africa. As Regional Director, he oversees
regional operations, partnerships, growth initiatives,
and the development of Meta’s ecosystem across platforms
such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
Since assuming his leadership role in 2022, Akkad has been
instrumental in strengthening Meta’s regional footprint and
driving digital innovation across diverse markets.
With a strong background in media, digital transformation,
and platform strategy, Akkad has played a key role in
reshaping how brands, creators, and businesses leverage
Meta’s technologies for scale and impact. Under his leadership,
Meta launched its first MEA Advisory Board in April
2024, an initiative aimed at fostering deeper collaboration
with industry leaders, guiding responsible innovation, and
influencing the region’s digital future.
Akkad’s expertise extends beyond Meta. He sits on several
influential boards, including the Young Presidents’ Organization,
Binghatti, CAFU, Enhance Fitness, Aliph Capital, Ard
Dyar, the TAKREEM Foundation, and EMIR. His involvement
across these diverse entities highlights his commitment to
supporting entrepreneurship, empowering regional talent,
and advancing digital-first business models.
Before joining Meta, Akkad contributed significantly to
the growth of MBC Group’s Shahid platform, one of the
region’s largest Arabic VOD services. His career reflects
deep experience in scaling digital products, forging strategic
partnerships, and navigating emerging markets.
Frans Hiemstra
Director & Regional General Manager - MEA
Uber
Frans Hiemstra serves as the Director and Regional
General Manager for Uber across the Middle East and
Africa, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of
smart mobility and urban innovation in one of the world’s
most rapidly evolving regions. With extensive experience
in scaling digital platforms and leading high-impact operational
teams, Hiemstra has been central to advancing
Uber’s mission of creating more connected, efficient, and
sustainable urban environments.
Under his leadership, Uber has expanded its footprint
across diverse markets in MEA, navigating different regulatory
landscapes while accelerating the adoption of
technology-driven mobility solutions. His work emphasizes
accessibility, safety, and reliability, core principles that have
strengthened Uber’s standing as a key driver of smart city
transformation. Hiemstra has also supported collaborations
with local governments, transport authorities, and regional
partners to enhance multimodal transport integration and
introduce innovative services tailored to local needs.
A strong advocate for leveraging data, AI, and intelligent
routing systems, he champions the role of technology in
reducing congestion, improving transportation equity, and
enabling practical urban resilience. His strategic oversight
goes beyond ride-hailing, aligning with Uber’s broader
vision for logistics, last-mile delivery, and future mobility
ecosystems.
Through a combination of operational excellence and
forward-looking innovation, Frans Hiemstra continues to
play a crucial part in redefining mobility across the MEA.
December 2025 / 31

Ghassan Aboud
Founder & Chairman
Ghassan Aboud Holding
Ghassan Aboud is Founder and Chairman of Ghassan
Aboud Holding, a Dubai-headquartered conglomerate
with interests spanning automotive, retail, hospitality,
real estate, logistics, and media. Starting in the early 1990s
with an automotive trading business, he has built the organisation
into a diversified, multi-billion-dollar enterprise
serving customers across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.​
Aboud’s leadership has focused on disciplined expansion,
supply-chain strength, and customer-centric service models,
particularly in automotive distribution and re-exports. Over
time, he has driven the group’s move into hospitality and
real estate, developing modern, tech-enabled assets that
support tourism, logistics, and community development
in key regional hubs.​
Through continuous investment in digital platforms,
process modernisation, and data-led decision-making,
Aboud has professionalised operations and strengthened
governance across the group. His entrepreneurial journey,
marked by long-term relationship building and an eye for
under-served market niches, has made Ghassan Aboud
Holding a prominent private-sector player contributing to
regional trade flows and economic diversification.​ Aboud
has integrated advanced inventory management systems,
e-commerce portals, and real-time analytics to optimise
automotive logistics and retail operations, enhancing
efficiency across borders. His strategic pivot into luxury
hospitality leverages smart property technologies for personalised
guest experiences, while media ventures employ
data-driven content strategies to expand market reach.
Haider K.
Chief Executive Officer
Bayut & Dubizzle
Haider K. is a dynamic leader at the helm of Bayut
and Dubizzle, two of the Middle East’s most influential
online real estate and classifieds platforms.
As CEO, Haider drives the strategic vision and operational
excellence of these platforms, transforming how millions
of users discover, buy, rent, and sell properties across the
UAE and the wider region.
Under Haider’s leadership, Bayut and Dubizzle have
become synonymous with innovation in real estate technology,
leveraging advanced data analytics, AI-driven
insights, and intuitive digital experiences to connect users
with relevant listings seamlessly. He champions the use of
smart technology to simplify complex real estate transactions,
streamline the property search process, and enhance
transparency for buyers, sellers, and renters alike.
Haider’s approach emphasizes understanding customer
needs, fostering innovation, and cultivating a culture of
continuous improvement. By integrating cutting-edge
technology with user-centric design, he has ensured that
both platforms maintain market leadership while setting
new benchmarks for digital engagement in real estate.
Beyond technology, Haider is known for his strategic
partnerships and commitment to expanding the digital
ecosystem, enabling agents, developers, and consumers
to interact more efficiently. His leadership has been instrumental
in driving digital transformation across the property
sector, empowering stakeholders with actionable insights
and innovative solutions, with a clear focus on growth,
customer experience, and technology-led innovation.
32 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Hamid Haqparwar
Managing Director | CEO
Albatha Automotive Group | AGMC
Dr. Hamid Haqparwar holds the dual position of Managing
Director of Albatha Automotive Group and Chief
Executive Officer of AGMC, effective March 2024. With
nearly two decades’ BMW Group career spanning multiple
countries and functions, Haqparwar brings comprehensive
international automotive leadership expertise. Appointed
Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East in 2018,
his strategic leadership and forward-thinking approach
have driven business and sales advancement across 13
regional markets.
Haqparwar’s educational credentials include Doctor
of Philosophy from University of St. Gallen, Switzerland,
Master of Business Administration from Western Carolina
University and undergraduate degree in Business Administration
from University of Mannheim, Germany. His career
encompasses roles including Director of Sales and Marketing
at BMW Group Middle East, Director Sales Channel
Development for BMW India and Sales Area Manager with
product management responsibilities in the Middle East.
Under Haqparwar’s strategic direction, BMW introduced
new-era luxury vehicles to regional clientele whilst advancing
environmental stewardship commitments through longterm
vision. His accomplishments have been extensively
acknowledged through regional and international media
coverage reflecting industry impact. As CEO of AGMC
overseeing BMW Group brands including BMW, MINI, Rolls-
Royce and BMW Motorrad, Haqparwar drives operational
excellence, customer experience and strategic expansion,
paired with his experience, and regional market knowledge.
Hani Bani Amer
Head - Information Security
Al Etihad Payments
Hani Bani Amer serves as Head of Information Security
at Al Etihad Payments, the UAE Central Bank subsidiary
driving the nation’s payment infrastructure
transformation. In this critical role, he safeguards national
systems including the Aani instant payments platform,
Jaywan domestic card scheme, UAESWITCH, and Wages
Protection System against evolving cyber threats, ensuring
resilient, compliant operations across the UAE’s shift to a
cashless economy.
With deep expertise in financial cybersecurity, Bani
Amer oversees risk management, threat intelligence, and
security architecture for high-volume transaction platforms
processing billions annually. He leads implementation of
advanced controls such as zero-trust frameworks, real-time
fraud detection powered by AI and machine learning, and
continuous vulnerability assessments tailored to payment
ecosystems. His strategies protect sensitive payment data,
maintain 24/7 availability for proxy payments via mobile/
QR, and support localisation requirements under Jaywan
while meeting global standards like PCI-DSS.
Bani Amer’s leadership has been instrumental in securing
Al Etihad Payments’ rapid expansion since 2023, enabling
seamless onboarding of 55+ financial institutions, 1M+
customers, and 100K merchants on Aani. He champions
proactive defence through automated incident response,
employee security awareness programmes, and collaboration
with regulators and international partners to counter
sophisticated attacks targeting national infrastructure,
maintaining trust as the backbone of UAE’s digital vision.
December 2025 / 33

Hatem Dowidar
Group CEO
e&
Hatem Dowidar serves as Group Chief Executive Officer
of e&, a global technology corporation operating
across 38 markets with 198 million subscribers.
Dowidar joined e& in 2015 as Group Chief Operating Officer,
advancing to Chief Executive Officer, International in 2016
before assuming his current role in May 2020. His tenure
has been defined by orchestrating e&’s transformative
pivot from a traditional telecommunications operator into
a diversified technology enterprise spanning fintech, artificial
intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital entertainment.
Under his strategic leadership, e& completed its rebranding
in February 2022, repositioning the organisation as
a modern technology company rather than a commoditised
utility provider. Dowidar has driven transformative
technological initiatives including the deployment of over
900 active artificial intelligence use cases throughout the
business, establishment of fully autonomous AI-powered
mobile stores, and construction of one of the world’s largest
energy-efficient 5.5G private networks. The company
achieved strong double-digit revenue growth in 2025, with
a rapidly expanding global subscriber base. His strategic
vision encompasses accelerating digital sovereignty across
the Middle East through advanced cloud and cybersecurity
partnerships. With more than three decades of telecommunications
experience and earlier leadership roles at
Vodafone Group, his industry recognition includes multiple
regional and global CEO honours. He also actively champions
sustainability and talent development, promoting responsible
innovation, and nurturing future technology leaders.
Helmut von Struve
Chief Executive Officer
Siemens Middle East
Helmut von Struve has served as Chief Executive Officer
of Siemens Middle East since 2020. An accomplished
engineer with advanced technical qualifications from
Technische Universität Darmstadt, he brings over two decades
of Siemens experience across Europe, Africa, and the
Middle East. His remit includes driving digital transformation
in energy, industry, and infrastructure across the region.
Von Struve’s leadership focuses on integrating artificial
intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, and industrial
software into end-to-end technology solutions. Under his
guidance, Siemens has delivered major smart infrastructure
and grid modernisation projects, including district-level
smart management platforms and advanced automation
for new manufacturing ecosystems. He has championed
workforce upskilling initiatives to build local digital and
engineering capabilities aligned with national visions. His
approach combines sustainability, operational efficiency,
and innovation, positioning Siemens as a key partner for
governments and industry in energy transition and industrial
competitiveness, while also advancing collaborations
on flagship smart city developments, electric mobility, and
low-carbon industrial zones that showcase the region as a
testbed for next-generation digital infrastructure.
In parallel, he plays an active role in regional policy and
industry dialogues on decarbonisation, digital standards,
and resilient infrastructure, reinforcing Siemens’ contribution
to national visions while promoting cross-sector
partnerships that translate cutting-edge technology into
tangible economic and societal value.
34 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Hosam Arab
Co-Founder & CEO
Tabby
Hosam Arab is the visionary co-founder and CEO of
Tabby, one of the Middle East’s leading fintech platforms
transforming the region’s digital payments and
consumer finance ecosystem. Under his leadership, Tabby
has rapidly grown into a dominant Buy Now, Pay Later
(BNPL) and shopping platform, empowering millions of
customers to shop with flexibility while enabling thousands
of merchants to increase conversion and customer loyalty.
Before founding Tabby, Hosam already had a strong entrepreneurial
track record as the former CEO and co-founder
of Namshi, one of the GCC’s most successful e-commerce
companies. His deep understanding of online consumer
behavior, retail economics, and scaling digital-first businesses
laid the foundation for Tabby’s explosive growth.
Since its launch, Tabby has expanded across the UAE,
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and beyond, partnering with major
regional and global brands. Hosam’s strategy focuses on
building financial products that are fast, transparent, and
customer-friendly—aligning with shifting consumer expectations
for flexible credit and seamless digital experiences.
Under his guidance, Tabby has secured significant regional
and international investment, positioning it among the
Middle East’s most valuable and influential fintech startups.
Hosam’s emphasis on responsible lending, strong merchant
partnerships, and user-centric design has enabled Tabby
to stand out in a competitive fintech landscape.
Today, Hosam Arab continues to redefine financial access
in the region, driving innovation that reshapes how
consumers shop and pay, while supporting retailers.
Hussain Fakhruddin
Chief Technology Officer
InsuranceMarket.ae
Hussain Fakhruddin serves as Chief Technology Officer
at InsuranceMarket.ae, a leading digital insurance
platform transforming customer access to insurance
products and services. With 15 years’ professional technology
experience spanning asset management, customs
operations, e-commerce and insurance sectors, Fakhruddin
brings exceptional expertise in software architecture, cloud
infrastructure and digital innovation. Since joining InsuranceMarket.ae
in October 2020, he has driven technological
transformation modernising the insurance sector’s digital
capabilities.
Fakhruddin’s achievements reflect commitment to building
scalable, secure technology infrastructure supporting
InsuranceMarket.ae’s rapid growth. He holds a Bachelor
of Science in Computer Engineering, AWS Certified Solutions
Architect credentials and Professional Scrum Master
certification, demonstrating comprehensive technical and
leadership capabilities. His previous roles included Chief
Technology Officer positions at yallacompare and Cobone,
where he led agile engineering teams implementing cutting-edge
technologies. At Cobone, Fakhruddin directed
the company’s technology transformation, supporting
significant growth and the successful launch of the Safarna
travel platform.
Under Fakhruddin’s technical stewardship, InsuranceMarket.
ae has received recognition including the Inc. Arabia Leaders
of Tomorrow Award, validating the company’s innovative
approach. His mandate encompasses advancing artificial
intelligence and automation technologies.
December 2025 / 35

Hyther Nizam
President - MEA
Zoho
Hyther Nizam is a veteran technology leader and one
of the driving forces behind Zoho’s global product
success. Serving as the President for the Middle East
& Africa and Vice President of Product Management, he
brings more than two decades of innovation, product strategy,
and leadership to one of the world’s most respected
SaaS companies.
With over 23 years at Zoho, Hyther has played an instrumental
role in shaping the company’s product ecosystem.
He has built and led more than ten major products from
conception to full-scale global adoption, contributing
significantly to Zoho’s position as a powerhouse in cloud
software and enterprise solutions. His product philosophy
centres on simplicity, deep functionality, and long-term
value, principles that have helped Zoho earn the trust of
millions of users worldwide.
Under his leadership in the MEA region, Zoho has expanded
rapidly, championing digital transformation across
governments, enterprises, and SMEs. Hyther advocates for
data privacy, digital sovereignty, and accessible technology—core
values that have shaped Zoho’s regional strategy
and customer relationships.
Beyond his corporate role, Hyther is a respected speaker
and educator. He has delivered keynotes at CII events,
Nasscom Emerge, IIM Ahmedabad Incubation Centre, Tokyo
University, and numerous engineering institutions. Through
these engagements, he continues to inspire young innovators
and future leaders. His blend of technical depth and
product vision adds to the region’s growing tech landscape.
Jack Uppal
President & Managing Director - MEA
General Motors
Jack Uppal serves as President and Managing Director
of General Motors Africa and Middle East, leading operations
across the region since November 2022. Joining
General Motors in 2001 as district sales and service manager
at GM Canada, Uppal has held various leadership positions
across China, India, Singapore, Egypt and the Middle East,
demonstrating exceptional international business development
capability. He currently oversees approximately
1,200-person team directing regional commercial strategy
and operations.
Under Uppal’s strategic leadership, General Motors Africa
and Middle East achieved significant growth milestones including
20 percent sales growth in 2022, 26 percent growth
in Q1 2023 and 26 percent volume growth in Q1 2025. In
December 2023, Chevrolet Bolt-based Cruise autonomous
vehicles participated in Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport
Strategy test drives, advancing autonomous vehicle
technology adoption. In January 2025, General Motors
commenced manufacturing Chevrolet Optra compact sedan
in Egypt, expanding regional manufacturing capabilities.
Uppal’s achievements include establishing OnStar connected
services across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, expanding
previous UAE and Kuwait deployments. His strategic initiatives
advanced operational efficiency, including 35 percent
reduction in operational carbon footprint achieved through
activating solar-powered roof at Middle East Distribution
Centre. Through demonstrating commitment to sustainable
operations, customer experience excellence and market
growth, he positions GM as regional automotive leader.
36 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Jad Antoun
Co-Founder & CEO
Huspy
Jad Antoun serves as Chief Executive Officer and
Co-Founder of Huspy, a proptech startup reshaping
home financing processes since March 2020. With an
exceptional founding team, Antoun has built Huspy into a
leading property platform backed by prominent investors
including Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund, Balderton, Fifth
Wall, Breyer Capital and Olayan. The company raised $37
million Series A funding in June 2022, validating rapid
growth and market impact.
Antoun’s entrepreneurial background combines investment
management, growth strategy and venture development
expertise. Previously, he served as Investment Team
member at BECO Capital, gaining deep understanding of
regional investment landscapes and startup ecosystem
development. His education at University of San Francisco
provided foundational business knowledge complementing
subsequent venture experience.
Huspy simplifies home financing, positioning mortgage
acquisition as celebratory milestone rather than burdensome
process. Under Antoun’s leadership, the company has
established comprehensive technology platform connecting
borrowers, lenders and real estate professionals through
seamless digital experience. The company’s rapid expansion
and investor confidence reflect validation of Antoun’s
strategic vision and operational capability. Through innovative
fintech solutions addressing housing affordability
and accessibility challenges, Antoun positions Huspy as
transformative force reshaping residential property financing
across the region.
Jasim Al Awadi
Chief ICT Officer
du
Jasim Al Awadi serves as the Chief ICT Officer at du,
where he plays a defining role in strengthening the
UAE’s digital backbone through advanced network
infrastructure and robust cybersecurity strategies. With
extensive experience across telecom, digital transformation,
and large-scale technology operations, he leads du’s ICT
vision at a time when secure, high-availability networks
are more critical than ever. Al Awadi oversees the development
and protection of du’s core network capabilities.
spanning cloud connectivity, data centre technologies,
and enterprise-grade security architectures. His work is
centred on ensuring that organisations across the UAE can
operate with confidence in an increasingly complex and
high-risk digital ecosystem. From securing next-generation
networks to fortifying mission-critical infrastructure,
he brings a disciplined, future-focused approach to cyber
resilience. A key part of his mandate involves aligning
cybersecurity with the UAE’s broader digital ambitions.
Under his leadership, du continues to invest in advanced
threat intelligence, zero-trust frameworks, and AI-driven
security operations, tools that not only safeguard enterprise
environments but also support the country’s transition into
a fully digital economy. Known for his pragmatic leadership
style, Al Awadi is committed to enabling both innovation
and protection. He champions collaboration with government,
industry partners, and global technology leaders to
ensure the UAE remains ahead of evolving cyber threats
while accelerating secure digital transformation, with his
strong focus on network infrastructure security.
December 2025 / 37

Jayesh Patel
Chief Executive Officer
Wio Bank
Jayesh Patel is a visionary fintech leader and Chief
Executive Officer of Wio Bank, the UAE’s first digital
platform bank, headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Since its
launch in September 2022, under Patel’s strategic direction,
Wio Bank has achieved extraordinary milestones, becoming
one of the fastest neobanks globally to achieve profitability
in its first year of operations, with a balance sheet of AED
37 billion by 2024.​
Patel brings over 14 years of extensive fintech and
banking experience. He previously served as Head of
Retail Strategy at Emirates NBD, where he led customer
service digitalisation and oversaw the development of Liv.
by Emirates NBD, an online finance ecosystem. His earlier
roles included consulting at Deloitte and IBM, working with
Fortune 500 clients on innovation and digital solutions.
Patel holds an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at
Dartmouth and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
from the University of Illinois.​
Wio Bank operates as a platform providing digital banking
apps, embedded finance, and banking-as-a-service solutions,
serving over 200,000 individual customers and 105,000
SMEs. With backing from ADQ, Alpha Dhabi, Etisalat, and
First Abu Dhabi Bank, Patel’s customer-centric approach
has established Wio as the UAE’s largest SME bank by
customer numbers. He is also an active participant in the
region’s startup and angel investment ecosystem, using
his experience in digital innovation, data-driven decision
making, and product design to mentor founders and advocate
for policies that support open finance.
Jean Thomas
CMO, CPO & CTO
eyewa
Jean Thomas serves as Chief Marketing Officer at eyewa,
the leading online eyewear retailer. With over 25 years’
experience across ecommerce, retail, omnichannel and
digital transformation sectors, Thomas brings extensive
expertise in marketing strategy, brand development and
business growth. His career encompasses Chief Marketing
Officer roles at prominent companies including Pomelo
Fashion, Lazada Group and RedMart within Alibaba Group.
Thomas has demonstrated exceptional capability scaling
marketing functions, driving brand awareness and directing
business growth across diverse ecommerce and retail
platforms. At Lazada, he contributed to establishing the
region’s leading marketplace whilst at Pomelo Fashion
oversaw omnichannel fashion platform expansion across
Southeast Asia. His expertise spans digital marketing
strategy, customer acquisition, retention programmes and
organisational development within high-growth technology
companies.
In his current role at eyewa, Thomas directs comprehensive
marketing strategy supporting the company’s mission of
providing accessible, quality eyewear solutions. His mandate
encompasses brand positioning, customer engagement,
digital transformation and omnichannel strategy implementation.
Through proven capability scaling marketing
teams, developing data-driven customer engagement programmes
and driving business growth, Thomas positions
Eyewa as premier online eyewear destination, connecting
customers with quality products through seamless digital
and retail experiences.
38 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Jiawei Liu
Chief Executive Officer
Huawei Technologies UAE
Jiawei Liu leads Huawei Technologies UAE with a sharp,
future-driven focus on elevating the region’s consumer
electronics landscape. As CEO, he oversees one of the
most influential technology portfolios in the Middle East,
guiding Huawei’s mobile ecosystem and device strategy
at a time when user expectations, digital lifestyles, and
ecosystem integration are rapidly evolving. Under his
leadership, Huawei has strengthened its position as a key
player in the UAE’s premium device market, expanding a
connected ecosystem that spans smartphones, wearables,
tablets, audio, and smart home technologies. Liu plays an
instrumental role in driving the brand’s vision for seamless
device integration, an ecosystem where hardware innovation,
cloud connectivity, and intelligent software experiences
come together to enhance everyday digital living. A strong
advocate for continuous R&D investment, Liu champions
Huawei’s commitment to developing devices powered by
advanced imaging, superior performance capabilities, and
user-centric design. His work also extends into ecosystem
diversification, pushing for deeper adoption of Huawei
Mobile Services, AppGallery, and cross-device collaboration
features tailored to the region’s tech-savvy consumers. With
an eye on long-term digital competitiveness, Jiawei Liu has
helped solidify Huawei’s reputation not just as a device
manufacturer, but as a complete technology ecosystem
builder. His leadership is marked by a blend of strategic
agility, operational discipline, and a clear understanding
of how consumer behaviour is shifting in an increasingly
connected world.
Jimmy Li
Chief Technology Officer
Zand Bank
Jimmy Li serves as Chief Technology Officer at Zand, a
fully licensed artificial intelligence-powered digital bank
established in June 2022. With over two decades of
experience driving technological innovation across global
financial institutions and fintech companies, Li brings
exceptional expertise in banking transformation, digital
assets and enterprise technology scaling.
In his current role, Li directs Zand’s technological strategy
spanning corporate banking, wealth management, asset
management, fintech innovation and digital assets including
stablecoins and tokenisation services. His career highlights
include leading the largest mobile banking platform in
North America and driving e-wallet ecosystem expansion
for the world’s largest fintech, showcasing proven ability to
scale digital solutions for millions of users simultaneously.
Li’s technical leadership emphasises security, scalability
and user experience excellence. Beginning as a software
engineer in the United States in 2000, he progressed through
prominent global technology leadership positions, gaining
deep expertise in banking infrastructure, fintech innovation
and digital transformation. His background combines technical
proficiency with commercial acumen, enabling him to
align technology capabilities with business objectives. At
Zand, Li has been instrumental in establishing secure, efficient
infrastructure supporting the bank’s expansion across
corporate banking and digital asset services, positioning
the institution as a technology-forward financial services
provider in the Middle East setting global benchmarks for
fintech innovation.
December 2025 / 39

Jobin Joejoe
Managing Director
Sony
Jobin Joejoe leads Sony’s Middle East & Africa operations
with a sharp focus on transforming how consumers across
the region experience entertainment, creativity, and
connected technology. As Managing Director, he oversees
Sony’s diverse portfolio, from imaging and audio products
to gaming ecosystems and entertainment innovations,
ensuring the brand continues to push the boundaries of
what’s possible in the digital experience space. Under his
leadership, Sony has strengthened its position as a trusted,
premium technology brand, driven by a commitment to
quality, creativity, and user-centric design. Joejoe plays
a pivotal role in steering the company’s transition into a
more integrated, digitally enabled ecosystem, one where
hardware excellence intersects with software intelligence,
content innovation, and seamless cross-device experiences.
He champions advanced entertainment technologies that
define Sony’s global identity, including state-of-the-art
imaging systems, immersive audio solutions, and cutting-edge
consumer electronics built for creators, gamers,
and everyday users. His strategic vision focuses on aligning
regional market needs with Sony’s global innovation
roadmap, ensuring the MEA region remains a key growth
hub for the brand. A strong believer in digital transformation,
Joejoe has driven initiatives that enhance customer
engagement, expand Sony’s digital retail presence, and
elevate the overall brand experience across both physical
and online touchpoints. He also fosters collaboration with
local partners, distributors, and creative communities to
strengthen Sony’s impact.
Katharine Budd
Co-Founder
NOW Money
Katharine Budd is Co-Founder of NOW Money, the
Gulf’s pioneering digital payroll and banking platform
designed to provide financial services to the region’s
unbanked and underbanked populations. Launched in
2016, NOW Money addresses a critical gap in financial
inclusion, serving the millions of migrant workers earning
below $1,000 monthly who have historically been excluded
from traditional banking services.​
Budd secured the first and only regulatory permissions
in the payments space for such a service, raising over
$12 million in venture capital investment from GCC, US,
and European investors. The platform has disrupted the
region’s digital banking ecosystem by offering free mobile
accounts, international remittance capabilities, physical Visa
cards, and integrated payroll solutions for employers. NOW
Money demonstrates exceptional product engagement,
maintaining a login rate of 10 times monthly—2.5 times
the industry standard.​
Prior to co-founding NOW Money, Budd worked as an
early-stage data scientist at Nectar Loyalty (acquired by
Aeroplan for $755 million) and at Cardlytics, developing
expertise in product launch, scaling, and consumer data
analytics across the UK, US, Australia, and the Middle East.
She has advised international banks, credit card operators,
and retailers on leveraging consumer insights for commercial
strategy development.​
Budd’s work has established NOW Money as a transformative
force in regional financial inclusion, enabling
millions of workers to access safe, convenient banking.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor
Founding Chairman
Al Habtoor Motors
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor is Founder and Chairman
of Al Habtoor Group, one of the Middle East’s most
successful and respected conglomerates. Establishing
Al Habtoor Engineering in 1970 as modest engineering
firm, Al Habtoor built the organisation into a diversified
multinational enterprise employing thousands across
multiple sectors and geographies. The group’s expansion
coincided with UAE Federation’s 1971 establishment, inspiring
transformative construction projects positioning
the company for sustained growth.
Today, Al Habtoor Group operates across hospitality,
automotive, vehicle leasing, real estate, education and
publishing sectors with significant international presence.
The conglomerate’s portfolio reflects strategic diversification,
operational excellence and entrepreneurial vision
spanning over five decades. Al Habtoor’s estimated annual
turnover exceeds one billion dirhams, employing thousands
of qualified professionals.
A self-made entrepreneur renowned for business acumen,
expertise and philanthropy, Al Habtoor exemplifies
progressive leadership combining modern outlook with UAE
values. His optimistic personality and relationship-building
capabilities enabled sustained stakeholder engagement
and strategic partnership development. Beyond business
achievements, Al Habtoor has distinguished himself
through extensive international political affairs knowledge,
philanthropic activities and peace advocacy. As unofficial
ambassador advancing UAE’s interests internationally, he
demonstrates commitment to nation-building.
Khaled Hashem
President - MEA
Honeywell
Khaled Hashem is President for Honeywell in the
Middle East and Africa, overseeing the company’s
strategy and operations across high-growth markets.
Since joining Honeywell in 2016, he has progressed from
leading Egypt and Libya to managing North Africa, before
assuming responsibility for the wider region. His leadership
is centred on using advanced automation, aerospace
technologies, and energy-transition solutions to address
regional infrastructure and industrial challenges.
Hashem has driven deployment of connected plant
technologies, industrial internet of things platforms, and
advanced safety and security systems across energy,
aviation, and smart city projects. His experience at global
industrial majors prior to Honeywell underpins his ability
to lead complex, technology-intensive programmes. He is
active in regional industry platforms, contributing to policy
and ecosystem development for sustainable industrial
growth. His work has been recognised through industry
awards that highlight his influence on regional industrial
and energy transformation.
He is a pivotal figure in fostering partnerships between
governments and private sectors, accelerating innovation
adoption that advances the region’s carbon reduction targets
and industrial competitiveness. Khaled supports initiatives
that build local talent pipelines, ensuring future-ready skills
align with digital and sustainable economic goals, while
championing inclusion and diversity across technology
disciplines. His strategic vision sustains Honeywell’s role
as a trusted partner in delivering smart infrastructure.
December 2025 / 41

Khalid Al Marzooqi
Chief Executive Officer
National Central Cooling Company - Tabreed
Khalid Al Marzooqi has served as Chief Executive Officer
of National Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed)
since May 2021. Joining Tabreed at the beginning of
significant expansion, Al Marzooqi brings wealth of energy
sector experience accumulated through over 25 years in
engineering, operations and strategic leadership. Previously,
he served as Chief Operating Officer of Dolphin Energy
Limited, overseeing the entire Operations Downstream
Division in the UAE, and held Senior Vice President position
for Dolphin’s Technical Services Division.
Al Marzooqi’s career encompasses senior roles at Abu
Dhabi Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi Water and
Electricity Authority and Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore
Oil Operations, demonstrating deep expertise across UAE’s
critical infrastructure sectors. He holds dual majors in Chemical
Engineering and Petroleum Engineering, providing strong
technical foundation for operational leadership.
Under Al Marzooqi’s strategic direction, Tabreed continues
advancing district cooling solutions across the region,
supporting UAE’s sustainability objectives. His mandate
encompasses driving operational excellence, business
development and innovation within the district cooling
industry. Through leadership spanning multiple energy and
infrastructure sectors, Al Marzooqi leverages comprehensive
understanding of technical operations, project management
and strategic business development to position Tabreed
as the international district cooling leader, delivering efficient,
sustainable cooling solutions supporting regional
development and environmental stewardship.
Khalid Mohammad
Vice President - EMEA, Electrical Sector
Eaton
Khalid Mohammad serves as Vice President for the
Electrical Sector across Europe, the Middle East
and Africa at Eaton, overseeing regional strategy,
commercial execution and technology-led growth in
power management solutions. In this role, he focuses on
advancing resilient, efficient and sustainable electrical
infrastructure, working with utilities, industrial customers
and commercial enterprises to support the energy transition,
grid modernisation and safer, smarter facilities. His
remit spans portfolio optimisation, channel development
and strategic partnerships that accelerate the adoption
of intelligent power systems and digital solutions across
diverse EMEA markets.
Before joining Eaton, Mohammad spent eleven years at
Johnson Controls, the global leader in smart, healthy and
sustainable buildings, where he held senior leadership
roles including Vice President and General Manager for the
Middle East and Africa bringing comprehensive expertise in
building automation. During this period, he played a central
role in advancing the company’s OpenBlue-enabled smart
building agenda, championing deployment of integrated
building management systems, AI-driven HVAC optimisation,
and connected fire and security platforms that delivered
measurable gains in energy efficiency, operational reliability
and occupant comfort. His work supported large-scale
digital transformation programmes for government entities,
airports, healthcare campuses and commercial real estate,
helping customers align building portfolios with ambitious
sustainability and decarbonisation goals.
42 \ December 2025

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Lucas Bellieud
Managing Director
Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility
Lucas Bellieud serves as Managing Director of Al-Futtaim
Electric Mobility, a subsidiary of Al-Futtaim Group,
since August 2025. With over 25 years’ international
automotive leadership spanning Europe, Latin America and
Turkey, Bellieud brings exceptional expertise in sustainable
mobility transformation and business development. His
career includes senior positions including Chief Operating
Officer, Aftersales Director and Commercial Director at
Renault, where he gained comprehensive insights into
automotive industry transformation, particularly electrification
advancement.
Bellieud’s mandate encompasses overseeing Al-Futtaim
Electric Mobility’s operations, driving growth and
innovation across its portfolio of leading electric vehicle
brands including BYD and Polestar. The company invests
significantly in charging equipment and infrastructure,
ensuring comprehensive ecosystem supporting electrified
mobility adoption. Bellieud’s strategic focus aligns with
UAE government’s strong commitment to electrification
as sustainability agenda cornerstone.
Under Bellieud’s direction, Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility
accelerates UAE’s transition towards sustainable mobility,
reinforcing the company’s long-standing commitment to
future electrification. His international experience combined
with regional market understanding positions him
uniquely to advance the company’s strategic initiatives. His
leadership emphasising best-in-class products, customer
experience excellence and infrastructure development,
positioning Al-Futtaim as an essential mobility partner.
Mahmoud Elfeky
Vice President - Retail
Lenskart.com
Mahmoud Elfeky serves as Vice President of Retail for
Lenskart Middle East, leading the eyewear brand’s
regional expansion. With over 14 years’ retail and
fashion industry experience within GCC markets, Elfeky
brings comprehensive expertise in retail operations, business
development and strategic planning. He oversees Lenskart’s
Middle East expansion whilst developing comprehensive
retail growth strategies focusing on market penetration,
brand awareness and customer-centric service delivery.
Joining Lenskart in 2021, Elfeky developed business
and revenue growth plans, explored risk-reward strategies,
estimated partner requirements and identified new
customer acquisition and sales expansion opportunities.
His retail leadership emphasises exceptional in-store
customer experiences through trained staff, personalised
assistance and technology integration, combined with
seamless online platforms featuring virtual try-ons and
transparent processes.
Elfeky’s achievements reflect data-driven decision making
informed by extensive market research and retail analytics
expertise. His responsibilities encompass ensuring consistent
customer experience delivery across in-store and
digital channels, staying current with eyewear trends and
implementing strategic initiatives revitalising distribution,
sales and marketing strategies. As Vice President, Elfeky
contributes market insights, operational guidance and
cultural adaptation expertise supporting Lenskart’s global
expansion, positioning the brand as leading eyewear
retailer across Middle Eastern and international markets.
December 2025 / 43

Mansoor Al Mansoori
Chairman
Space42
H.E. Mansoor Al Mansoori is a visionary technology and
strategic leader serving as Chairman of Space42, the
UAE’s AI-powered SpaceTech company with global
reach. Formed through the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat
in September 2024, Space42 represents a transformative
venture integrating geospatial analytics, satellite communications,
and artificial intelligence capabilities.​
Al Mansoori brings diverse expertise across government
and private sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Science
in Computer Science Engineering from the University of
Toledo, Ohio, and a Master’s degree in Strategic Security
Studies and National Resource Management from the National
Defence College, UAE, complemented by executive
certificates from London Business School, MIT, and IMD.​
As a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and
Chairman of the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, Al
Mansoori oversees critical public healthcare transformation.
Previously, he served as Group Chief Operating Officer
of G42, directing strategic partnerships, innovation, and
organisational culture. He was also Director General of the
UAE National Media Council (2015–2020), where he won
the Government Excellence Award.​
Under his leadership at Space42, the company successfully
launched Thuraya-4, its sixth geostationary satellite
(January 2025), providing enhanced connectivity across
Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, whilst
advancing the UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030. His
strategic vision focuses on expanding Space42’s technological
innovation and international partnerships.
Marc Domenech
Senior Regional Director Enterprise - META & CIS
NVIDIA
Marc Domenech serves as Senior Regional Director
Enterprise for NVIDIA’s META and CIS region,
bringing over 19 years’ tenure with NVIDIA and
comprehensive expertise in enterprise technology, sales
strategy and market development. Throughout his career
at NVIDIA, Domenech has held numerous senior positions
including Head of Business Development for META, where
he utilised market and cultural knowledge to drive regional
innovation initiatives.
Domenech’s entrepreneurial background and extensive
sales experience across international markets positioned
him to lead NVIDIA’s enterprise strategy across the Middle
East, Africa and Turkey. His career encompasses progressive
responsibilities managing enterprise accounts, developing
business partnerships and implementing technology
strategies supporting customer digitalisation and artificial
intelligence adoption.
Currently, Domenech guides NVIDIA’s enterprise strategy
across the region, supporting customers and partners implementing
cutting-edge artificial intelligence, data centre and
computing solutions. As Senior Regional Director, he focuses
on advancing enterprise adoption of NVIDIA technologies,
developing regional partnerships and supporting customer
success. His multilingual capabilities and deep market
understanding enable effective engagement with diverse
customer bases across the region. Through strategic sales
initiatives, partnership development and customer-focused
service delivery, Domenech positions NVIDIA as premier
provider of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
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Mark Chahwan
Co-Founder & Group CEO
Sarwa
Mark Chahwan is the visionary co-founder and
Group CEO of Sarwa, one of the Middle East’s most
recognized and fast-growing fintech platforms.
Under his leadership, Sarwa has redefined personal finance
and investment accessibility across the region, offering a
seamless, digital-first approach to wealth management
tailored for modern investors.
Chahwan launched Sarwa with the mission of democratizing
investing, making it simple, transparent, and affordable for
everyone, regardless of financial background. His strategy
blends technology, behavioral finance, and user-centric
design to remove traditional barriers that long prevented
younger demographics from entering the world of investing.
With a strong focus on automation, regulatory compliance,
and customer trust, Chahwan has built Sarwa into
a platform known for low-cost diversified portfolios, easy
digital onboarding, and educational tools that empower
users to make informed financial decisions. His leadership
has also played a key role in securing major investments
and strategic partnerships, strengthening Sarwa’s position
as a pioneer in the MENA fintech landscape.
Beyond technology, Chahwan is committed to fostering
financial literacy, championing transparency, and driving a
cultural shift toward long-term wealth creation. He frequently
advocates for the importance of responsible investing and
the role that fintech can play in shaping more financially
empowered societies. Today, Mark Chahwan continues
to steer Sarwa’s expansion across markets, solidifying
Sarwa’s position in the fintech industry.
Massimiliano Rossi
Vice President - EMEA
Acer
Massimiliano Rossi serves as the EMEA Vice President
at Acer, where he plays a central role in
shaping the company’s strategy across one of its
most important and competitive regions. With extensive
leadership experience in the global PC and electronics
market, Rossi drives Acer’s mission to deliver high-performance
computing solutions, innovative gaming hardware,
and user-centric devices tailored to the evolving needs of
modern consumers. Under his regional leadership, Acer
has continued to strengthen its position as a major force
in both mainstream computing and the rapidly expanding
gaming sector. Rossi oversees the rollout of Acer’s flagship
product lines, including Predator gaming systems,
high-performance laptops, environmentally conscious
devices, and next-generation PCs built for remote work,
education, and advanced digital creativity. Rossi is known
for advocating a balanced approach that blends performance-driven
innovation with sustainability. He supports
Acer’s commitment to greener product development and
circular design, ensuring that new devices deliver cutting-edge
technology while reducing environmental impact.
His contributions also extend to ecosystem partnerships,
channel growth, and accelerating Acer’s presence across
key EMEA markets. With gaming becoming a cultural and
commercial powerhouse in the region, Rossi continues to
push the boundaries of what users can expect from gaming
hardware, focusing on speed, thermal efficiency, immersive
design, and professional-grade performance, reinforcing
Acer’s reputation as a trusted global brand.
December 2025 / 45

Matthias Ziegler
Managing Director
Volkswagen Middle East
Matthias Ziegler serves as Managing Director of
Volkswagen Middle East, leading the automotive
brand’s regional strategy and operations since 2023.
Under his strategic direction, Volkswagen has executed a
comprehensive product launch calendar reinforcing the
brand’s market position across the region. In September
2024, Ziegler directed the regional launch of the all-new
Tiguan, followed by the introduction of the Golf GTI in January
2025. He subsequently led the integration of Volkswagen
Light Commercial Vehicles into the business in April 2025
and launched the all-new Golf R in May 2025.
Ziegler’s approach emphasises adapting Volkswagen’s
global brand identity to regional market requirements whilst
maintaining core engineering excellence and innovation
principles. His strategic vision focuses on delivering value
propositions tailored to Middle Eastern customers, particularly
families seeking versatile SUVs combining spaciousness,
advanced safety systems and practical functionality. He
has highlighted the importance of Volkswagen’s extended
family appeal and the brand’s decades-long regional presence,
including over 70 years in Kuwait and 35+ years of
partnership continuity in the UAE.
His achievements reflect commitment to strengthening
Volkswagen’s regional market position through strategic
product expansion and customer-centric market development.
Under Ziegler’s leadership, Volkswagen has reinforced its
legacy as trusted automotive partner delivering German
engineering excellence combined with regional market
responsiveness.
Michael Stroband
President & CEO
Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle East
Michael Stroband serves as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz Cars Middle
East, directing regional operations and General
Distributor Network responsibilities across Middle East,
Latin America and Southeast Asia commercial vehicle
segments. Appointed January 2024, Stroband brings 15
years’ experience across retail, marketing, sales, supply
chain and production. His prior role involved Product and
Sales Management for Mercedes-Benz Cars in Germany,
where he oversaw strategic product portfolio development.
Since 2011, Stroband has held various leadership positions
at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler Trucks, progressively
expanding responsibilities and geographic scope. His
mandate encompasses building upon Mercedes-Benz’s
excellent customer reputation, expanding digitalisation
across business operations, maintaining competitiveness in
luxury vehicle segments and developing core vehicle portfolios.
Stroband prioritises enhancing customer experience
and targeting profitable growth across General Distributor
Network encompassing multiple regions.
Mercedes-Benz’s strategic transformation emphasises
electric mobility leadership, vehicle software advancement
and comprehensive digitalisation. Under Stroband’s direction,
the company drives this transformation regionally whilst
maintaining traditional strengths in engineering excellence
and luxury positioning. His focus emphasises delivering
exceptional unified customer experience across online and
offline channels, advancing digitalisation initiatives and
supporting the company’s evolution toward leadership.
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Miguel Rio-Tinto
Group Chief Digital & Information Officer
Emirates NBD
Miguel Rio-Tinto is a transformative digital leader
driving Emirates NBD’s technology vision as the
Group Chief Digital & Information Officer. With a
mandate to accelerate digital banking innovation, Miguel
oversees the bank’s end-to-end technology strategy,
ensuring that Emirates NBD remains at the forefront of
fintech advancement in the region.
Under his leadership, the bank has undergone a substantial
digital evolution, investing in cloud adoption, AI-powered
customer experiences, automation, data intelligence, and
next-generation cybersecurity. Miguel has also championed
the bank’s multi-year digital transformation program, which
has elevated Emirates NBD into one of the Middle East’s
leading digital-first financial institutions.
His approach blends strategic foresight with deep technical
expertise. By integrating cutting-edge technologies across
retail and corporate banking, Miguel has strengthened
operational efficiency, enhanced customer engagement,
and boosted the bank’s digital ecosystem. His work has
been central to enabling seamless mobile banking, smarter
payment infrastructures, and personalized digital financial
services.
Miguel is also a strong advocate for embedding data-driven
decision-making across the bank. His initiatives in AI
and advanced analytics have contributed significantly to
refining risk management, improving customer journeys,
and building future-ready financial capabilities.
Recognized as a regional fintech pioneer, Miguel Rio-Tinto
continues to shape Emirates NBD’s digital roadmap.
Mohamad Sami Ballout
Chief Operating Officer
Kitopi
Mohamad Sami Ballout serves as Chief Operating
Officer at Kitopi, the Dubai-headquartered global
cloud kitchen pioneer powering food delivery innovation
across 18 countries. With over 22 years of expertise
in hospitality, leisure, and strategic operations, he oversees
Kitopi’s end-to-end operations, scaling its technology-driven
platform that integrates advanced kitchen automation,
AI-powered demand forecasting, and seamless supply chain
optimisation for restaurant partners worldwide.
Previously, Ballout was Chief Executive Officer at AWJ,
a Dubai-based food and beverage holding group acquired
by Kitopi, where he managed renowned brands including
Operation Falafel, Catch 22, and Awani across the UAE,
Saudi Arabia, New York, and London. During his tenure
from 2023, he leveraged Kitopi’s cutting-edge technology
stack, including real-time inventory management, dynamic
pricing algorithms, and data analytics: to drive operational
efficiency, accelerate outlet expansions, and enhance customer
experiences through streamlined order fulfilment
and personalised delivery solutions.
Prior to AWJ, Ballout served as Chief Operating Officer
for Retail and Leisure at Emaar Economic City and advised
Riyadh City’s City Life division CEO, gaining deep experience
in multi-million-dollar project execution, real estate
development, and large-scale operations management.
At Kitopi, Ballout champions technology-enabled transformation,
fostering a collaborative culture that embraces
innovation in cloud kitchen operations, franchise scaling,
and diverse revenue streams.
December 2025 / 47

Mohammed Alabbar
Founder
Noon.com
Mohammed Alabbar is a visionary entrepreneur and
global business leader best known as the founder
of Noon, the Middle East’s leading e-commerce
platform and digital ecosystem. Launched in 2017 in partnership
with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF),
Noon was born from Alabbar’s conviction that Arabs should
own their digital future. Frustrated that 400 million Arabs
use technology five hours daily but control nothing of it, he
created Noon as a regional answer to global e-commerce
giants, empowering local businesses and entrepreneurs
to compete globally.​
Alabbar holds a degree in Finance and Business Administration
from Seattle University and honorary doctorates
from the London School of Economics and Sun Moon
University. His career spans real estate, retail, hospitality,
technology, logistics, food and beverage, and venture
capital. He founded Emaar Properties, developer of the
world’s tallest building, and chairs Americana Group, the
Middle East’s largest integrated food company. His technology
portfolio additionally includes Zand, the world’s
first combined digital corporate and retail bank; Diwan, a
leading content and influencer management agency; and
strategic investments through Alabbar Enterprises.​
Noon operates as a digital ecosystem offering e-commerce,
logistics, payments, and banking services across the UAE,
Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, connecting millions of consumers
with regional businesses and global brands. Alabbar’s
vision continues to drive Noon’s expansion, focusing on
innovation in technology, and customer experience.
Mohamed Ali Al Dhaheri
Managing Director
Ali & Sons Automotive
Mohamed Ali Al Dhaheri is a forward-thinking leader
who has risen to become the Managing Director
of Ali & Sons Automotive through a career built
on dedication, versatility, and a deep passion for the
automotive industry. Beginning his journey in customer
service and progressing through multiple operational and
strategic roles, Mohamed has cultivated a comprehensive
understanding of the automotive business, enabling him
to lead with clarity, insight, and impact.
His leadership philosophy is anchored in the belief that
“the sky is the limit,” approaching every challenge as an
opportunity rather than an obstacle. This mindset has
played a defining role in driving Ali & Sons Automotive
forward, fostering a culture of innovation, resilience, and
continuous improvement across the organization.
Mohamed’s enthusiasm for automobiles extends well
beyond the professional realm. An avid sports car and
motorcycle enthusiast, he finds balance in the synergy
between speed and safety, values that mirror his approach
to leadership: bold yet measured, ambitious yet responsible.
Outside of high-octane pursuits, Mohamed prioritizes time
for personal rejuvenation. He enjoys traveling, exploring
new destinations, and meeting people whose experiences
broaden his perspective. Whether on a serene boat ride
or a relaxing fishing trip, he values moments that bring
clarity and inspiration.
With a rare combination of strategic vision, operational
experience, and personal passion, Mohamed Ali Al Dhaheri
continues to shape the future of Ali & Sons Automotive.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
Mohammed Amin
Senior Vice President - CEEMETA
Dell Technologies
Mohammed Amin serves as Senior Vice President for
Central Eastern Europe, Middle East, Türkiye and
Africa at Dell Technologies, overseeing operations
across more than 70 countries. Since assuming his current
role in 2011, Amin has driven the company’s transformation
to become a comprehensive technology solutions provider
spanning artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, edge
computing and data management. His strategic leadership
positions Dell Technologies as a critical partner enabling
digital transformation across government and enterprise
sectors throughout the region.
Amin’s achievements centre on establishing Dell Technologies’
regional business strategy and technology
infrastructure. In February 2025, he oversaw opening the
company’s first merge and fulfillment centre in Saudi Arabia,
engineered to process 600,000 units annually across all
Dell product lines. He has championed artificial intelligence
and generative AI adoption across industries, emphasising
the importance of data as fuel for AI transformation
and highlighting how organisations must transition from
classical data centre infrastructure to AI-ready facilities.
His advocacy centres on bridging the digital skills gap and
ensuring organisations possess qualified resources for
successful technology integration and adoption.
Prior to his current position, Amin oversaw EMC operations
across Türkiye, Emerging Africa and the Middle
East. He chairs the Advisory Council of Dubai’s Chamber of
Commerce, reflecting his broader commitment to regional
business ecosystem development.
Mohannad Abuissa
Managing Director & CTO - MEA, TRC
Cisco
Mohannad Abuissa serves as Chief Technology Officer
and Managing Director of Solutions Engineering at
Cisco for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, Romania
and the CIS region. In this role, he leads a cross-regional
engineering organisation bridging technology strategy with
sales execution across 80+ countries. With over 25 years’
technology industry experience, Abuissa has transformed
complexity into opportunity for high-growth markets.
His achievements centre on aligning Cisco’s global
technology vision with regional business priorities across
artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, observability, networking
and digital infrastructure. He champions digital
sovereignty initiatives, serving as a trusted advisor at
the World AI Summit, AI Governance Summit and Qatar
Economic Forum, where he advocates responsible artificial
intelligence deployment and technology strategy. Abuissa
drives regional go-to-market execution by enabling partner
ecosystems and field sales through architecture innovation
and scalable technical leadership.
His strategic approach emphasises open collaboration
with customers and partners whilst advancing Cisco’s
innovation agenda across the region. Through mentoring
high-performing teams and fostering customer-centric
solutions, Abuissa ensures that Cisco’s offerings remain
deeply relevant to public and private sector transformation
priorities. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping
digital transformation roadmaps, establishing the company
as a critical infrastructure partner across MEA-TRC’s
evolving markets.
December 2025 / 49

Mohannad AlKalash
Vice President - METAP
Zoom
Mohannad AlKalash is a visionary communications
technology leader and Vice President of Zoom
Communications for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa,
and Pakistan (METAP) region. Appointed in May 2024,
AlKalash spearheads Zoom’s strategic expansion across
one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, leading efforts
to introduce tailored products and solutions aligned with
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and regional digital transformation
initiatives.​
AlKalash brings over 20 years of extensive experience
in the digital landscape, encompassing Unified Communications-as-a-Service
(UCaaS), cybersecurity, enterprise
resource planning, and cloud services. Prior to joining Zoom,
he served as Regional Sales Manager at Cisco, overseeing
strategic accounts in Saudi Arabia’s security, cyber, and
defence sectors. His cybersecurity expertise is deepened
through founding CyberxWorld (now CyberX), a multinational
awareness platform focused on developing multimedia
products and raising awareness of cyber security threats.​
Beyond his Zoom leadership, AlKalash serves as member
and advisor on several boards, including Prince Sultan University
and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.
He holds an MBA from the University of Manchester.​
Under his direction, Zoom established a regional office in
Riyadh with a $75 million investment, launched Arabic-localised
services, and deployed local data centres ensuring
compliance with Saudi regulations whilst advancing
AI-powered communication solutions across Middle East,
Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan markets.
Mona Ataya
Co-Founder & CEO
Mumzworld
Mona Ataya is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Mumzworld, the region’s pioneering
e-commerce platform serving mothers, babies and
children since 2011. Through seven years of entrepreneurial
leadership, Ataya transformed Mumzworld from a business
plan into a thriving brand reaching over 2.5 million mothers
across diverse regional markets. Co-founder of Bayt.com,
Ataya combines entrepreneurial vision with proven scaling
capabilities across multiple ventures.
Mumzworld operates as the premier trusted source for
over 200,000 mother, baby and child products, delivering
across 20+ countries. The platform pioneered a gold-standard
e-commerce shopping experience and has achieved
consistent double-digit growth annually, positioning
itself as a potential unicorn company within five years.
Ataya established comprehensive shopping experiences
emphasising product quality, convenience and customer
service excellence.
A transformational leader and change agent, Ataya’s
strategic vision centres on empowering mothers to make
informed choices, thereby enabling them to raise great
children and ultimately transform regional societies. Her
achievements reflect fundamental belief in purpose-driven
entrepreneurship and social impact. Through attracting
seven rounds of funding from respected investors and
maintaining customer-centric operations, Ataya continues
advancing Mumzworld’s mission of providing accessible,
trustworthy maternal and childcare solutions across the
Middle East and North Africa region.
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Mudassir Sheikha
Co-Founder & CEO
Careem
Mudassir Sheikha is a visionary entrepreneur and Chief
Executive Officer of Careem, the Middle East’s first
technology unicorn and leading super app platform.
Co-founded in 2012 with ex-McKinsey colleague Magnus
Olsson, Careem has revolutionised mobility and commerce
across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, operating
in over 120 cities with one million “Captains” (drivers).​
Sheikha holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from
Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics
and Computer Science from the University of Southern
California. His career began in Silicon Valley at Trilogy Software
and Brience, before co-founding DeviceAnywhere, a
mobile application platform acquired by Keynote in 2008.
He subsequently joined McKinsey & Company’s Dubai
office as an Associate Partner.​
Driven by a shared purpose to “simplify and improve
lives,” Sheikha and Olsson identified a unique market
opportunity in regional transportation. What began as
ride-hailing expanded into a comprehensive super app
offering food delivery, digital payments, and grocery services,
fundamentally reshaping regional commerce and
mobility. Acquired by Uber in January 2020 for USD 3.1
billion, Careem remains independently operated. Sheikha’s
leadership emphasises embedding purpose throughout
organisational culture, inspiring regional entrepreneurship
and talent development.​
Under his guidance, Careem continues to pioneer innovative
digital services, empowering local communities
and driving the region’s evolving tech ecosystem forward.
Naim Yazbeck
President - MEA
Microsoft
Naim Yazbeck serves as President of Microsoft Middle
East and Africa, having previously led Microsoft UAE.
With more than 25 years in the technology sector, he
has been central to advancing cloud adoption and artificial
intelligence-driven transformation across the region. In
his earlier role, he led major national-scale programmes
in the UAE focused on government digital services, skills
development, and secure cloud infrastructure.
As regional President, Yazbeck drives strategy for scaling
Azure cloud regions, AI platforms, and digital skilling initiatives
serving governments, enterprises, and start-ups. He
has played a leading role in high-profile partnerships that
combine hyperscale cloud, data centres, and AI capabilities
to support national digital economies. Under his leadership,
Microsoft has expanded programmes in digital literacy,
cybersecurity readiness, and AI skills, enabling thousands
of professionals and students. His work is widely cited in
regional technology forums as a benchmark for public–private
collaboration in digital transformation.
Yazbeck remains dedicated to accelerating digital
transformation across the Middle East and Africa, with a
focus on inclusive growth and sustainable innovation. He
fosters partnerships across governments, academia, and
industry to build resilient digital infrastructures and nurture
local talent. His commitment to responsible AI and cloud
adoption ensures that emerging technologies empower
economies while safeguarding privacy and security, establishing
Microsoft as a trusted partner in regional digital
and technological progress.
December 2025 / 51

Noor Sweid
Founder & Managing Partner
Global Ventures
Noor Sweid is the Founder and Managing Partner of
Global Ventures, a UAE-based international venture
capital firm specialising in Series A investments
across emerging markets in the Middle East, North Africa,
and beyond. Established in 2018, the firm has deployed
over $150 million into more than 40 technology companies,
targeting scalable solutions in fintech, healthtech,
enterprise software, and logistics. Sweid’s strategic focus
on tech-enabled disruption has positioned Global Ventures
as a key bridge between regional innovators and global
capital networks.​
Prior to launching Global Ventures, Sweid served as Chief
Investment Officer at Dubai Future Foundation, where she
oversaw investments in frontier technologies and innovation
programmes shaping the UAE’s digital economy. She was
also Managing Partner at Leap Ventures, managing a $200
million fund backing early-stage startups. Earlier, Sweid
played a pivotal role in scaling her family business, Depa
Interiors, leading cross-border acquisitions, operational
restructuring, and its landmark dual-listing IPO on Nasdaq
Dubai and the London Stock Exchange, raising significant
capital through technology-enhanced investor platforms.​
Sweid’s leadership emphasises founder empowerment
through capital, mentorship, and market access, with portfolio
companies leveraging AI, blockchain, and data analytics
to address regional challenges like financial inclusion and
supply-chain efficiency. She actively promotes women
in tech via mentorship initiatives and serves on boards
influencing digital policy.
Ola Doudin
Co-Founder & CEO
BitOasis
Ola Doudin is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of
BitOasis, a pioneering digital asset platform serving
the Middle East and North Africa. With a background
in electronic and communication engineering and early
experience in technology and research roles, she founded
BitOasis in 2015 to provide secure access to cryptocurrencies
for regional users. She has since led the company through
rapid growth and evolving regulatory landscapes.
Under Doudin’s leadership, BitOasis has built a robust
trading and custody platform for digital assets, integrating
strong security, compliance, and user experience capabilities.
The company has been among the first in the region
to obtain key virtual asset licences and operate under
dedicated regulatory frameworks. Doudin has been a
prominent advocate for responsible crypto regulation and
blockchain innovation, regularly engaging with policymakers
and industry stakeholders. Her contributions have been
recognised through multiple regional entrepreneurship
and fintech leadership awards.
Steadfast in her commitment to fostering trust and
transparency in digital asset markets, Doudin champions
the development of robust regulatory environments that
balance innovation with consumer protection. She prioritises
education and community engagement to widen
adoption and understanding of blockchain technologies
across diverse audiences. By driving collaboration between
industry players, regulators, and entrepreneurs, she supports
the region’s emergence as a responsible, vibrant hub
for blockchain innovation and digital finance.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
Owais Mohammed
Regional Lead & Sales Director
Western Digital Gulf
Owais Mohammed is Regional Lead and Sales
Director for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey,
and Indian Subcontinent at Western Digital,
the global storage innovation leader. In this role,
he oversees customer relationships, strategic partnerships,
and market expansion across the MEAI
region, driving adoption of cutting-edge hard drive
solutions that power hyperscalers, enterprises, and
cloud infrastructure.
Mohammed’s tech journey began as Sales Manager
at ACI ASIACOM in Dubai, where he managed full-cycle
sales operations and profit-and-loss responsibility for
leading storage brands across the Middle East and
Africa. He progressed to Business Unit Manager at
FDC ITNL FZE for data storage before joining Western
Digital, where he has led regional growth and established
the company as a trusted technology advisor
across government and enterprise sectors.
Under Mohammed’s leadership, Western Digital has
achieved significant market milestones in the region.
He led the regional introduction of the company’s
breakthrough 11-disk, 32TB UltraSMR hard drives,
powered by HelioSeal®, Triple Stage Actuator, and
OptiNAND technologies. He has secured major hard
drive supply partnerships with government sectors in
the Middle East, including an oil and gas company, and
established Western Digital as a consistent storage
platform supplier to a major cloud service provider
across the MEA region. His portfolio encompasses
multi-million-dollar accounts and expansive partner
networks.
Mohammed’s collaborative leadership style is rooted
in driving teams, open communication, and delivering
industry impact. He has positioned Western Digital as
a legacy innovator in sustainable storage solutions,
supporting digital transformation across governments,
enterprises, and cloud providers aligned with national
smart city programmes and local cloud strategies.
His commitment to data sovereignty, security, and
scalability ensures organisations across the region
are prepared for the zettabyte era with efficient,
future-ready infrastructure.
Beyond operational excellence, Mohammed champions
ethical leadership and long-term value creation. He
remains committed to designing solutions that address
regional needs in managing growing data demands
with enhanced efficiency and future readiness.
December 2025 / 53

Patrick Johansson
President - MEA
Ericsson
Patrick Johansson is a seasoned global technology
leader serving as President and Head of Market Area
Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ericsson. With more
than 27 years of international experience, he oversees one
of the company’s most diverse and strategically significant
regions, driving growth, innovation, and advanced connectivity
solutions for telecom operators and enterprises.
Since assuming leadership of the EMEA market area in
2024, Patrick has focused on accelerating the adoption
of next-generation network technologies, strengthening
customer partnerships, and unlocking new business opportunities
across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
His emphasis on digital transformation, operational excellence,
and scalable service delivery continues to reinforce
Ericsson’s industry leadership in mobile networks, cloud
software, and digital services.
Patrick’s track record at Ericsson spans multiple continents
and critical business domains. He previously served
as Vice President & Head of Business Control and Operations
for Ericsson’s Cloud Software & Services business,
where he played a pivotal role in scaling cloud offerings,
enhancing automation, and establishing strong commercial
governance. His earlier roles include Global Head of Sales
& Commercial Management for Business Area Networks,
Head of Customer Unit Korea, and executive leadership
positions across finance, sales, and operations. Having
lived and worked in Sweden, Korea, India, Austria, China,
and Vietnam, Patrick brings a deeply global perspective to
Ericsson’s business operations.
Rajat Sakhuja
Director - Blockchain and Digital Assets
Mastercard
Rajat Sakhuja is one of the region’s leading voices
at the intersection of payments, blockchain, and
digital asset innovation. As Director of Blockchain
and Digital Assets at Mastercard, he plays a central role in
shaping the company’s Web3 strategy—bridging emerging
decentralized technologies with the scale, security, and
regulatory trust that define Mastercard’s global payments
network. In his role, Sakhuja leads initiatives that explore
how tokenization, digital currencies, and blockchain-based
infrastructures can unlock new opportunities for financial
institutions, fintechs, merchants, and consumers. His work
focuses on building the foundational capabilities needed
for the next evolution of digital commerce—where secure
digital assets, programmable payments, and interoperable
networks coexist seamlessly within the broader financial
system. Sakhuja is recognised for his deep expertise in
payments and technology, bringing clarity to a space often
defined by complexity. He helps organisations navigate
everything from central bank digital currency (CBDC)
pilots to tokenized value flows, ensuring that innovation
is delivered with compliance, stability, and long-term scalability.
His work also includes driving partnerships across
the Web3 ecosystem and supporting Mastercard’s global
commitment to responsible innovation. A strong advocate
for practical, real-world use cases, he champions solutions
that enhance financial inclusion, improve transparency,
and strengthen cross-border payment efficiency. Under
his guidance, Mastercard continues to position itself as a
trusted leader shaping the future of digital assets.
54 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
René Koneberg
Managing Director
Audi Middle East
René Koneberg serves as Managing Director of Audi
Middle East, bringing extensive international automotive
leadership expertise. With career beginning
at Audi in 2000, Koneberg has held numerous senior positions
spanning European markets, Asia and global markets.
His prior role as Senior Regional Director overseeing 16
European markets encompassed comprehensive market
development and performance management. Earlier, he
served as Group Managing Director for Audi Volkswagen
Korea and Managing Director for Audi Hongkong and Macau.
Koneberg’s career reflects progressive advancement
through increasingly complex regional responsibilities and
strategic leadership positions. His experience encompasses
brand operations, sales direction and comprehensive market
development across diverse geographies. Beginning
his Middle East tenure in 2004 as Head of Corporate and
VIP Sales, Koneberg developed extensive regional market
knowledge supporting his current appointment.
In his current role, Koneberg drives innovation, sustainability
and excellence across the premium automotive
landscape. His mandate encompasses strategic business
development, product expansion aligned with electrification
priorities and customer experience excellence. Koneberg’s
global experience combined with deep regional market
understanding position him uniquely to advance Audi’s
Middle Eastern strategy. Through focusing on electrification,
customer-centric experiences and operational excellence,
Koneberg positions Audi Middle East as innovation leader
advancing sustainable premium mobility solutions.
Richard Leopold
Regional Director - EMEA
Bentley Motors
Richard Leopold serves as Regional Director for Europe,
UK and Middle East and Africa at Bentley Motors,
leading operational and strategic development across
multiple markets. His current role encompasses managing
development and performance of UK, European, Middle
Eastern, Indian and African markets for the prestigious
luxury automotive manufacturer. Leopold assumed Regional
Director position in January 2025, building upon
prior roles as Regional Director UK and MEAI and Sales
and Network Director.
Leopold’s career trajectory reflects progressive advancement
through increasingly complex international
responsibilities. Prior roles included Director of Sales
Planning and Operations managing global sales planning
and operations, establishing long-term market forecasting
and short-term sales steering capabilities. His experience
encompasses sales planning, network development and
pre-owned vehicle management across global markets.
Leopold’s strategic focus emphasises steering retailers
across 41 retailers in 13 markets toward achieving full potential
whilst delivering extraordinary customer journeys
characteristic of Bentley’s luxury positioning. His mandate
encompasses sales planning excellence, network development
and customer experience optimisation. Through
combining strategic planning capability, sales leadership
expertise and market development experience, Leopold
positions Bentley Motors as premier luxury automotive
provider advancing operational performance and customer
satisfaction across diverse international markets.
December 2025 / 55

Ronaldo Mouchawar
Vice President - MENA
Amazon
Ronaldo Mouchawar is Vice President of Amazon Middle
East and North Africa. He co-founded Souq.com, which
grew into the region’s largest e-commerce platform
before its acquisition by Amazon. His entrepreneurial work
established critical digital commerce infrastructure, including
payment solutions, logistics capabilities, and marketplace
ecosystems tailored to regional consumers and merchants.
At Amazon, Mouchawar has overseen the integration
and expansion of the regional marketplace, launch of localised
Amazon sites, and rollout of advanced logistics and
fulfilment technologies. He led the introduction of ultra-fast
delivery propositions and has supported the growth of
thousands of regional sellers through marketplace tools
and services. He has also championed investments in cloud
infrastructure through regional data centres, accelerating
adoption of digital services. Mouchawar’s leadership in
e-commerce has earned him multiple honours for innovation
and contribution to the digital economy in the Middle East.
Strategic in outlook and deeply committed to customer-centric
innovation, Mouchawar continues to shape how
people and businesses engage with digital commerce
across the region. He focuses on broadening access to
online retail for small and medium-sized enterprises, enhancing
seller capabilities, and enabling secure, convenient
shopping experiences. By fostering innovation in logistics,
payments, and cloud technologies, he plays a central role
in advancing the Middle East and North Africa region’s
digital infrastructure, connectivity and long-term economic
resilience in a highly dynamic environment.
Saad Toma
General Manager - MEA
IBM
Saad Toma serves as General Manager of IBM Middle
East and Africa, overseeing operations across
67 countries including the Middle East, Africa and
Turkey. Toma brings over 30 years’ IBM experience across
multiple geographies and business divisions, with proven
expertise in digital transformation, hybrid cloud solutions,
artificial intelligence and data analytics. His tenure encompasses
multiple senior leadership roles including Global
Chief Operating Officer of IBM’s largest division, Global
Technology Services.
In his current role, Toma drives IBM’s comprehensive
business growth and client satisfaction across the region,
guiding organisations through digital transformation
journeys leveraging hybrid cloud, AI and data solutions.
His mandate encompasses supporting governments and
enterprises across diverse sectors to transform operations
and drive innovation through technology adoption. Toma
previously led IBM’s Global Technology Services business in
MEA from 2011-2016, establishing foundations for regional
digital infrastructure development.
Toma’s strategic approach emphasises that technology
adoption represents not merely competitive necessity but
critical driver for regional economic development and growth.
His achievements reflect commitment to enabling client
transformation, developing high-performing teams and
partnering closely with organisations navigating evolving
technology landscapes. As GM, Toma continues positioning
IBM as trusted transformation partner, supporting regional
clients in leveraging hybrid cloud and AI ecosystem.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
Saeed Alnofeli
Vice President
in5 Dubai
Saeed Alnofeli serves as the Vice President of in5
Innovation Centres, Dubai’s integrated innovation
platform incubating and nurturing entrepreneurs and
startups. Since March 2020, Alnofeli has driven innovation
ecosystem development through mentorship programmes,
specialist facilities and transformative initiatives. With 15
years’ diverse experience spanning commercial, telecommunications,
technology and command-control systems,
he brings comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurial
development and technology innovation.
Prior to joining in5, Alnofeli was Programs Manager at
Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre, where he mentored and
graduated 100+ startups across pre-seed and seed stages.
His entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding
Jamalytic, a technology startup providing data analytics
to the billion-dollar camel racing industry. This venture
demonstrated commitment to advancing local innovation
through technology application in emerging sectors.
In his current role, Alnofeli oversees in5’s comprehensive
innovation support services spanning facility development,
mentorship programming and entrepreneur ecosystem
cultivation across Dubai Internet City, Dubai Production
City and Dubai Design District. He holds Master’s degree
in Engineering Systems and Management with technology
management specialisation from Masdar Institute. Additionally,
Alnofeli serves as Partner and Managing Director
of Amaly Legacy, co-founding Catalyst 2030 and advancing
social innovation and carbon asset management initiatives
supporting sustainable development impact.
Sergey Lihobabin
Chief Technology Officer
Yango Tech
Sergey Lihobabin serves as Chief Technology Officer at
Yango Tech, a global technology company within the
Yango Group dedicated to delivering artificial intelligence-driven
solutions for businesses and governments.
Based in Dubai, Yango Tech specialises in transforming
operations across government services, enterprises and
retail sectors through innovative software and technology
platforms. Lihobabin directs the company’s technological
strategy and innovation roadmap supporting regional
digital transformation initiatives.
Yango Tech achieved recognition as Best Tech Solution
Provider at the Entrepreneur Middle East Tech Innovation
Awards 2025, validating its commitment to locally relevant,
AI-powered solutions. Under Lihobabin’s technical
leadership, the company has developed comprehensive
e-commerce, retail operations and logistics solutions addressing
critical market needs. The platform emphasises
operational efficiency, scalability and customer experience
excellence through advanced artificial intelligence capabilities
integrated throughout the technology stack.
Lihobabin’s role encompasses overseeing technical architecture,
artificial intelligence integration and innovation
development supporting the company’s rapid expansion
across multiple markets. His strategic approach prioritises
delivering tangible business impact through practical, implementable
technology solutions. Through championing
responsible artificial intelligence deployment and maintaining
focus on customer-centric technology development,
Lihobabin positions Yango Tech as transformative force.
December 2025 / 57

Sergio Maccotta
Senior Vice President - MEA South
SAP
Sergio Maccotta serves as Senior Vice President for
SAP Middle East and Africa, South, leading the company’s
development and growth strategy across the
UAE, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Sudan,
Palestine and Yemen. With over 30 years’ SAP experience
spanning Europe, EMEA and emerging markets, Maccotta
brings comprehensive expertise in enterprise software
solutions, digital transformation and regional business
development.
In his current capacity, Maccotta oversees sales, services,
marketing and operational excellence across the region.
His mandate encompasses developing localised product
portfolios addressing regional infrastructure and business
challenges whilst cultivating high-performing regional
teams. Beginning his SAP career in sales engineering,
Maccotta progressed through multiple senior roles including
Managing Director for MENA, where he established SAP’s
regional presence from inception, and VP EMEA Partner
Ecosystem overseeing channel development and partner
managed cloud strategies.
Maccotta has spearheaded transformative initiatives
partnering with organisations including Museum of the
Future to launch installations showcasing sustainable solutions.
His oversight of SAP Public Cloud Offering and SAP
Business AI development with Moro Hub, a Digital DEWA
subsidiary, exemplifies commitment to advancing regional
technology infrastructure in alignment with UAE’s Net Zero
2050 strategy. He is involved in supporting regional digital
transformation and sustainable infrastructure.
Shant Oknayan
VP, Global Business
TikTok, ByteDance
Shant Oknayan is Vice President, Global Business
Solutions at ByteDance and TikTok, overseeing
commercial strategy, partnerships, and operations
across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and parts
of Eastern Europe. He is responsible for driving growth
across a substantial advertising and commerce portfolio,
supporting brands and creators on one of the world’s most
influential digital platforms.​
With more than two decades of experience in digital
and investment strategy, Oknayan has led teams across
multiple offices, building scalable go-to-market structures
and data-led solutions for advertisers. His work focuses
on helping enterprises and emerging businesses use
TikTok’s tools and analytics to reach audiences, measure
performance, and innovate in content-driven commerce.​
Oknayan plays a central role in shaping how ByteDance
partners with governments and regulators on responsible
platform growth, advertising integrity, and ecosystem
development. Under his leadership, the company has
expanded its footprint in key growth markets, enabling
local and global brands to leverage short-form video and
AI-powered recommendations to engage consumers at scale.
He champions advanced ad tech integrations like performance
maximiser algorithms and creator monetisation
tools, while advancing e-commerce live-streaming capabilities
that have boosted regional revenue streams by over
40%. Oknayan also drives cross-platform synergies with
ByteDance properties, fostering localised content strategies
and real-time analytics dashboards.
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Shehab Gargash
Managing Director & Group CEO
Gargash Group
Shehab Mohammed Gargash serves as Group Chief
Executive Officer and Managing Director of Gargash
Group, a leading Dubai business family enterprise.
Born 1966, Gargash holds MBA and Bachelor of Business
Administration degrees from George Washington University.
In 2016, he oversaw completing a nine-year family
business consolidation project, creating strategic launch
platform for the enterprise’s second-century expansion.
Gargash Group operates across multiple sectors including
automotive, investment management, real estate development
and financial services. The group was founded in
1998 when Shehab established Daman Investments as
non-banking financial services company. Currently serving
as Founding Chairman of Daman Investments, he previously
held successful 12-year banking career including senior
positions at Citibank and Emirates Bank International.
Under Gargash’s strategic leadership, Daman Investments
evolved into comprehensive financial services provider.
His current responsibilities encompass Group CEO position
overseeing diversified portfolio of companies whilst
maintaining engagement with multiple board positions
across Daman entities, Deem Finance, Burj Bank and others.
Gargash demonstrates commitment to customer centricity,
innovation and ecosystem development principles shaping
the group’s market positioning. Through strategic vision,
operational leadership and diverse sector expertise, Gargash
positions the group as prominent regional business
institution contributing meaningfully to Gulf economic
development.
Taha Khalifa
General Manager - MEA
Intel
Taha Khalifa serves as General Manager for the Middle
East and Africa at Intel, overseeing sales, strategic
partnerships, and regional technology initiatives across
a dynamic territory spanning key markets. With nearly 30
years at Intel since joining in 1995, he has progressed through
diverse leadership roles, demonstrating deep expertise in
driving technology adoption, government collaborations,
and enterprise digital transformation throughout the region.
In his current capacity, Khalifa manages Intel’s operations
across multiple offices, focusing on aligning advanced semiconductor
solutions, AI accelerators, and edge computing
platforms with MEA priorities in smart infrastructure, data
centres, and digital economies. His leadership builds on
prior achievements as Regional Sales Director for EMEA
and Regional General Manager for MENA, where he managed
six offices in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi
Arabia, and the UAE, fostering close ties with governments,
NGOs, and industry leaders.
Under Khalifa’s direction, Intel established an innovation
centre in the UAE in 2020, providing critical infrastructure
for regional tech adoption. He spearheaded Project Mustakbal,
Intel’s Digital Transformation Acceleration initiative,
alongside memoranda of understanding with Abu Dhabi
Digital Authority and agreements with Sharjah Research
Technology and Innovation Park to advance IoT and AI
capabilities. Khalifa’s career exemplifies bridging global
technology innovation with regional development needs.
Through strategic partnerships, and market expansion, he
has solidified Intel’s position in MEA digital transformation.
December 2025 / 59

Talal Debs
Co-Founder & CEO
Syncrow
Talal Debs serves as Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Syncrow, an end-to-end Internet of Things
solutions provider offering comprehensive automation
services across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Established
in 2021, Syncrow specialises in office automation, home
automation, smart buildings, energy management and
advanced IoT infrastructure solutions. Debs, who holds a
Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering with specialisation
in renewable energy, brings analytical expertise and strategic
vision to the company’s expansion across the region.
Syncrow’s core mandate addresses a critical market gap
that 92 per cent of commercial, residential and public units
lack automation infrastructure. Under Debs’ leadership, the
company has developed customisable, cost-effective IoT
solutions that adapt to diverse site requirements whilst
maintaining implementation efficiency. The company has
rapidly grown since inception, delivering key projects for
leading brands and establishing operations across UAE and
Saudi Arabia, expanding regional footprint significantly.
Debs’ background in manufacturing and data collection
expertise informs Syncrow’s technology-driven approach
to building automation.
Debs leads the company’s business development, marketing
and data analysis functions, driving strategic expansion
and growth initiatives. His problem-solving orientation and
ability to identify market opportunities have positioned
Syncrow as innovative IoT solutions provider. Through
combining technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision,
Debs is establishing Syncrow as regional leader.
Tarek Soubra
Chief Technology Officer
Al Maryah Community Bank
Tarek Soubra is Chief Technology Officer at Al Maryah
Community Bank (MBank), a digital-first community
bank operating in the UAE. With 22 years of experience
in banking information technology, core banking
systems, and digital transformation, Soubra oversees the
bank’s technology strategy, digital platforms, network
infrastructure, cloud deployments, cybersecurity, and
banking operations systems.​
Soubra brings deep expertise in core banking systems,
particularly TEMENOS T24, and has led multi-cultural technology
teams through complex digital transformations. He
has successfully implemented banking systems for major
regional institutions including Finance House PJSC, First Gulf
Bank, and multiple international banking entities across
Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. His specialisations span
IT strategy, budget management, project management,
and vendor relationships.​
Prior to joining Al Maryah Community Bank, Soubra
served as Head of Strategic Planning at Al Masraf, where
he defined the bank’s three-year business and digital
transformation strategies, and as Group Chief Information
Officer at Finance House Group, establishing IT infrastructure
and operations for the entire group. He has also founded
Prime CTS, leveraging his 23 years of industry experience
to set new standards in IT services for financial institutions.​
At Al Maryah Community Bank, Soubra’s vision for beyond
2025 emphasises personalised customer experiences
through AI and advanced analytics while maintaining the
highest cybersecurity and data protection standards.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
Tareq Muhmood
Regional President - CEMEA
Visa
Tareq Muhmood serves as Regional President for Visa
across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East,
and Africa, covering more than eighty markets. With
three decades of senior roles in banking and payments
across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he brings deep
expertise in retail banking, corporate banking, and digital
payments.
In his Visa leadership roles, Muhmood has advanced contactless
payments, e-commerce security, and value-added
services such as tokenisation and risk solutions. He has
overseen initiatives that expand merchant acceptance,
support fintech collaborators, and promote financial inclusion
through digital wallets and low-friction payment
experiences. His current remit includes growing Visa’s
services business and deepening ecosystem partnerships
to accelerate cashless economies. Industry observers credit
him with playing a pivotal part in several markets’ transition
from cash-heavy systems to modern digital payment
infrastructures.
Strategic in outlook and highly collaborative, Muhmood
champions innovation that balances security, convenience,
and inclusion, ensuring that digital payments work for
consumers, businesses, and governments alike. He places
strong emphasis on nurturing local talent, supporting regulatory
dialogue, and encouraging responsible innovation
so that the benefits of digital commerce are broadly shared
across societies at different stages of development, leading
fintech payment innovation in multiple markets across the
Middle East, Europe and Asia.
Tariq Bin Hendi
CEO & Board Member
Astra Tech
Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi serves as Chief Executive Officer
and Board Member of Astra Tech, parent company
of Botim. With a distinguished career spanning
investment management, government leadership and
private equity, Bin Hendi brings comprehensive expertise
in strategic direction, digital innovation and business
development. Previously, he served as Senior Partner at
Global Ventures, one of the region’s largest venture capital
platforms, and as Group Chief Investment Officer at G42
overseeing technology investments.
Bin Hendi’s career encompasses senior leadership roles
including Director General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office,
where he expanded private sector activity in the emirate,
and executive positions at Emirates NBD, Mubadala and
other prominent financial institutions. His doctoral education
from Imperial College London combined with graduate
degrees from Columbia University and London Business
School provide rigorous academic foundation complementing
extensive industry experience.
As CEO of Astra Tech, Bin Hendi directs the organisation’s
strategic initiatives and board governance, overseeing
Botim’s operational and growth priorities. He serves on
multiple boards including UAE University, Edelman Middle
East as Chairman, and 7X (formerly Emirates Post Group).
Through diverse portfolio management experience and deep
understanding of emerging technologies, capital allocation
and organisational development, Bin Hendi positions Astra
Tech and Botim as innovative leaders within their respective
sectors whilst maintaining commitment to value creation.
December 2025 / 61

Thomas Pramotedham
Chief Executive Officer
Presight
Thomas Pramotedham is Chief Executive Officer
of Presight, a UAE-based artificial intelligence
and big data analytics company specialising
in public-sector and enterprise solutions. With more
than two decades of leadership experience in the
technology sector, he has established Presight as a
regional leader in applied AI for smart cities, public
safety, energy management, and sustainability initiatives
across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia.​
Under Pramotedham’s stewardship, Presight has
developed and deployed a comprehensive suite of
AI-powered platforms designed to help governments
and enterprises harness complex data for strategic
decision-making. These solutions span crisis management
and emergency response systems, energy
optimisation tools, urban operations platforms,
and healthcare analytics, supporting national-scale
digital transformation programmes. The company’s
technology stack encompasses advanced machine
learning models, real-time data processing capabilities,
and intuitive dashboards tailored to sector-specific
workflows, enabling clients to improve operational
efficiency, enhance public safety outcomes, and advance
sustainability goals.​
Pramotedham’s leadership philosophy prioritises
responsible AI development, emphasising transparency,
ethical governance, and interoperability with existing
infrastructure. He has championed close collaboration
between Presight and government bodies, regulators,
and large enterprises to ensure solutions are practical,
scalable, and aligned with national priorities. His investment
in cloud-native architecture, domain-specific
AI applications, and talent development has expanded
Presight’s capabilities and international presence.​
Through his strategic vision and commitment to
innovation excellence, Pramotedham has positioned
Presight as a critical contributor to the UAE’s emergence
as a global AI hub and exporter of advanced
technology solutions. He has been fostering partnerships
that combine cutting-edge technology with
responsible governance and public trust. His investment
in cloud-native architecture, domain-specific AI
applications, and talent development has expanded
Presight’s capabilities and international presence.
Pramotedham actively engages in regional tech forums,
mentoring emerging AI leaders and advocating
public-private partnerships that accelerate innovation.
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Toon Gyssels
Chief Executive Officer
Talabat
Toon Gyssels serves as Chief Executive Officer of Talabat,
the leading on-demand delivery platform in the Middle
East, transforming everyday convenience through
food, grocery, and retail services across eight countries.
With extensive experience in tech and logistics, Gyssels
drives Talabat’s growth within Delivery Hero, focusing on
operational excellence, customer-centric innovation, and
regional expansion in a competitive market.
Gyssels joined Talabat after senior roles at Delivery Hero,
including leadership in Europe and Asia, where he scaled
operations and optimised supply chains. At Talabat, he has
accelerated platform enhancements like hyperlocal delivery
networks, AI-powered routing for faster service, and
diversified offerings including Talabat Mart for groceries
and pharmacy delivery. His tenure coincides with significant
milestones, such as expanding to over 5,000 cities,
partnering with major retailers, and achieving profitability
amid UAE’s digital economy boom.
Under Gyssels’ strategic vision, Talabat prioritises sustainability
through electric vehicle fleets and eco-packaging
initiatives, aligning with UAE net-zero goals. He fosters
a data-driven culture, leveraging advanced analytics for
personalised user experiences and merchant empowerment.
Key achievements include boosting rider welfare
programmes, launching contactless payments, and navigating
post-pandemic recovery to deliver 100 million+ orders
annually.Gyssels’ collaborative leadership emphasises
agility, talent development, and cross-border synergies,
positioning Talabat as a tech ecosystem enabler.
Vinay Kumar
Chief Technology Officer
Landmark Group
Vinay Kumar is Chief Technology Officer at Landmark
Group, one of the Middle East’s largest retail and
hospitality conglomerates. He leads the group’s
technology strategy, overseeing digital platforms, data, and
core systems that support multi-brand retail, e-commerce,
and omnichannel customer experiences across the region.​
Kumar brings extensive experience from senior technology
roles at major global retailers and technology-led
organisations, including Tesco, House of Fraser, Sky, and
Dell. He has led large engineering and programme teams,
driving e-commerce delivery, platform modernisation, and
scalable architecture for high-volume, consumer-facing
businesses.​
At Landmark Group, Kumar focuses on cloud-native
infrastructure, data analytics, and unified commerce
capabilities that connect online and offline journeys. By
championing agile delivery, robust engineering standards,
and customer-centric innovation, he is helping transform
Landmark into a technology-led retailer capable of personalising
engagement, optimising operations, and accelerating
digital growth across its portfolio.​ His initiatives include
AI-powered personalisation engines, real-time inventory
optimisation, and seamless mobile commerce integrations
that enhance customer loyalty and operational efficiency.
Kumar also drives cybersecurity enhancements and data
governance frameworks to support the group’s expansion
into new markets while maintaining robust performance
with high efficiency under peak demand, regionally and
internationally.
December 2025 / 63

Walid Sheta
Zone President - MEA
Schneider Electric
Walid Sheta is Zone President for Schneider Electric
in the Middle East and Africa, leading operations
across a broad portfolio of energy management
and automation solutions. Since joining Schneider Electric
in the 1990s, he has held numerous leadership roles across
sales, operations, and strategic development in Europe,
Africa, and the Middle East.
Sheta focuses on leveraging digital platforms, internet
of things technologies, and advanced analytics to improve
energy efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of buildings,
industries, and infrastructure. Under his leadership,
Schneider Electric has delivered large-scale smart building,
grid modernisation, and data centre projects across the
region, using platforms such as EcoStruxure to enable
real-time monitoring and optimisation. He also promotes
partnerships that combine engineering, software, and
digital twin capabilities to accelerate sustainable urban
development. His leadership in sustainable infrastructure
and innovation has been acknowledged by regional and
international industry bodies.
Deeply committed to advancing decarbonisation and
digital transformation, Walid Sheta continues to steer
Schneider Electric’s regional agenda towards more resilient,
efficient, and sustainable energy systems, empowering
customers to deploy innovative, data-driven solutions
that minimise environmental impact while enhancing
operational performance and long-term competitiveness
across vital technology, energy management, automation
and digitalization sectors.
Ziad Melhem
Chief Executive Officer
CFI Financial Group
Ziad Melhem is Chief Executive Officer of CFI Financial
Group, a leading global online trading broker
with a stronghold in the Middle East and operations
across key markets including London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
and beyond. Appointed in June 2025, he oversees day-today
operations, driving accelerated growth, client value
expansion, and technological innovation for the firm’s
multi-asset trading platforms offering forex, CFDs, equities,
commodities, and more.​
Melhem joined CFI in 2024 as Group Chief Marketing
Officer after serving as a Board Advisor since 2022, where
he elevated the brand’s global presence and market penetration.
His leadership has coincided with remarkable
performance, including a 92% surge in active traders and
quarterly trading volumes reaching $1.28 trillion in Q1
2025, a 129% year-on-year increase. He has spearheaded
expansions such as prime brokerage services, new offices
in Baku and South Africa, and platform upgrades featuring
AI-driven tools, zero-pip spreads, and ultra-fast execution.​
Prior to CFI, Melhem built extensive expertise at regional
brokers including eight years at Amana Capital as Chief
Marketing Officer and Chief Business Development Officer.
He co-founded Mafhoom Technologies, delivering Arabic-language
personal finance management solutions, and
began his career at AM Financials. As CEO, he champions
transparent, innovative trading experiences, global market
entry, and enhanced multi-asset access to position CFI as
the premier hub for traders not just in the the UK, but in
the Middle East and beyond.
64 \ December 2025

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Abdulla Alsuwaidi
Director of Cybersecurity
Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC)
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Abdulla Alsuwaidi stands as a visionary cybersecurity
leader transforming Dubai’s digital
security landscape through strategic innovation
and technological advancement at the Dubai Electronic
Security Center (DESC). As Director of Cybersecurity
Planning and Performance, he leads comprehensive
initiatives that position Dubai as the safest city in
cyberspace whilst ensuring robust protection of
governmental information systems and critical infrastructure
across the emirate.​
Educationally qualified with an MBA, Alsuwaidi brings
extensive expertise in cybersecurity governance, strategic
planning, and organisational leadership. His career
trajectory demonstrates progressive responsibility in
information security and digital protection. Throughout
his tenure at DESC, he has been instrumental in driving
transformational change through cutting-edge technological
implementation and strategic foresight. His
leadership encompasses developing comprehensive
cybersecurity frameworks aligned with international
standards, including ISO and Cloud Security Alliance
guidelines, making Dubai’s digital ecosystem more
accessible to global businesses.​
Alsuwaidi’s most significant achievements reflect
proactive governance and forward-thinking strategy.
In late 2024, he introduced Dubai’s groundbreaking
AI Security Policy, recognising the dual nature of
artificial intelligence in cybersecurity addressing
both emerging threats and innovative defensive
capabilities. Following this, he released quantum
security guidelines, positioning Dubai ahead of the
curve in preparing for post-quantum cryptography
challenges. His strategy updates, notably the 2023
comprehensive strategy revision, focus on sustained
excellence over five-year planning horizons. Under
his direction, DESC has implemented layered security
initiatives addressing emerging technologies including
artificial intelligence and quantum computing, establishing
robust protocols that balance innovation with
stringent protection standards.​
Beyond policy development, Alsuwaidi has championed
a framework emphasising international alignment
rather than reinvention, ensuring Dubai’s cybersecurity
ecosystem remains globally competitive whilst
maintaining local relevance. His approach integrates
national cybersecurity priorities with technological
evolution.
66 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
H.E. Abdulla Humaid Saif Al Jarwan
Chairman
Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE)
H.E. Dr. Abdulla Humaid Saif Al Jarwan stands as
a transformative energy sector leader reshaping
Abu Dhabi’s transition towards sustainability,
innovation, and clean energy leadership through
strategic vision and institutional excellence. Appointed
Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy
(DoE) and as a distinguished member of the Abu Dhabi
Executive Council, he plays a pivotal role in shaping
the emirate’s energy future whilst championing global
sustainability and net-zero ambitions.​
Al Jarwan holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business
Administration (specialisation in Mergers and Acquisitions)
from UAE University, a Master’s degree in
Petroleum Engineering from Khalifa University, and
a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, complemented
by senior executive leadership education
from the London School of Economics.​
His career trajectory reflects extensive responsibility
in energy sector transformation and strategic leadership.
Before assuming his DoE role, Al Jarwan served as
Director of the Executive Office at Abu Dhabi National
Oil Company (ADNOC), where he provided strategic
counsel to the ADNOC Group Chief Executive Officer
and Executive Leadership Team, advancing critical
organisational initiatives and global standing. He additionally
served on the Board of Directors for ADNOC
Drilling and ADNOC Logistics and Services, driving
growth strategies and maximum value generation.​
Al Jarwan’s transformational achievements centre
on energy security, sustainability transition, and
institutional coordination. Under his DoE leadership,
Abu Dhabi achieved 45 percent renewable energy
integration in the energy mix, establishing the emirate
as a global clean energy leader. He spearheaded the
Abu Dhabi Energy and Water Strategy 2050, unifying
government and private sector stakeholders ADNOC,
TAQA, Masdar, EWEC, Tabreed, FANR, and others to
develop integrated sustainable solutions ensuring
supply security and affordable energy.​
Most significantly, Al Jarwan championed innovation
as a cornerstone of energy transformation. He led
implementation of the Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management
and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030,
targeting 22 percent energy savings and 32 percent
water conservation equivalent to AED 8 billion whilst
avoiding 9 megatonnes of CO2 emissions annually,
exemplifying his commitment to sustainable resilience.​
December 2025 / 67

Ahmed Ali Alshamsi
Chief Executive Officer
TAQA Water Solutions
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Eng. Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi stands as a visionary
water sustainability and infrastructure leader
transforming global water security through
pioneering innovation, circular economy solutions,
and transformational mega-projects at TAQA Water
Solutions. Appointed Chief Executive Officer in June
2023 (previously as CEO of Abu Dhabi Sewerage
Services Company ADSSC from July 2021), he guides
TAQA Water Solutions’ evolution from conventional
waste-disposal practices into a world leader in sustainable
water solutions, recycled water utilisation,
and water resilience across three continents.​
Al Shamsi holds a Master’s degree in Quality
Management from the University of Wollongong,
a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from
the University of Tulsa, and a Leadership Excellence
certificate from the International Institute for
Management Development (IMD). His career spans
over 20 years in petrochemical, energy, and water
infrastructure sectors. He previously served as Acting
Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC Distribution and
held influential roles at Borouge, where he gained
expertise in large-scale infrastructure management
and operational excellence across complex global
operations. He additionally serves as Chairman of
Universal Professional Projects (UPP), an Executive
Committee Member of the World Utilities Congress,
and holds board positions at Al Etihad Biwater and
Al Wathba Veolia waste-water treatment companies.​
Al Shamsi’s transformational achievements centre
on advancing water circularity and sustainability
across the MENA region and internationally. Under
his leadership, TAQA Water Solutions achieved an 80
percent utilisation rate of recycled water across Abu
Dhabi and reduced potable water consumption by
37 percent since 2021, establishing benchmarks for
circular water economy implementation. The company
won the Gold Award for Best ESG Compliance at the
2025 IDRA Awards, recognising excellence across
environmental, social, and governance dimensions.​
Most significantly, he spearheaded TAQA Water
Solutions’ strategic international expansion. In March
2025, he signed a Memorandum of Agreement with
New Tashkent City Directorate for a USD 450 million
mega-project developing a 65-kilometre raw water
transmission pipeline and advanced treatment plant
serving approximately 2 million people in Uzbekistan.
68 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
H.E. Amal Abdulrahim
Chief AI Officer
Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
H.E. Eng. Amal Abdulrahim is Chief AI Officer and
Chief Innovation Officer at the UAE Ministry
of Climate Change and Environment, serving
simultaneously as Assistant Undersecretary for the
Support Services Sector. She leads the ministry’s artificial
intelligence strategy, innovation agenda, and digital
transformation initiatives focused on climate action,
environmental conservation, biodiversity protection,
marine sustainability, agriculture, and food security.​
Abdulrahim is actively engaged in elevating the
UAE’s position as a global AI leader. In September
2025, she participated in a delegation of 50 chief AI
officers representing UAE government entities on a
landmark visit to Silicon Valley and Seattle, gaining
exposure to frontier technologies from leading global
companies including Google, Meta, OpenAI, Palantir,
Nvidia, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft. During this visit,
she explored advanced AI solutions for climate modelling,
early-warning systems, biodiversity monitoring,
and satellite imaging, technologies directly applicable
to her ministry’s mandate.​
Abdulrahim plays a pivotal role in advancing
meaningful public-private partnerships between UAE
government and international technology leaders.
She has been instrumental in identifying pilot project
opportunities, capacity-building initiatives, and
memorandums of understanding that extend beyond
climate change to support colleagues across multiple
government sectors. Her work recognises that emerging
AI technologies require careful testing and contextual
adaptation to deliver meaningful impact in the UAE’s
unique environmental and economic landscape.​
Recognising the UAE’s diverse population, rapidly
growing economy, and complex environmental challenges,
Abdulrahim positions the nation as an ideal
testing ground and innovation hub for responsible
AI deployment. She champions the philosophy that
government’s role is to identify challenges, provide
high-quality datasets, and collaborate with technology
partners on pilot initiatives that accelerate progress
toward sustainable, technology-driven development.
Under her leadership, the ministry is leveraging AI to
solve critical environmental and sustainability challenges
whilst strengthening the UAE’s broader Vision
2031 digital economy goals. Her work supports the
UAE’s ambition to become a global centre for climate
technology and AI-driven sustainability solutions.
December 2025 / 69

H.E. Arif Amiri
Chief Executive Officer
Dubai International Financial Centre Authority
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
H.E.Arif Amiri is the Chief Executive Officer of DIFC
Authority where he is responsible for setting the
strategy and growth direction of the Authority.
Under his leadership, DIFC has emerged as a powerful
catalyst for the financial services sector, as well as the
leading global financial centre in the MEASA region.
Amiri’s vision for DIFC builds on UAE’s commitment
to innovation and economic diversification. Since taking
office as the Chief Executive, he has been delivering on
this vision by spearheading DIFC’s drive to advance the
innovation agenda, accelerate digital transformation,
and stimulate adoption of ESG principles across the
entire financial services ecosystem. He focuses on
ensuring DIFC remains at the forefront of delivering
new opportunities for economic growth. Due to his
efforts, DIFC is now also recognised as the leading
future-of-finance hub in the MEASA region.
Amiri oversees the alignment of the Centre’s role as
a major component of Dubai’s Future District, which
will support the UAE’s strategic direction for the next
50 years, and further enhance DIFC’s position as a
global financial centre, accelerate the advancement
of the economy and develop the next generation of
financial talent.
Prior to joining DIFC Authority, Amiri held senior
positions at Emaar as Chief Executive Officer Emaar
Retail, Chief Commercial Officer Emaar Properties, and
Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Governance.
At HSBC Bank Middle East, he held Senior Positions
within corporate and institutional banking division.
Amiri is a member of Dubai’s Higher Committee for
Future Technology and Digital Economy, board member
of the Dubai Media Council, and a board member
of the UAE Securities & Commodities Authority. He
is the Chairman of the Board of Art Dubai supporting
the leadership’s vision to establish Dubai as the hub
for the creative economy and a member of the Institute
of International Finance (IIF) Emerging Markets
Advisory Council (EMAC). Until 2023, he was a Board
Member of the World Alliance of International Financial
Centers (WAIFC), an association registered in Belgium
representing 19 leading international financial centres
across four continents.
Named as one of the top 100 CEOs in the Middle
East, Amiri has been recognised for how he is shaping
the finance industry and the growing contribution it
makes to Dubai’s economy.
70 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Ayesha Binlootah
Assistant Vice President
Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
Dr. Ayesha Binlootah stands as a transformational
regulatory leader shaping Dubai’s emergence as
the world’s premier virtual assets hub through
visionary governance, technology-driven supervision,
and balanced regulatory innovation at the Virtual
Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). As Assistant
Vice President, she spearheads licensing, supervision,
and assurance initiatives that position Dubai at the
forefront of responsible digital finance whilst fostering
an ecosystem where innovation and compliance
coexist as competitive advantages.
Educationally distinguished with a Doctorate of
Business Administration in Tourism Investments from
the United Arab Emirates University, Binlootah brings
multifaceted expertise spanning over 16 years in licensing,
supervision, digital assurance, internal audit,
risk management, information security, governance,
and business continuity management. Her career trajectory
reflects progressive responsibility across the
Federal Government, Dubai Government, Department
of Economy and Tourism, and financial institutions.
Throughout her tenure at VARA since November 2022,
she has been instrumental in establishing and operationalising
the Authority’s comprehensive regulatory
framework and supervisory regime.
Binlootah’s most significant achievements demonstrate
pragmatic regulatory vision and forward-thinking
strategy aligned with Dubai’s digital transformation
agenda. Her leadership has been pivotal in establishing
VARA’s advanced regulatory architecture that has
positioned Dubai as the world’s single largest licensed
virtual assets market, with nearly AED 2.5 trillion in
regulated transaction volumes as of 2025. Her strategic
philosophy centres on “regulating activity, not innovation”,
a principle that maintains ecosystem integrity
whilst enabling responsible growth and technological
advancement. She has championed critical regulatory
initiatives including the May 2025 VARA Rulebook
updates, which strengthened anti-money laundering,
technology-driven supervision protocols, and custody
standards that elevate industry resilience.
Beyond regulatory development, Binlootah has
advanced travel rule implementation as a compliance
enabler rather than a barrier, transforming technical
requirements into growth catalysts for the virtual assets
ecosystem, seamlessly integrating VARA’s supervision
mandate with Dubai’s ambitious D33 strategy.
December 2025 / 71

Ebtesam Almazrouei
Executive Director, Office of AI & Advanced Tech
Department of Finance - Abu Dhabi
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei stands as a visionary artificial
intelligence leader and Executive Director
of the Office of AI and Advanced Technology
at Abu Dhabi’s Department of Finance, pioneering
global AI governance, ethical frameworks, and transformational
innovation. Appointed Chairperson of the
United Nations AI for Good Impact Initiative in June
2024, she steers global AI strategies addressing the
UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by
2030, commanding an annual budget target of 20
million Swiss francs.​
Almazrouei holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial
Intelligence for Wireless Communication Engineering
and Computer Science from Khalifa University, a Master’s
degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering,
and a Bachelor of Engineering from the United Arab
Emirates University. Her career spans over 15 years of
progressive responsibility in AI research, development,
and strategic innovation. She commenced as a Scientific
Researcher at the EBTIC (Etisalat BT Innovation
Centre) from 2011, where she developed advanced
telecommunications solutions including Internet of
Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, drones, wireless
localisation, intelligent systems, and 5G technologies.​
She served as Executive Director at the Technology
Innovation Institute (TII) from January 2022 to December
2023, where she founded and led development of
the Falcon Large Language Models (LLMs) pioneering
achievements positioning the UAE at the forefront of
global AI innovation.​
Almazrouei’s transformational achievements centre
on developing cutting-edge homegrown AI models.
She spearheaded Falcon 40B, the Middle East’s first
open-source LLM, followed by Falcon 180B, recognised
as the world’s most powerful open AI model upon its
2023 launch, rivalling global tech giants. She led development
of NOOR, the largest Arabic LLM in 2022,
democratising AI accessibility across Arab populations.​
Recognised among H2O.ai’s world’s top 100 AI
leaders and the Leading AI Women in the World list,
Almazrouei serves as Senior AI Consultant for the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), shaping
global AI policies. She leads the UAE Council for AI and
Blockchain’s Big Data expert subcommittee, serves
on Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Science and
Engineering Advisory Board, and chairs Abu Dhabi
AI Connect, championing sustainable AI innovation.​
72 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Hussain Sultan Lootah
Acting CEO
ENOC Group
Hussain Sultan Ahmed Lootah stands as a visionary
energy sector leader and Acting Chief Executive
Officer of ENOC Group (Emirates National Oil
Company), a leading integrated global energy player
wholly owned by the Government of Dubai. Appointed
Acting CEO in July 2025, he brings over three decades
of progressive senior-level experience in oil and gas
sector leadership, positioning ENOC to advance Dubai’s
ambitious plans for economic diversification, energy
resilience, and sustainable development.​
Lootah holds a Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration and Economics from New Hampshire
College, London (1990), complemented by professional
accounting certifications from Montana University. His
extensive career spans upstream and downstream
energy sectors, with notable tenure at major UAE
energy corporations. He previously served as Chief
Executive Officer of Soghan Energy and currently
serves as Chairman of the Board at Sultan Ahmed
Lootah Enterprises. His career trajectory includes senior
leadership roles at ADCO, Borouge, and ADMA-OPCO,
where he accumulated expertise in exploration, production,
refining, supply chain operations, and commercial
strategy across multiple energy value chains.​
Lootah succeeds Saif Humaid Al Falasi, who led
ENOC’s transformational growth for over a decade,
expanding the group across multiple continents and
diversifying its energy portfolio.​
Lootah’s strategic focus centres on driving operational
excellence, digital transformation, and sustainable
energy transition. His career achievements reflect
strong competency in finance, commercial strategy,
project management, and talent development, with
particular emphasis on advancing Emiratisation and
strengthening national talent pipelines.​
Under his leadership, ENOC operates across the complete
energy value chain across more than 60 global
markets, serving over 129 million customers annually
with 200+ service stations across the UAE. The Group’s
operations span exploration and production, refining,
fuel retail, aviation fuel supply, petroleum products
distribution, and renewable energy initiatives.​
Key strategic priorities include accelerating digital
transformation initiatives including Robotic Process
Automation (RPA), AI adoption, and the Mersal Digital
Hub; expanding renewable energy capabilities in the
Middle East region.
December 2025 / 73

Khaled Al Awadhi
Head of Transportation Technology
Roads and Transport Authority
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Khaled Al Awadhi stands as a visionary technology
leader transforming Dubai’s transportation
landscape through pioneering initiatives in
autonomous mobility, smart systems, and digital innovation
at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
As Head of Transportation Technology and Director
of Transportation Systems Department, he oversees
comprehensive technology implementation across
public transportation, driving the city’s ambitious shift
towards intelligent and sustainable urban mobility.​
Al Awadhi brings over 21 years of extensive leadership
experience in digital transformation and enterprise
IT governance across UAE government sectors. His
career trajectory reflects progressive responsibility
in technology strategy and innovation delivery. He
previously served as Director of Payments Technology
and Collection Systems (2014-2019), where he led
transformational upgrades to the “nol” fare collection
system, achieving significant revenue increases and
operational efficiencies. During 2016, he concurrently
served as Acting Director of Smart Services, overseeing
173 distinct business services across multiple digital
channels. Before joining RTA, he held senior technology
leadership positions at Dubai Municipality, where he
spearheaded e-government infrastructure upgrades
and achieved critical IT certifications including IEC
20000 and ISO 27001 compliance.​
Al Awadhi’s most transformative achievements
centre on Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy
implementation. He developed the comprehensive
self-driving strategy roadmap, the world’s first encompassing
various public transportation modes and
essential legislation targeting 25% autonomous trips
by 2030 across buses, taxis, metro systems, and marine
transport. His leadership established the “Dubai
Self-Driving Challenge and Congress,” the inaugural
global initiative addressing first and last-mile connectivity
solutions for autonomous public transport.​
Most remarkably, Al Awadhi spearheaded deployment
of Dubai’s aerial taxi service, leading collaboration with
international partners on e-VTOL technology integration
and infrastructure development for 2026 launch. He
has integrated real-time public transportation data
into Google Maps, providing delay forecasting and
dramatically improving user satisfaction and system
transparency. His strategic focus on multimodal integration
combining metro, buses, trams, e-scooters.
74 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
Latifa Alshehhi
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer
Ministry of Investment
Latifa Alshehhi stands as a visionary data-technology
leader and AI strategist reshaping the UAE’s
investment landscape and artificial intelligence
governance through over a decade of pioneering work
in data-driven policymaking and digital transformation.​
Al Alshehhi holds a Master’s degree in Business
Administration from Canadian University Dubai and a
Bachelor’s degree in Business from Zayed University
Dubai, complemented by specialised certifications
including the UAE Government Youth Leadership Programme
and the Governance of Artificial Intelligence
programme from Mohammed Bin Rashid School of
Government. Her career reflects progressive responsibility
and strategic innovation. Previously as Data
Management Manager at Dubai’s Road and Transport
Authority, she pioneered data-driven organisational
culture by embedding governance frameworks, AI
ethics policies, and next-generation technologies
supporting Dubai’s smart city vision. She served as
Head of Algorithms Development and Analysis at the
Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, driving
digital transformation of statistical operations and
developing advanced analytical capabilities.​
Alshehhi’s transformational achievements centre on
establishing international data collaboration frameworks.
She was instrumental in establishing the United Nations
Global Platform for Big Data and Data Science in the
MENA region, fostering cross-sector collaborations
advancing artificial intelligence adoption. Her pioneering
work on the UAE Open Data Portal (bayanat.ae)
and Emirates Data Network revolutionised statistical
transparency and accessibility, creating foundations
for a national open data ecosystem.​
In her current role, she leads development of comprehensive
AI and data strategies supporting the
UAE’s investment priorities, building robust intelligence
ecosystems for marketing analysis, country profiling,
and investment-driven decision-making. She ensures
compliance with international data standards whilst
fostering strategic partnerships promoting the UAE
as a global investment hub.​
Her international leadership extends as a member of
the United Nations Committee of Experts in Big Data
and Data Science, Women in AI UAE Ambassador,
and certified Data Ethics Facilitator through the Open
Data Institute. Alshehhi exemplifies how data-centric
vision combined with ethical leadership.
December 2025 / 75

H.E. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar
Director-General
TDRA
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
H.E. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar stands as a visionary
telecommunications and digital governance
leader transforming the UAE’s digital landscape
through strategic innovation and comprehensive regulatory
framework development at the Telecommunications
and Digital Government Regulatory Authority
(TDRA). Appointed Director-General in July 2021, he
has spearheaded unprecedented digital transformation
initiatives whilst executing the Chief Information Officer
(CIO) role for the nation, overseeing implementation
of critical national digitalisation projects.​
Al Mesmar holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Electrical Engineering and brings over 30 years of extensive
experience in telecommunications, regulatory
affairs, and international governance. His career reflects
progressive senior-level responsibility across diverse
telecom operators globally. He served as Senior Vice
President for Special Projects at Etisalat Group (UAE),
Chief Technical Officer at Mobily (Saudi Arabia), and
Chief Operating Officer at Etisalat DB Telecom India
Pvt Ltd. Before his appointment as Director-General,
he served as Deputy Director-General of the Telecommunications
Sector at TDRA since joining in 2010,
where he drove transformational digital initiatives.​
Beyond his primary position, Al Mesmar holds
significant responsibilities as Chairman of the Board
of Trustees of the ICT Fund-UAE since 2017, member
of the UAE Higher Committee for Government Digital
Transformation, and member of the advisory council
of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce for the Digital
Economy.​
Al Mesmar’s transformational achievements centre
on advancing digital infrastructure and regulatory
modernisation. He spearheaded completion of the
‘United IX’ initiative (October 2025), linking SmartHub
IX and UAE-IX platforms to create a national
interconnection ecosystem, the first cooperation of its
kind in the Middle East enhancing data transmission
speeds and investment attraction. He has championed
the integration of artificial intelligence in regulatory
governance, advancing responsible and inclusive AI
adoption across the telecommunications sector. His
strategic leadership established the National Digital
Government Strategy alignment with international
best practices, achieving comprehensive government
service digitalisation whilst strengthening TDRA’s expanded
mandate in digital transformation supervision.
76 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
H.E. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita
Director-General
Dubai Municipality
H.E. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita stands as a
visionary urban development and municipal
governance leader transforming Dubai’s quality
of life, sustainability, and urban resilience through
strategic infrastructure innovation and transformational
city-wide initiatives. Appointed Acting Director
General of Dubai Municipality in December 2024, he
concurrently holds the position of Director General
of the Dubai Land Department (July 2024), consolidating
leadership across critical urban planning and
infrastructure sectors guiding Dubai’s future development
trajectory.​
Bin Ghalita holds an MBA from the Advanced
Management Department of the Arabic Academy of
Sciences and Technology, Egypt, and a Bachelor’s
degree in Civil Engineering (specialisation in Survey
Engineering) from the University of Fresno, California.
His career spans over three decades in government
leadership and urban development. He commenced
at the Dubai Land Department as Survey Engineer in
1989, progressively advancing through senior technical
positions before becoming the first Emirati President of
the Land Department in 1999. He subsequently served
as Director of Technical Affairs and Customer Service,
before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of the
Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) in 2007, where
he remained until his 2024 appointment.​
Bin Ghalita is a graduate of the UAE Government
Leaders Programme, recognised for strong public
engagement capabilities and collaborative institutional
leadership.​
His transformational achievements encompass
orchestrating unprecedented municipal and infrastructure
initiatives. He launched the “C3P3 Framework”
(Connected, Collaborative, Circular, Protected, Proactive,
Present) positioning Dubai as a model future city
aligned with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, targeting
80 percent population proximity to essential services
within 20 minutes, protecting 60 percent of emirate
land for nature conservation, and providing 11 square
metres public green space per capita.​
Under his Dubai Municipality leadership, major
projects include the AED 30 billion “Tasreef” unified
rainwater drainage project (completion 2033), the
AED 80 billion Dubai Strategic Tunnels for Sewerage
Project, and the operational Warsan Waste-to-Energy
Centre generating 220 megawatts hourly.
December 2025 / 77

Marwan Alzarouni
Chief Executive Officer of AI
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Dr. Marwan Alzarouni stands as a visionary
emerging technology leader reshaping Dubai’s
artificial intelligence landscape through strategic
innovation and ecosystem development at the Dubai
Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). As Chief
Executive Officer of Artificial Intelligence since December
2024, he drives the city’s ‘Universal Blueprint for
Artificial Intelligence’ initiative, establishing DET as a
global AI hub, fostering innovation and supporting AI
venture growth across the UAE and beyond.​
Al Zarouni holds over two decades of extensive experience
in artificial intelligence, blockchain technology,
information security, digital forensics, and emerging
technologies, complemented by advanced academic
credentials. His career reflects progressive senior-level
responsibility across diverse technology sectors. He
previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the
Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC) since its inauguration
in May 2018 under the Area 2071 initiative, and as
Chief Executive Officer of OTC Supply and Owner of
MySecured Inc., establishing his reputation as a technology
entrepreneur and innovator. Al Zarouni was
a founding member of the Dubai Electronic Security
Center and the Artificial Intelligence Ethical Committee,
demonstrating early commitment to emerging
technology governance.​
In his DET role, Dr. Alzarouni expanded his leadership
portfolio to spearhead AI integration across
tourism and economic sectors, supporting Dubai’s
digital transformation ambitions.​
Al Zarouni’s transformational achievements centre
on cultivating a comprehensive AI ecosystem. Under
his stewardship, DET has hosted numerous AI startups,
conducted extensive educational programmes
addressing AI use cases across governmental and
private sectors, and established regulatory frameworks
fostering responsible adoption. He heads AI-focused
task forces, reporting to key Dubai councils, conducting
comprehensive research on AI encouragement and
regulation.​
Recognised globally as an AI authority, Dr. Al Zarouni
was named one of the top 100 influential figures in
blockchain and cryptocurrencies in 2022 and served
as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global
Future Council on Cryptocurrencies from 2020 to
2021. Recently, he received the Special Recognition
Award acknowledging his significant contributions.
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Marwan Bin Haidar
Executive Vice President – Innovation
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)
Eng. Marwan Bin Haidar stands as a visionary
technology leader transforming Dubai’s energy
and water sectors through pioneering innovation
and Fourth Industrial Revolution implementation at
the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). As
Executive Vice President of Innovation & The Future
since 2016, he has spearheaded unprecedented digital
transformation initiatives positioning DEWA as
the world’s first digital utility utilising autonomous
systems and disruptive technologies.​
Bin Haidar brings over 20 years of extensive experience
in information and communications technology,
digital transformation, innovation management, information
security, and customer service delivery. His
career reflects progressive senior-level responsibility
in technology strategy and digital implementation. He
has accumulated impressive achievements contributing
to SAP implementation since 2009, achieving
significant cost savings, smart service deployment,
and enhanced customer satisfaction. Bin Haidar additionally
serves as Vice Chairman and Group Chief
Executive Officer of Digital DEWA, the world’s first
digital utility, overseeing its three subsidiaries: Moro
Hub, InfraX, and DigitalX.​
Bin Haidar’s most transformational achievements
centre on integrating cutting-edge technologies into
utility operations. He orchestrated one of the Middle
East’s largest data migrations in 2020, transferring
over 100 terabytes of data from 101 systems to Moro
DEWA’s cloud-based integrated solutions platform
establishing new standards for smart government
transformation. His leadership established three
pioneering green data centres, one recognised by
Guinness World Records as the world’s largest solar-powered
data centre, demonstrating commitment
to sustainable infrastructure.​
He spearheaded DEWA’s groundbreaking Space-D
programme (launched January 2021), making DEWA
the world’s first utility leveraging nanosatellites for
electricity and water network optimisation. The programme
includes DEWA SAT-1 (launched 2022) and
DEWA SAT-2 (launched 2023), enabling substation
monitoring, greenhouse gas measurements, and
seawater analysis supporting Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum Solar Park.​ He represents DEWA and
Digital DEWA in over 20 international councils and
committees, establishing the organisation’s reputation.
December 2025 / 79

H.E. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti
Head of Cybersecurity
UAE Cyber Security Council
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti stands as a visionary
cybersecurity leader reshaping the UAE’s national
digital defence strategy through pioneering
initiatives and international collaboration at the UAE
Cyber Security Council. Appointed Cabinet-level Head
of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government in 2020, he
serves as Chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council
and Managing Director of the National Data Centre
under the Supreme Council for National Security,
wielding legal authority over all aspects of the nation’s
cyberspace security.​
Al-Kuwaiti holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer
Engineering and Network Security from George
Washington University, complemented by Master’s
degrees in Telecommunications & Computer Networks
and International & Civil Security. His career
reflects over 20 years of progressive responsibility
in cybersecurity and defence. He commenced his
career as a Defence, Air, and Naval Military Attaché
with the UAE Embassy in Washington, subsequently
advancing through senior strategic positions before
his Cabinet appointment.​
Beyond his primary role, Al-Kuwaiti serves as Executive
Director of the Talent Development Directorate
at the National Security Adviser’s Office and holds
significant advisory responsibilities across multiple
boards and committees.​
Al-Kuwaiti’s transformational achievements centre
on elevating the UAE’s global cybersecurity position
dramatically. Under his leadership, the UAE advanced
42 positions in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index,
rising from 47th place to rank #1 globally in 2024, and
5th place in previous assessments. He orchestrated
groundbreaking capacity-building initiatives including
achievements: most users in a cyber capture-the-flag
competition, the largest bug bounty programme, and
the largest national cyber drill exercise.​
His strategic initiatives include the award-winning
Cyber Pulse initiative providing national cyber
awareness, the UAE Information-Sharing Platform for
international cybercrime collaboration, Cyber Next 50
transformation programme, and the National Youth
Cyber Awareness Programme. Recently, he established
the Cyber Centre of Excellence partnership
with Thales, developing space cybersecurity capabilities,
evaluation laboratories, and post-quantum
cryptographic solutions.​
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H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa
Chairman
Department of Municipalities & Transport (DMT)
H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa stands as a
visionary urban planning and infrastructure
leader transforming Abu Dhabi’s municipalities,
transport systems, and sustainable development
through strategic governance and transformational
mega-projects. Appointed Chairman of the Department
of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in January 2023,
he oversees urban planning, municipal services, and
comprehensive transport initiatives across the emirate,
whilst simultaneously serving as a distinguished
member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council since 2019.​
Al Shorafa holds an MBA from London Business
School, complemented by executive education from
Harvard Business School’s Senior Executive Leadership
Programme and professional certifications from MIT’s
Sloan School of Management and Citibank Global Asset
Management. His career spans over two decades
in business leadership, having previously served as
Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic
Development (ADDED) from November 2019 to January
2023, managing director and CEO of Danat Al
Emarat Hospital, and senior financial analyst at Abu
Dhabi Investment Authority from 1993 to 2002. He
was additionally Co-Chair of the UAE-UK Business
Council’s Healthcare Group (2017–2020).​
Beyond his primary role, Al Shorafa chairs multiple
strategic entities including Abu Dhabi Housing Authority
(ADHA), Etihad Aviation Group (Etihad Airways),
and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA),
whilst serving as Vice-Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global
Market (ADGM) and board member of Etihad Rail, the
Abu Dhabi Transport Company (ADTC), and the Smart
and Autonomous Systems Council.​
Al Shorafa’s transformational achievements encompass
orchestrating the largest infrastructure
programme in Abu Dhabi’s history. In 2024 alone,
DMT completed AED 4 billion worth of key projects
within an AED 75+ billion long-term budget covering
144 projects across housing, education, transport,
tourism, and leisure sectors. His strategic initiatives
include delivering 247 kilometres of new cycling paths
(bringing the total to over 1,200 kilometres), reducing
Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street peak-hour delays by 80
percent through a double-bridge project valued at
AED 315 million, and establishing Abu Dhabi as the
MENA region’s most liveable city, whilst positioning
it as the world’s tenth smartest city.​
December 2025 / 81

Mouza Al Romaithi
Director, Information and Cybersecurity
Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ)
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Mouza Al Romaithi stands as a visionary cybersecurity
and information security leader
transforming Abu Dhabi’s digital resilience
and risk governance at Abu Dhabi Developmental
Holding Company (ADQ). As Director of Information
and Cybersecurity since May 2021, she has been
instrumental in shaping and implementing strategic
initiatives that enhance ADQ’s security posture, ensuring
the organisation remains resilient against evolving
cyber threats whilst supporting critical infrastructure
across the nation’s strategic sectors.​
Al Romaithi brings over 16 years of extensive
professional experience in information technology,
cybersecurity, and strategic security transformation
across diverse governmental and commercial entities.
Her career trajectory reflects progressive senior-level
responsibility and technical expertise. She served as
IT Security Governance and Risk Unit Head at Louvre
Abu Dhabi (2019-2021), where she managed comprehensive
security frameworks and risk mitigation
strategies. Previously, she held multiple leadership
positions at Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Center
(ADSSSA), including CISO Section Manager, Risk and
Threat Section Head, and Senior Application Security
Analyst, where she developed critical information
security policies and threat management protocols.
At Emirates Identity Authority, she served as Information
Security Manager, System Administrator, and
Information Security Auditor, contributing to national
identity infrastructure security.​
Beyond her primary role, Al Romaithi serves as
Non-Executive Director of Abu Dhabi National Energy
Company (TAQA) and Pure Health Holding, reflecting
her governance expertise and strategic influence
across critical sectors.​
Al Romaithi’s achievements centre on establishing
comprehensive cybersecurity governance frameworks
and elevating organisational resilience. She developed
ADQ’s cyber security steering committee, overseeing
cyber security related objectives, initiatives, and
metrics whilst ensuring alignment with strategic risk
management mandates. Her expertise encompasses
leading security transformation initiatives, implementing
advanced risk assessment methodologies, and
establishing security governance standards aligned
with international best practices., complemented by
specialised certifications.
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H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence
UAE Government
H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama stands as a visionary
architect of global artificial intelligence
governance, having made history in October
2017 as the world’s first Minister of State for Artificial
Intelligence at just 27 years old. Educated at American
University in Dubai and Sharjah, Al Olama expanded his
ministerial portfolio in July 2020 to encompass Digital
Economy and Remote Work Applications, positioning
him at the convergence of the UAE’s technological and
economic transformation.​
His career commenced within government in strategic
roles. Between 2012-2014, he served in corporate
planning at the Prime Minister’s Office, advancing to
Deputy Head of Minister’s Office (2015-2016) before his
historic ministerial appointment. He was instrumental
in developing the UAE’s groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence
Strategy, the first of its kind globally before his
ministerial appointment and contributed substantially
to crafting the UAE Centennial 2071 strategy and the
UAE Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy.​
In 2022, Al Olama was appointed Director General
of the Prime Minister’s Office whilst maintaining his
ministerial responsibilities, reflecting expanded governmental
influence. He also serves as Managing Director
of the World Government Summit and Chairman of
the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, amplifying
his policy influence across sectors.​
Under his strategic stewardship, the UAE has achieved
extraordinary milestones. Government entities now
demonstrate 97 percent AI utilisation across all departments,
whilst the nation ranks fifth globally in AI
competitiveness, surpassing traditional tech powers
including France, Germany, and Japan. His National
AI Strategy 2031 targets generating AED 335 billion
(approximately USD 91 billion) in additional economic
growth, positioning AI to contribute roughly 20 percent
of non-oil GDP by 2031, fundamentally reshaping the
nation’s economic foundation.​
His leadership extends internationally through
the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance
steering committee membership, ensuring the UAE’s
voice in global AI policy frameworks. Recognised in
the 100 Most Influential People in AI list in 2023, Al
Olama exemplifies how decisive policy vision combined
with institutional leadership positions emerging
economies as essential governance actors in global
artificial intelligence advancement.
December 2025 / 83

H.E. Sarah Bint Yousif Al-Amiri
Minister of State for Advanced Sciences
Cabinet of the UAE
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
H.E. Sarah Bint Yousif Al-Amiri stands as a visionary
space scientist and technology leader
reshaping the UAE’s advanced sciences sector
and establishing the nation as a global space exploration
power through pioneering missions and strategic
innovation. Appointed Minister of State for Advanced
Sciences in October 2017, she subsequently expanded
her portfolio to encompass Public Education and Advanced
Technology (2022), and most recently Public
Education (July 2024), consolidating her influence
across critical national sectors.​
Al-Amiri holds a Master’s degree in Computer
Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer
Engineering from American University of Sharjah.
Her career commenced as a Programme Engineer
on Dubai Sat-1 and Dubai Sat-2 Earth observation
satellites in 2009, establishing her reputation as a
space engineer. She advanced to Head of Research
and Development at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space
Centre (2011-2014), where she established knowledge
management systems and product assurance
protocols. In 2014, she was appointed Director of the
Aerospace Systems Programme, leading development
of the High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite, achieving the
highest altitude flight of any unmanned aircraft over
UAE airspace.​
Beyond her ministerial roles, Al-Amiri serves as
Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, Chairwoman
of the Emirates Scientists Council, Chairwoman of
the Emirates School Establishment, Chairwoman of
the Fourth Industrial Revolution Council, and Deputy
Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope).​
Al-Amiri’s most transformational achievement was
leading the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope), making the
UAE the first Arab nation and fifth globally to successfully
reach Mars orbit in February 2021, accomplished
in seven years, half the conventional mission duration
and cost. She led a team of which 80 percent were
women, launching from Japan during the Covid-19
pandemic in July 2020.​
Most recently, she launched the National Space
Academy, investing AED 3 billion through the National
Space Fund to equip Emirati youth with space sector
expertise, driving knowledge economy development.
Recognised as one of the Next 100 Most Influential
People in the World, Al-Amiri exemplifies scientific
vision combined with inclusive leadership.
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H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi
President
SPARK
H.H. Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi stands
as a visionary innovation, education, and entrepreneurship
leader transforming Sharjah’s
position as a global hub for technology, publishing, and
knowledge creation through strategic governance and
transformational institutional leadership. Appointed
President and Chairperson of the Sharjah Research,
Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) Board of
Directors in 2023, she oversees a $150 million initiative
positioning Sharjah as a leading global centre
for emerging technology fields spanning healthcare,
advanced manufacturing, mobility, and sustainability.​
Al Qasimi holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in
Archaeology and Anthropology from the University
of Cambridge and a Master of Science in Medical
Anthropology from University College London,
complemented by publishing courses from Yale and
Columbia Universities. Her career trajectory reflects
progressive responsibility across publishing, education,
investment, and innovation sectors. She founded
Kalimat Publishing Group in 2007, establishing it as
one of the region’s most respected publishing houses
with operations across more than 15 countries, and
established the Emirates Publishers Association (2009),
becoming a full International Publishers Association
(IPA) member in 2012.​
Most notably, Al Qasimi served as International Publishers
Association President (2021–2022), becoming
the first Arab woman and only the second woman
overall to hold this position since the organisation’s
founding in 1896, championing publishing sector recovery,
diversity, and the launched InSPIRe industry
dialogue platform and PublisHer professional network.​
Her transformational achievements encompass
multiple portfolios. As Chairperson of the Sharjah
Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq),
she mobilised more than $4 billion in foreign direct
investment, created 20,000 jobs, and contributed to
78 percent growth in Sharjah’s GDP. As Chairperson
of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), she accelerated
the ecosystem, supporting 150 startups that
raised $128 million and created 1,400 jobs. In January
2023, she became President of American University of
Sharjah, leading strategic enhancement of research,
regional engagement, and gender equality initiatives.​
She continues advocating for women’s empowerment
in technology, with human-centred perspectives.
December 2025 / 85

H.E. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber
Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology
UAE Government
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber stands as a visionary
energy strategist and industrial transformation
leader reshaping the UAE’s industrial
development and energy sector through pioneering
innovation and sustainable advancement. As Minister
of Industry and Advanced Technology since July
2020, he drives industrial growth through advanced
technologies, positioning the UAE as a global hub for
future industries.​
Al Jaber holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical
Engineering from the University of Southern California,
an MBA from California State University at
Los Angeles, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Business
and Economics from Coventry University. His career
commenced as an engineer at ADNOC, advancing
through progressive leadership positions. He served
as founding Chief Executive Officer of Masdar from
2006, spearheading its growth into a global clean
energy leader and securing Abu Dhabi as IRENA headquarters.
From 2013 to 2020, he served as Minister
of State, whilst chairing Abu Dhabi Ports Company
(2009-2019).​
Since February 2016, Al Jaber has served as Managing
Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of
ADNOC, overseeing one of the world’s largest energy
producers. Beyond his ministerial role, he serves as
Chairman of Masdar, Chairman of Emirates Development
Bank, Executive Chairman of XRG (ADNOC’s
international energy investment company), and
Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of
Artificial Intelligence Board.​
Al Jaber’s transformational achievements centre on
digital transformation and sustainable energy transition.
Under his ADNOC leadership, the company achieved
historic milestones: entering global capital markets,
completing ADNOC Distribution’s IPO, and attracting
significant foreign direct investment. He pioneered AI,
big data, and blockchain adoption across operations,
positioning ADNOC ahead of global energy demands
whilst driving the 2030 strategy towards profitable
upstream and sustainable supply.​
As COP28 President and UAE Special Envoy for
Climate Change, Al Jaber orchestrated historic climate
agreements, securing the first UN agreement directing
a “transition away from fossil fuels.” Recognised with
the 2025 ICIS CEO of the Year Award and UN Champion
of the Earth Award.
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Tom Deacon
Director of Digital and IT
Etihad Rail
Tom Deacon stands as a visionary technology
leader and data analytics strategist transforming
Etihad Rail’s digital operations and infrastructure
through pioneering technology implementation
and strategic data governance. Currently serving as
Director of Digital and IT (formerly Group Head of
Data and Analytics), he drives comprehensive digital
transformation initiatives across the UAE National Rail
Network, positioning Etihad Rail as a technological
leader in the Middle Eastern transportation sector.​
Deacon brings over 30 years of extensive professional
experience in technology, data analytics, and digital
transformation across diverse sectors and geographies.
His career trajectory reflects progressive senior-level
responsibility in data strategy, technology implementation,
and interim executive leadership. Most notably,
he served as Chief Digital and Data Officer at Kagera,
where he focused on interim Chief Data and Digital
Officer roles and independent technology consulting
from 2019 onwards. Prior to this, he accumulated
significant experience across multiple technology
leadership positions in data analytics, infrastructure
implementation, and organisational transformation.​
Beyond his Etihad Rail role, Deacon has served in
advisory capacities including positions at the Roads
and Transport Authority (RTA), where he provided
strategic guidance on digital and data initiatives, and
roles at Humanalytics as an independent technology
and data strategy advisor.​
Deacon’s transformational achievements centre
on establishing data-driven governance frameworks
and digital infrastructure modernisation. At Etihad
Rail, he has spearheaded integration of advanced
analytics capabilities across operations, enabling
real-time decision-making and enhanced operational
efficiency across the national railway network. His
initiatives encompass developing comprehensive data
governance policies, establishing analytics platforms
for infrastructure optimisation, and implementing
technology strategies supporting sustainable rail
operations.​
His strategic leadership has positioned Etihad Rail at
the forefront of technological innovation, contributing
to the organisation’s Global Rail Innovation Award programme
launched in February 2025, which recognised
transformative mobility solutions including magnetic
levitation technology, and digital twin infrastructure.
December 2025 / 87

Waleid Al Mesmari
President, Space and Cyber Technologies Cluster
EDGE Group
GOVERNMENT LEADERS
Waleid Al Mesmari is recognised as one of
the UAE’s most forward-looking leaders in
defence and advanced technology, driving
national progress in space and cyber capabilities
through purposeful ecosystem building and high
impact innovation at EDGE Group. As President of the
Space and Cyber Technologies cluster, he has shaped
an integrated environment across FADA, KATIM, BEA-
CON RED, and ORYXLABS, positioning the UAE as a
global force in sovereign satellite systems, ultra secure
communications, digital resilience, and advanced cyber
technologies and training. His leadership reflects
a clear vision for national independence in critical
domains, supported by research and development
(R&D), strategic partnerships, and a talent base that
is steadily growing inside the country.
Al Mesmari has overseen the creation of FADA as
the UAE’s advanced space company, establishing
cutting-edge facilities for satellite development, manufacturing,
assembly, integration, testing, as well as
advanced payload development. Under his direction,
EDGE and FADA have driven forward the Sirb constellation,
a flagship UAE programme comprising three
synthetic aperture radar satellites, by establishing a
local consortium of partners and developing national
talent capable of manufacturing the satellites inside the
country. This foundation secures long term capability
in advanced earth observation and ensures that the
knowledge and technical frameworks supporting the
programme are built inside the country.
His leadership has also been instrumental in
shaping KATIM’s growth from a specialised secure
communications provider into a globally recognised
brand for trusted mission-critical technologies. He has
guided its evolution into new markets, strengthened
its international presence, and embedded its role as a
national pillar for sovereign secure communications.
Under his wider remit, the cluster achieved a major
national milestone when EDGE signed a contract valued
at AED 4 billion to deliver tactical communications
and data link solutions to the UAE Armed Forces. This
elevated sovereign C2 capability across all domains.
His leadership connects the UAE’s ambition with
the industrial foundations required to sustain it,
placing EDGE at the forefront of a new generation of
national technologies that carry both strategic and
global relevance.
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H.E. Wesam Lootah
Director-General, GovDigital
Department of Government Enablement
H.E. Wesam Lootah stands as a visionary digital
transformation leader architecting Abu Dhabi’s
AI-native government vision and delivering
integrated government platforms through strategic
leadership at the Department of Government Enablement.
Appointed Director General of GovDigital in
October 2024, he spearheads transformative digital
initiatives positioning Abu Dhabi at the forefront of
sovereign, technology-driven governance.​
Lootah holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science
and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University
and a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University,
complemented by published research in computer security.
His career reflects over 20 years of progressive
leadership spanning public and private sectors, with
nearly two-thirds accumulated in government technology
transformation. He commenced government
service as Head of Development at H.H. The Ruler’s
Court, Dubai Government (1997-2007), establishing
foundational digital infrastructure across Dubai entities.
He subsequently served as Director of Information
Technology at Emaar Properties (2007-2009), leading
global ERP and sales automation rollout across
Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, before
becoming Vice President of Information Technology
at Dubai World Trade Centre (2009-2012).​
Lootah was a founding member of Smart Dubai,
serving as Assistant Director General (2011-2015) and
Chief Executive Officer (2015-September 2022), before
transitioning to Dubai Municipality as Chief Executive
Officer of Corporate Support Services (2022-2024).​
Lootah’s transformational achievements centre on
building foundational infrastructure enabling AI-native
governance. He pioneered DubaiNow connecting over
130 government services in a single application and
led the nationally significant UAE PASS digital identity
platform development, now serving over 11 million
users and facilitating 2.6 billion digital transactions
across 15,000 services offered by 350+ entities. He
championed the Paperless Dubai initiative, achieving
approximately 82 percent paper reduction with four
entities reaching 100 percent digitisation.​
Currently leading Abu Dhabi’s digital transformation,
Lootah is establishing a 100 percent sovereign cloud
infrastructure, digitising 100 percent of government
processes, and consolidating 40+ government entities
into a unified Oracle Fusion ERP platform.
December 2025 / 89

Enterprise Adoption
The Great GenAI Adoption
Shift
CIOs move AI budgets from experiment to operational
infrastructure reality
Research from 100 enterprise CIOs
reveals innovation budgets dropped
from 25% to 7% as companies centralize
investments. OpenAI maintains
23% market share for o3 models
while DeepSeek achieves only 3%
enterprise adoption despite consumer
hype.
Enterprise CIOs are fundamentally
restructuring AI budget
allocations, shifting generative
AI spending from experimental
innovation funds to core operational
infrastructure. Research from
100 enterprise CIOs across fifteen
industries demonstrates that innovation
budgets now represent only
7% of total LLM spending, down
dramatically from 25% in 2024.
This 18-percentage-point reduction
signals that enterprises increasingly
view AI as essential infrastructure
rather than experimental technology.
Centralized IT budgets now account
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for 68% of AI spending, with business
unit allocations comprising
the remaining 25%. This structural
transformation reflects maturing
enterprise understanding of AI’s
operational necessity. Customer-facing
AI implementations emerge as
primary growth drivers, with 73% of
enterprises reporting that consumer
adoption patterns directly influence
procurement decisions. Structured
procurement processes have replaced
ad-hoc vendor selection, requiring
comprehensive ROI analysis,
security assessments, and integration
planning systematically before
commitment. The shift toward operational
budgeting indicates AI has
crossed the chasm from experimental
playground to business-critical
infrastructure requiring predictable
ongoing investment and comprehensive
governance frameworks across
the organization systematically.
Vendor Consolidation Landscape
Market consolidation trends reveal
clear winners in the enterprise AI
platform race. OpenAI maintains
a dominant 23% market share for
o3 reasoning models in production
environments, despite intensifying
competition from alternative providers.
DeepSeek’s enterprise adoption
lags at 3%, representing a significant
gap between consumer hype and
actual business implementation.
The disparity stems from enterprise
requirements for robust security protocols,
compliance certifications, and
proven integration capabilities that
open-source alternatives struggle to
match. Consumer adoption patterns
increasingly drive enterprise technology
decisions, with 67% of CIOs
reporting that employee familiarity
with ChatGPT directly influences
vendor selection. Vendor evaluation
criteria now emphasize API reliability,
data residency guarantees, and
enterprise support structures rather
than model performance alone. This
consolidation reflects enterprise
preference for established vendors
with demonstrated operational
stability and comprehensive service
level agreements. The market shows
early signs of oligopoly formation as
procurement complexity and integration
costs create switching barriers
favoring incumbent providers with
proven track records and established
service capabilities throughout deployment
phases.
Operational Implementation Reality
Enterprises report accelerating
transition from AI experimentation
to full-scale operational deployment
systematically across core business
functions. An overwhelming 87% of
CIOs plan to increase cybersecurity
and generative AI spending in 2025,
with 84% expanding AI budgets
specifically. The primary deployment
focus has shifted from internal productivity
tools to customer-facing applications,
with revenue-generating
implementations commanding 58%
of new AI investments. Structured
procurement frameworks now mandate
comprehensive vendor assessments
including data governance
Our infrastructure
enables rapid flow
of data into AI systems,
allowing us
to deploy them faster
than others and
drive enterprise value.”
— H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama,
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence,
UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence,
Digital Economy and Remote Work
Applications
capabilities, regulatory compliance,
and long-term viability analysis.
This maturation reflects enterprises
treating AI procurement with the
same rigor applied to traditional
enterprise software. Implementation
complexity drives preference
for integrated platforms over point
solutions, with enterprises favoring
vendors offering comprehensive
ecosystems spanning model access,
development tools, and managed
infrastructure. The operational reality
demands predictable pricing models,
clear ROI measurement frameworks,
and robust change management
capabilities that experimental-phase
vendors rarely provide adequately
without comprehensive support
structures and established enterprise
experience throughout implementation
phases.
UAE Enterprise AI Leadership
UAE enterprises demonstrate accelerated
AI adoption driven by national
strategy and substantial government
investment. The UAE Ministry
of Artificial Intelligence targets 14%
GDP contribution from AI by 2030,
with current enterprise adoption
reaching 42% across business operations.
Ministry directives mandate
comprehensive AI integration across
healthcare, logistics, and government
services, creating clear procurement
frameworks that favor proven vendors
with established track records.
Government-backed initiatives including
the $3.54 billion AI infrastructure
investment and Microsoft-G42
partnership establish sovereign
cloud capabilities that influence
enterprise vendor selection. UAE
enterprises report 88% measurable
performance improvements from AI
implementations, significantly above
global averages. The Ministry of
Artificial Intelligence provides structured
guidance emphasizing data
sovereignty, ethical AI deployment,
and operational excellence throughout
implementation phases. This
government-led approach creates
procurement preferences for vendors
demonstrating compliance with UAE
data residency requirements and
alignment with national AI strategy
objectives across all sectors and
throughout implementation phases
systematically.
December 2025 / 91

Fintech News
UAE Completes First
Government Payment
Using the Digital Dirham
The UAE has completed its first
government financial transaction
using the Digital Dirham, marking
a major milestone in its digital economy
strategy. Conducted through the
mBridge platform, the pilot showcases
fast, secure settlement and stronger
integration between federal and local
financial systems. The achievement
reflects national efforts to advance
digital payments, enhance transparency,
and reinforce UAE’s leadership.
RTA Launches Upgraded
nol Pay App With
New Smart Travel Features
Dubai’s RTA has released an upgraded
nol Pay app featuring a
refreshed design, smarter controls,
and easier card management. Users can
manage family cards, schedule automatic
top-ups, receive renewal reminders, and
complete instant balance checks. The
update also supports digital nol cards on
Samsung and Huawei devices, enabling
tap-and-pay across transport and retail.
Strong adoption reflects Dubai’s push
toward seamless, tech-driven mobility.
Tanami Launches
SmartMatch, a
Robo-Advisor for Private
Market Investing
Tanami, the Bahrain-based private
markets investment platform, has
launched SmartMatch, promoted as
the world’s first robo-advisor dedicated
to private markets, at the Singapore
Fintech Festival 2025. The platform
uses proprietary algorithms to build
personalised portfolios across private
equity, private credit, real estate, and
infrastructure, aligning each allocation
with an investor’s goals, risk appetite,
and investment horizon. By partnering
with global asset managers, Tanami
provides curated access to opportunities
that were once limited to institutional
investors. SmartMatch offers quarterly
liquidity, zero minimum investment requirements,
and both conventional and
Shariah-compliant structures to enhance
accessibility. CEO Faisal Aljalahma said the
platform is designed to simplify private
markets investing and make it attainable
for a much broader group of investors.
Mastercard Launches Agent Pay in UAE to
Advance AI-Driven Commerce
Mastercard has introduced
Agent Pay in the UAE through
a new partnership, marking the
service’s first rollout outside the United
States. The feature allows cardholders
to use AI agents to search,
discover, and complete purchases,
including booking VOX Cinemas tickets.
The initiative supports the UAE’s
push toward secure digital commerce,
responsible innovation, and broader
adoption of next-generation AI-powered
payment experiences, driving
digital commerce in the region.
QFCA and Doha Bank
Partner to Strengthen
Qatar’s Fintech Innovation
Ecosystem
The Qatar Financial Centre Authority
(QFCA) has signed an MoU with
Doha Bank to accelerate fintech
growth and digital innovation across
Qatar’s financial sector. The partnership
establishes a framework for collaboration
in key areas, including joint research,
prototype development, and the creation
of innovative financial solutions
that support the country’s expanding
fintech and digital asset ecosystem. It
also aims to provide fintech companies
with technical guidance, secure banking
access, and streamlined account-opening
processes to simplify market entry.
Quarterly meetings, workshops, and
structured engagement programs will
help identify new opportunities and
sustain long-term ecosystem development.
Leaders from both organizations
emphasized that the collaboration will
strengthen Qatar’s capacity to develop
next-generation financial technologies.
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Careem Expands Corporate
Payments to
Streamline Employee
Expense Management
Careem has launched a unified
corporate payments solution that
allows companies to centrally
manage employee spending across rides,
food delivery, groceries, office supplies,
and logistics through a single “Careem
for Business” account. Businesses can
onboard staff, set spending limits, track
usage, and receive one consolidated
monthly invoice without reimbursement
paperwork. Employees simply switch
to Business mode at checkout to use
approved allowances for team lunches,
pantry restocks, deliveries, and daily
transport. The platform also offers a
detailed dashboard for finance teams to
monitor budgets and apply controls by
department, location, or time. Previously
limited to rides, Careem for Business now
spans Rides, Food, Quik, Shops, and Box,
giving organizations a comprehensive
tool to simplify corporate operations in
expense management.
UAE and China Complete
First CBDC
Payment Through New
Jisr Network
The UAE and China have executed
their first cross-border CBDC payment
using the newly launched
Jisr network, marking a major step in
strengthening bilateral financial connectivity.
The platform enables instant,
low-cost settlements and links both
nations’ instant payment systems for
secure transfers. The launch also included
the debut of the Jaywan-UnionPay
prepaid card, expanding international
acceptance.
Mastercard and Zenith
Bank Launch Essential
Debit Card to Boost
Inclusion
Mastercard and Zenith Bank have
introduced the Essential Debit
Card in Nigeria to expand access
to secure digital payments for underserved
and low-income communities.
The card, available in both physical
and virtual formats, supports simplified
onboarding and lower issuance costs to
help more Nigerians join the formal economy.
Leaders from both organizations
highlighted its role in driving financial
inclusion and creating opportunity.
Network International
and CredibleX Partner
to Accelerate SME
Financing Access
Network International has partnered
with CredibleX to expand access
to fast, digital financing for SMEs
across the UAE. Through this collaboration,
CredibleX’s lending solutions
will be integrated into Network’s digital
lending marketplace, allowing merchants
to receive loan offers through
a fully online process. By leveraging
real-time transaction data, the platform
simplifies credit assessment, reduces
paperwork, and speeds up approvals.
Eligible SMEs can compare financing
options, apply for loans, and complete
disbursements within a single interface.
Network International says the goal is to
provide small businesses with quicker,
more reliable access to capital, while
CredibleX emphasizes that embedded
lending can ease one of the biggest
challenges facing SMEs: consistent
access to working capital needed for
growth.
Mashreq and DIFC Partner to Enhance Digital
Finance and Wealth Services
Mashreq has signed an MoU with
DIFC to accelerate digital transformation,
streamline onboarding,
and strengthen private wealth support
for DIFC clients. The partnership will
enhance access for family offices, boost
cross-border capital flows, and expand
fintech engagement across sectors.
Both organizations will also explore opportunities
in digital financing, proptech,
and wealth advisory, reinforcing Dubai’s
position as a global hub for finance and
innovation, enhancing digital finance
and wealth services.
December 2025 / 93

AI Infrastructure
How UAE is Building a
Trusted AI Ecosystem
The UAE is rapidly building sovereign AI chip and cloud
infrastructure ecosystem
G42 receives US approval for advanced AI processors,
enabling secure data centres. Cisco-G42-AMD
Stargate supercomputer and Microsoft Azure cloud
regions expand local AI compute capacity for smart
grid control, healthcare analytics, and enterprise AI
applications across UAE.
94 \ December 2025
The UAE secured landmark US
approval in 2025 for exporting
advanced AI processors to
Abu Dhabi’s G42, marking a pivotal
transition from planning to deployment
within the UAE-US AI corridor.
This authorization enables G42 to
build large-scale, secure, high-performance
data centres featuring AMD
MI350X GPUs and NVIDIA chips,
establishing sovereign AI infrastructure
independent of foreign cloud
dependencies. The approval covers
60,400 equivalent A100 GPUs using
GB300 models, supplementing
existing capacity of 21,500 NVIDIA
A100, H100, and H200 chips already
deployed. The Regulated Technology
Environment framework, approved
by US Department of Commerce and
Bureau of Industry and Security,
governs chip deployment to prevent
unauthorized access, transfer,
or misuse. This creates a trusted
foundation for the UAE’s AI economy
while maintaining alignment with US
export controls and governance protocols.
The strategy positions UAE
as the only Middle Eastern nation

thetechnologyexpress.com
AI is a state of sovereignty. Like you spend
budgets on defence and cyber, you have to
spend on AI. AI is a sovereignty for every
single nation.”
— H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri,
Minister of Economy & Tourism,
UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism
with this scale of infrastructure
development approved under US
regulatory frameworks, reinforcing
bilateral technology partnerships
and economic resilience.
Strategic Partnerships and Compute
Infrastructure
The Cisco-G42-AMD collaboration
advances secure, end-to-end AI infrastructure
through the Stargate
supercomputer and 5GW UAE-US
AI Campus in Abu Dhabi. Cisco
powers, connects, and secures the
large-scale AI cluster featuring
AMD MI350X GPUs, integrating
full-stack infrastructure including
compute, networking, security,
storage, optics, observability, and
analytics tools. Microsoft Azure
expands with $15.2 billion investment
through 2029, adding
200MW data centre capacity and
making G42’s Jais Arabic LLM
available globally. OpenAI, Oracle,
NVIDIA, and SoftBank partner on
the 1GW Stargate UAE cluster, set
for 2026 delivery, creating low-latency
inferencing for regional
applications. These partnerships
establish sovereign cloud capabilities
ensuring data residency
and compliance with UAE privacy
regulations. The collaboration
framework includes joint go-tomarket
initiatives, AI-powered
cybersecurity solutions, and refer-
ence architectures for high-performance
computing environments.
This ecosystem enables enterprises
to deploy AI agents alongside
employees, with 92% of UAE
organizations planning AI agent
deployment and 41% expecting
integration within one year.
Government Leadership and Economic
Impact
The UAE Ministry of Artificial
Intelligence, Digital Economy and
Remote Work Applications drives
strategy through clear regulatory
frameworks and substantial
investment commitments. The
Ministry targets 14% GDP contribution
from AI by 2031, positioning
AI as central to economic diversification
beyond oil dependence. Dr.
Abdallah Al Dardari of UNDP and
Saqr bin Ghalib of the AI Office
signed agreements expanding
partnerships to enhance AI adoption
across healthcare, energy, and
government services. The Artificial
Intelligence and Advanced Technology
Council, chaired by Khaldoon
Khalifa Al Mubarak, oversees
strategic implementation ensuring
alignment with UAE Vision 2031
and Centennial 2071 objectives.
Government directives mandate
AI integration across public sector
operations, creating procurement
preferences for vendors
demonstrating compliance with
local sovereignty requirements.
The Ministry provides structured
guidance emphasizing ethical AI
deployment, data governance,
and operational excellence. This
leadership establishes UAE as a
global AI hub, attracting $148 billion
in AI investments since 2024
and fostering innovation through
initiatives like the $1 billion developer
fund and Hub71 startup
ecosystem.
Trusted AI Development Framework
The UAE-US AI Acceleration
Partnership creates a gold-standard
compliance model governing
secure AI development and
deployment. The framework
establishes world-class best practices
ensuring AI models, chips,
data, and access remain protected
through symmetrical infrastructure
development between UAE
and US. Ambassador Yousef Al
Otaiba affirmed that chip export
approvals reflect deep trust and
sustained engagement between
governments, advancing joint
industrial and digital infrastructure
goals. The Regulated Technology
Environment pioneered by G42
operates under US Department of
Commerce guidelines, preventing
unauthorized technology transfer.
December 2025 / 95

AI NEWS
Perplexity Partners
with Getty Images
to Enhance AI Visual
Search
Perplexity has signed a global multi-year
licensing agreement with
Getty Images, giving it access
to a vast library of licensed editorial
and creative visuals for its AI search
tools. The integration delivers richer,
more transparent results with clearer
creator attribution. This partnership
reinforces Perplexity’s commitment to
responsible AI, combining high-quality
imagery with ethical standards to provide
users with more context.
Google Releases Nano
Banana Pro With
Major Image-Generation
Upgrades
Google has launched Nano Banana
Pro, an upgraded image-generation
model delivering sharper
visuals, improved text rendering, and
built-in web-search features. Powered
by Gemini 3, it supports more languages,
higher accuracy, and greater creative
control over lighting, angles, and color
grading. The model enables 2K and 4K
output, blends multiple objects reliably,
and rolls out across Gemini apps with
expanded access for advanced users.
Apple Releases iOS
26.1 With New AI
Features and Design
Refinements
Apple has rolled out iOS 26.1, a
major update that enhances
customization, accessibility, and
system stability across supported iPhones.
The release improves the “Liquid
Glass” design by adding a transparency
toggle, allowing users to switch between
translucent and tinted interfaces for
better readability. iOS 26.1 also expands
language support, introducing
new translation options for AirPods and
wider Apple Intelligence compatibility.
Creators benefit from upgraded audio
tools, including adjustable gain controls
for external microphones and flexible
recording storage. Safety features now
default to protecting child accounts,
while performance upgrades strengthen
connectivity and address key usability
issues. Compatible with iPhone 11 and
newer models, the update underscores
Apple’s ongoing focus on security,
inclusivity, and design innovation.
Google Launches Gemini 3 to Strengthen Real-
World AI Adoption
Google has introduced Gemini
3, a new AI model designed for
real-world applications and immediate
integration into revenue-focused
products, including Google
Search. The model powers both free
and paid tools, enhancing Google’s
consumer and enterprise ecosystem.
Gemini 3 delivers improved reasoning,
coding, and automation, supported by
features like Gemini Agent and Antigravity,
expanding practical use cases
while strengthening AI-driven commercial
impact.
Microsoft Forms
New Team to Develop
Medical-Focused
Superintelligence
Microsoft has formed a new MAI
Superintelligence Team focused
on developing advanced AI
systems that can exceed human performance
in highly specialized fields,
beginning with medical diagnostics.
Unlike general-purpose models, the
initiative emphasizes targeted, real-world
problem-solving aimed at achieving
safe and reliable superhuman capability.
Researchers plan to apply these
systems to areas such as molecular
design, battery storage innovation, and
early disease detection, building on
progress in protein-structure prediction.
The team believes medically oriented
superintelligence could emerge within
the next two to three years, significantly
improving global health by enabling earlier
identification of preventable conditions.
Supported by major investment and
ongoing recruitment, the project reflects
Microsoft’s shift toward AI innovation.
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Dell Launches PowerEdge
XE7740
Featuring Intel Gaudi
3 Accelerators
Dell has unveiled the PowerEdge
XE7740, a 4U enterprise server built
to deliver advanced AI acceleration
using Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators.
Supporting up to eight units, including
4-way bridged setups reaching 1,200
GBps throughput, it enables extremely
fast accelerator-to-accelerator
communication ideal for training large
models and running complex enterprise
workloads. The system offers flexible
networking with a 1:1 accelerator-to-NIC
ratio, efficient operation in 10kW racks,
and Smart Cooling for optimized thermal
performance. With compatibility across
major AI frameworks and leading models,
the XE7740 allows organizations to
expand AI capabilities without costly
infrastructure upgrades. Its modular architecture,
strong price-to-performance
value, and enterprise-grade reliability
position it as a powerful on-premises
solution for scaling AI adoption.
OpenAI Releases GPT-
5.1 With Faster and
Smarter AI Interaction
OpenAI has launched GPT-5.1,
introducing Instant and Thinking
modes for quicker replies and
stronger reasoning. The system analyzes
each prompt’s difficulty and adjusts
processing power automatically. Users
can choose from eight personality styles
and customize tone, warmth, and emoji
usage. The update improves math and
coding accuracy, with a gradual rollout
for subscribers and upcoming API integration
to ensure stable performance,
better and faster Artificial Intelligence
interaction.
Meta Launches Omnilingual
ASR to Support
1,600 Global Languages
Meta has released Omnilingual ASR,
a speech-to-text model suite
covering over 1,600 languages,
including 500 low-resource dialects
gaining transcription support for the
first time. Paired with the Omnilingual
wav2vec 2.0 model, it enables scalable
multilingual voice tools. Meta also
opened datasets for 350 underserved
languages, aiming to expand inclusive
AI research and help developers build
culturally relevant speech technologies.
Google Maps Integrates
Gemini for
Smarter, Hands-Free
Landmark Navigation
Google Maps has introduced Gemini
integration, enabling more conversational,
hands-free navigation
with real-time alerts and landmark-based
directions. Drivers can ask about nearby
places, request reroutes, or get
personalized suggestions, all without
touching their screens. The update also
connects with Calendar to add events
and reminders seamlessly during travel.
Landmark-based guidance replaces
distance-only instructions, using over
250 million recognizable locations from
restaurants to gas stations to make
directions clearer and more intuitive.
Gemini also provides proactive alerts
about traffic or closures even when
navigation is off. An enhanced visual
discovery mode lets users identify places
through the camera and receive instant
descriptions. The update is now rolling
out on iOS and Android, with Android
Auto support coming soon.
Google Introduces HOPE Model to Advance
Continual Learning Research
Google researchers have unveiled
HOPE, an experimental AI model
built on a concept called nested
learning, designed to improve long-context
memory and reduce catastrophic
forgetting. The approach reframes how
models retain information, offering a
more durable path toward continual
learning long seen as essential for AGI.
By treating learning as interconnected
optimization problems, HOPE enables
deeper computational depth and more
consistent knowledge retention for
future models.
December 2025 / 97

STARTUP Spotlight
CARBONSIFR
CO-FOUNDERS: ONUR ELGUN,
MUSTAFA BOSCA, M. YILDIRIM
YEAR STARTED: 2022
CarbonSifr emerged in 2022 as a
pioneering climate technology
startup founded by former Bos-
ton Consulting Group (BCG) and Talabat
executives—Onur Elgun, Mustafa
Serdar Bosca, and Muhammed Yildirim.
Launched during the UAE’s “Year of
Sustainability” and ahead of COP28,
the company addresses a critical gap
between businesses’ desire for climate
action and their lack of practical tools
to implement it.
The startup’s core mission centres on
enabling “decarbonisation at scale” by
integrating climate solutions seamlessly
into businesses’ existing operations. CarbonSifr
developed an innovative carbon
emission calculation engine that allows
companies in e-commerce, grocery delivery,
and mobility sectors to measure
and report carbon footprints in real-time.
CarbonSifr’s technology integrates via
API into clients’ customer touchpoints,
enabling businesses to measure emissions,
receive AI-powered reduction
recommendations, and actively engage
customers in sustainability initiatives.
This approach transforms carbon action
from a compliance exercise into a value-creation
opportunity for businesses.
The company has attracted substantial
backing from investors across the
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Germany, and
Switzerland, recognizing the platform’s
potential to address the region’s escalating
climate challenges. Research
reveals that extremely hot days in the
Middle East have doubled since 1970,
underscoring urgent regional climate
imperatives.
CREDIBLEX
CO-FOUNDERS: AHMAD MALIK,
ANAND NAGARAJ, HASSAN REDA
YEAR STARTED: 2023
CredibleX emerged in 2023 as a
revolutionary fintech startup addressing
the critical capital access
gap plaguing small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) across the Middle
East. Co-founded by Ahmad Malik, Anand
Nagaraj (CEO), and Hassan Reda, the
company positions itself as the MENA
region’s pioneering embedded finance
platform specifically designed for SME
lending.
The platform operates through an innovative
embedded lending model integrating
directly into business partners’
existing ecosystems, enabling SMEs to
access working capital instantly without
traditional lending friction. CredibleX
has strategically partnered with over 35
distribution partners including Network
International, DMCC, National General
Insurance, Agthia, Watermelon, and
Mamo, collectively unlocking financing
opportunities for approximately 100,000
SMEs.
Since inception, CredibleX has demonstrated
remarkable traction, disbursing
an impressive AED 100 million in loans
to SMEs across diverse sectors. The
platform’s transparent, technology-driven
approach simplifies traditionally complex
business financing processes, addressing
a fundamental gap in the UAE’s SME
ecosystem.
In December 2024, CredibleX secured
$55 million in Seed funding, comprising
both equity and debt, from prominent
investors including Further Ventures
(equity), Kilgour Williams Capital, Berkley
Square Finance, and additional debt
providers.
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thetechnologyexpress.com
BILLIONE
CO-FOUNDERS: KARTIKEY HARIYANI,
MUSTAFA WAJID
YEAR STARTED: 2021
BillionE Mobility (BillionE) emerged
in 2021 as an electric mobility-as-a-service
(eMaaS) plat-
vative EV charging networks and battery
swap systems utilizing smart technology
to ensure fast, reliable charging
capabilities. The company emphasizes
solving critical pain points in commercial
electrification including charging speed,
infrastructure reliability, and operational
cost optimization.
The platform addresses India’s urgent
transportation electrification needs by
enabling fleet operators to transition from
diesel to electric vehicles. BillionE has
successfully launched two electric airport
tarmac buses in Bangalore (Q3 2023),
demonstrating real-world deployment
capabilities. The company partners with
major manufacturers and government
bodies to scale eco-friendly commercial
mobility solutions.
In March 2025, BillionE appointed
Sanjeev Kulkarni as CEO, bringing over
three decades of automotive and manufacturing
leadership experience from
companies including Bosch and Kalyani
Group. Kulkarni’s appointment strengthens
BillionE’s expansion strategy.
MYGATEPASS
CO-FOUNDERS: ADIL BOUHOUCH
YEAR STARTED: 2024
MyGatePass launched in 2024
as an innovative visitor management
platform founded by
Adil Bouhouch (CEO, CTO), addressing
systemic inefficiencies in building access
across the UAE. Drawing from 17+ years
of software development experience,
Bouhouch identified a critical gap: despite
the UAE’s advanced technology ecosystem,
visitor management remained stuck
in outdated, paper-based processes.
The platform transforms visitor access
by integrating UAE Pass national
digital identity, enabling visitors to
register once and access participating
buildings instantly via QR codes. This
eliminates repetitive registration, reduces
entry time from minutes to seconds,
and streamlines processes across resiform
founded by Kartikey Hariyani with
co-founder Mustafa Wajid. Hariyani brings
over 20 years of electrical engineering
expertise and founded TecSo Energy
in 2010, which successfully delivered
over 200 MW of solar projects, establishing
him as a seasoned cleantech
entrepreneur.
BillionE focuses on transforming commercial
transportation through electric
vehicle infrastructure, developing innodential
towers, co-working spaces, and
government entities.
MyGatePass operates on a modular,
API-first architecture designed for sector-specific
adaptability. Residential buildings
require real-time logging with SMS
notifications, while government agencies
need biometric validation and scheduled
audits—all supported through a unified
platform framework.
The startup underwent rigorous UAE
Pass integration approval processes,
involving continuous sandbox testing,
live-stage security audits, and collaboration
with government agencies. This
foundational work positioned MyGate-
Pass as a trusted infrastructure partner
for enterprise and government clients.
Core features include Unified QR Access
(register once, use everywhere),
Seamless UAE Pass Integration, and
AI-Ready Data Engine.
December 2025 / 99

Spacetech
Look Back: UAE’s Stellar
Year in Orbit and Beyond
Six satellites launched in 2025 marking unprecedented
momentum
The UAE’s space sector achieved record
milestones in 2025, combining
commercial satellite communications,
deep space exploration, and advanced
training infrastructure to establish
itself as a global spacetech leader.
The UAE inaugurated 2025
with an unprecedented burst
of space activity. On January
4, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted
Thuraya 4, a next-generation telecommunications
satellite, into orbit
from Cape Canaveral Space Force
Station in Florida. The geosynchronous
spacecraft represents one of
the largest mobile satellite services
communication satellites produced
globally and significantly expands
Space42’s capabilities across Africa,
Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle
East.​
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Accompanying Thuraya 4 into orbit
were Mohammed bin Zayed Sat,
Al Ain Sat-1, HCT-SAT 1, and the second
phase of the Foresight satellite
constellation—collectively representing
a pivotal expansion of the UAE’s
orbital infrastructure. Two months
later, on March 15, the UAE achieved
another technological breakthrough
with the launch of UnionSat, its
first indigenous radar satellite. This
six-satellite deployment within
a single quarter underscores the
UAE’s transition from occasional
milestone-oriented missions to
sustained, systematic space activity
comparable to established spacefaring
nations.​
Lunar Gateway Partnership: Strategic
Positioning for Artemis
In February 2025, the Mohammed
Bin Rashid Space Centre signed a
transformational agreement with
Thales Alenia Space to design and
develop the Emirates Crew and
Science Airlock Module for NASA’s
Lunar Gateway cislunar space
station. The pressurised module will
facilitate extravehicular activities for
astronauts, enable research transfer
between the lunar station and external
environment, and serve as an
auxiliary docking port for spacecraft
vehicles.​
This partnership positions the
UAE as a permanent partner in
humanity’s largest lunar exploration
programme and secures priority
access to cutting-edge scientific data.
The Airlock—weighing 10 tonnes
and measuring 10 by 4 metres—will
operate continuously for a minimum
of 15 years with extension options,
embedding UAE technology into
the infrastructure supporting lunar
base establishment and sustained
scientific research. The agreement,
witnessed by Vice President and
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reinforces
the UAE’s strategic commitment
to deep space exploration beyond
autonomous mission execution.​
Far Side of the Moon: Rashid-2 Mission
Framework
Complementing the Gateway initiative,
the MBRSC secured a partnership
with American aerospace company
Firefly Aerospace in May 2025
to deliver the Rashid-2 Rover to the
Moon’s far side aboard Firefly’s Blue
Ghost lander in 2026. The rover will
demonstrate advanced lunar surface
mobility technologies and evaluate
wheel durability when exposed to
lunar dust, generating data essential
for developing future spacesuits,
habitats, and resource utilization
infrastructure.​
Rashid-2 will operate alongside
payloads from Australia, the European
Space Agency, and NASA as
part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar
Payload Services (CLPS) initiative,
positioning the UAE alongside international
partners in advancing the
shared goal of permanent lunar presence.
The rover’s multi-camera and
probe systems will simultaneously
study the Moon’s plasma, geology,
and thermal conditions, contribut-
Beyond launching
missions or building
satellites, it has
foremost been about
fostering a culture of
curiosity, resilience,
and ambition.”
— H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri,
Director General,
Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
ing to in-situ resource utilization
research that underpins long-term
human habitation planning. This mission
represents continuity from the
successful Rashid rover mission and
advancement in the UAE’s capacity
to execute sophisticated robotic
exploration programs.​
Cultivating Space Talent: Training
and Ecosystem Development
The UAE’s space ambitions extend
beyond hardware and into human
capital development. In November
2025, the region’s first privately
licensed astronaut training centre
officially commenced operations,
marking a fundamental shift in
Middle Eastern human spaceflight
capability. Operated by BLINC Space
Limited in partnership with AlphaX
Holding, the facility focuses on
astronaut readiness, space medicine,
human performance, and simulation
exercises replicating orbital and
microgravity conditions. The centre,
designed to train hundreds of
astronauts over the coming decade,
represents collaborative infrastructure
supporting both government
missions and private-sector space
initiatives.​
Complementing private-sector
training, the UAE Space Agency’s
National Space Academy provides
internationally benchmarked programs
nurturing Emirati expertise
in space science and engineering.
The Academy cultivates a knowledge-based
economy by equipping
specialists capable of advancing
sovereign space capabilities across
mission design, satellite operations,
and space systems engineering.
These dual-track training initiatives—
government-led and private-led—
establish the UAE as a regional hub
where scientific talent intersects with
commercial opportunity, positioning
the country to retain specialized expertise
while attracting international
expertise and capital.​
The convergence of satellite proliferation,
deep space partnerships,
and human capital infrastructure
demonstrates the UAE’s strategic
pivot from occasional flagship
missions toward sustainable, system-wide
space sector development
aligned with global scientific and
commercial trajectories.
December 2025 / 101

INFOGRAPHIC
2025
Six Q1 2025 Launches
One quarter of launches
added more UAE-built
capability to orbit than
many countries
achieve in years.
Thuraya 4 – Comms Backbone
New geostationary communications
capacity supporting regional connectivity
and secure links.
MBZ-Sat – Advanced
Imaging
The most advanced UAE
Earth-observation satellite,
providing high-resolution
imagery for government and
commercial use.
Ground Segment &
Control
Mission control and data
centers in the UAE turn raw
satellite feeds into usable
intelligence and services.
Foresight &
Others – The Constellation
Al Ain Sat-1, HCT-SAT-1 and
Foresight phases expand climate,
land-use and environmental
monitoring capacity.
UnionSat – First
Radar Eye
UAE’s radar satellite unlocks
night and all-weather imaging
for environment, security and
infrastructure monitoring.
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MOON: GATEWAY & FAR SIDE
Lunar Gateway
Emirates Airlock – Lunar Gateway
UAE’s crew and science airlock module on NASA’s
Gateway becomes the doorway for spacewalks
and experiments in lunar orbit.
10 tonnes, 10 m × 4 m
A large, long-life module designed for 15+ years
of Gateway operations in deep space conditions.
Strategic partners
Developed with Thales Alenia Space and
integrated into an international station
involving NASA, ESA, JAXA and CSA.
Path to lunar orbit for Emiratis
This contribution underpins plans for the first
Emirati astronaut mission to lunar orbit on a
future Artemis flight.
Rashid-2 – Far Side
Rashid-2 on Blue Ghost
UAE’s crew and science airlock module on NASA’s
Gateway becomes the doorway for spacewalks
and experiments in lunar orbit.
Far-side landing site
Operating away from direct Earth line-of-sight, the
mission targets a region rich in scientific opportunity.
Science focus
Mobility, materials durability, plasma, geology and
thermal measurements to guide future habitats
and infrastructure.
Multi-nation stack
Co-missions from Australia and Europe share
the lander, embedding Rashid-2 in a wider
international science campaign.
ASTEROID BELT & TALENT PIPELINE
Asteroid Mission (EMA)
MBR Explorer – 2,300 kg Spacecraft
UAE’s first asteroid explorer, designed to travel beyond Mars to multiple targets in the main belt.
Seven asteroids, one mission
The craft will survey six asteroids and attempt a landing on the seventh, Justitia, in the 2030s.
People & Skills
National Space Engineering Tracks
New programs channel Emirati graduates into mission design, systems engineering and satellite
operations roles.
Astronaut Corps Development
Training pathways prepare Emiratis for longer-duration missions in lunar orbit and deep-space operations.
December 2025 / 103

Smart City
Mega-City Projects:
Lessons from Failure
When ambition meets execution reality across complex mega-city
development projects in the MENA region
Masdar’s sustainability focus versus NEOM’s scale
reveals divergent governance models, funding mechanisms,
and technology partnerships influencing
success. Timeline extensions, budget overruns, and
adoption gaps demonstrate persistent gaps between
announced visions and actual infrastructure utilization
across developments.
104 \ December 2025
Saudi Arabia’s NEOM project
and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City
represent contrasting approaches
to mega-city development
within the Middle East region. NEOM,
announced in 2017 as part of Vision
2030 with an initial budget of $500
billion, emphasizes technological innovation
and scale with The Line as
its flagship 170-kilometer vertical city
concept designed to accommodate
nine million residents permanently.
Masdar City, launched in 2006 as
a $22 billion sustainable eco-city
project by Abu Dhabi Future Energy
Company, prioritized environmental
sustainability and renewable energy
integration from inception through
all development phases. Both projects
represent government-backed
attempts to diversify economies
beyond oil dependence while
positioning their respective nations
as global innovation leaders on the
international stage attracting capital.
Initial announcements promised revolutionary
urban models that would
reshape development paradigms entirely
and attract unprecedented in-

thetechnologyexpress.com
Guided by the future-focused vision of our
nation’s leadership to develop a resilient
and sustainable economy, Masdar continues
to innovate and build on its strong
history of driving...renewable energy solutions
for the UAE and around the world”
— H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber,
Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology | Chairman
UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology | Masdar
ternational investment flows from
global investors and sovereign
wealth funds seeking exposure to
innovative infrastructure.
Timeline Extensions and Budget
Realities
Masdar City experienced the
earliest and most dramatic timeline
modifications throughout its
execution phases substantially.
Originally scheduled for completion
in 2014 when launched in
2006, the project deadline was
revised to 2020, then extended to
2025, and subsequently pushed
to 2030 with ongoing uncertainty
persisting throughout organizational
structures and governance
frameworks. Budget adjustments
reduced the initial $22 billion allocation
to $19.8 billion while downscaling
core features including the
Personal Rapid Transit system
and autonomous vehicle networks
significantly. The 2008 financial
crisis accelerated these revisions,
forcing management to adopt
what they termed a “pragmatic
phase” where components would
be built according to market demand
rather than predetermined
timelines established initially.
NEOM initially targeted 2025 completion
for The Line, but by 2024,
after $50 billion had been expended
with only 2.4 kilometers of the
170-kilometer project completed,
Saudi officials formally extended
completion to 2045 a twenty-year
delay from original announcements
made publicly. The Public
Investment Fund recorded an $8
billion write-down specifically
linked to NEOM in 2024, signaling
substantial financial strain despite
continuing official optimism in
communications to investors and
stakeholders globally.
Technology Adoption and Resident
Experience
Planned technological infrastructure
frequently exceeds actual
deployment and resident adoption
rates across both projects
consistently and measurably.
Masdar’s original vision emphasized
zero-carbon autonomous
transportation and fully renewable
energy generation onsite exclusively;
current operations rely
substantially on off-site renewable
energy purchases from regional
suppliers and grid connections.
Initial projections assumed strict
behavioral regulation among
residents regarding energy consumption
would naturally occur
organically; actual experience
demonstrates such compliance
requires continuous enforcement
and monitoring systematically
throughout operational periods.
Only partial completion of planned
smart infrastructure means integrating
systems designed sequentially
rather than simultaneously,
complicating interoperability and
creating operational inconsistencies
throughout daily functions
and services. NEOM’s AI-powered
public transportation systems
remain largely conceptual and theoretical,
with construction focused
on foundational infrastructure
rather than promised autonomous
service networks for residents and
visitors. Actual resident adoption
of proposed amenities lags
projections substantially across
all measured categories and
demographic segments examined
through surveys.
Cost Overruns and ROI Realization
Masdar City’s budget reductions
coincided with scope downscaling
throughout the project systematically,
meaning financial adjustments
reflected genuine project
reduction rather than efficiency
improvements achieved operationally
beyond 2025 realistically.
NEOM’s revenue generation models
remain largely theoretical and
speculative, dependent on tourism
growth, tech industry relocation,
and residential purchases materializing
at projected volumes.
December 2025 / 105

international News
Uber Introduces New
Teen and Senior Features
for Safer Family
Travel
Uber has launched updated features
to make family rides safer
and more convenient. Teens in
India can now sign up independently
while linking their accounts to a parent
or guardian for supervision, with
full access to shared perks and cashback.
Parents can track trips in real
time, and families can use separate
payment methods while still earning
collective rewards for smoother, more
flexible travel.
GTA VI Delayed as
Rockstar Sets New
2026 Release Date
Grand Theft Auto VI has been
delayed, with its launch now set
for November 19, 2026. Rockstar
plans to use the additional development
time to refine gameplay, improve visuals,
and strengthen overall stability. The
extra months will support final testing
and bug fixes, ensuring a polished experience.
Players can expect to explore
Leonida and modern-day Vice City when
the game officially arrives. Rockstar’s
announcement has sparked mixed reactions,
with some fans disappointed.
by the extended wait.
Thuraya-4 Launch
Expands Satellite Connectivity
Across South
Africa
Thuraya has officially entered the
South African market with the
commercial deployment of its
next-generation Thuraya-4 satellite,
strengthening secure and reliable communications
across critical industries.
The rollout supports national efforts
to expand digital access, particularly in
remote regions where network limitations
persist. Thuraya-4’s advanced L-band
payload, software-defined architecture,
and seamless integration with terrestrial
networks enable dynamic bandwidth
allocation and uninterrupted service
during severe weather or in isolated
locations. These capabilities enhance
safety, coordination, and operational
efficiency for sectors such as energy,
mining, maritime, government, and
humanitarian operations. The initiative
aligns with South Africa’s broader digital
inclusion goals and forms part of Thuraya’s
wider African strategy.
Lamborghini Debuts Temerario Super Trofeo
Ahead of 2027 Racing Season
Lamborghini has unveiled the Temerario
Super Trofeo, its newest
single-make race car set to compete
globally from 2027. Powered by
a twin-turbo V8 producing about 640
hp, it removes hybrid elements for
pure racing performance. An ALU/CFK
chassis, FIA roll cage, ABS, and adjustable
traction control enhance safety
and drivability, making it a strong entry
point for customer-racing programs.
The Temerario Super Trofeo marks
Lamborghini’s push into a new era of
pure internal combustion racing.
X Launches Chat, a
Major Upgrade to
Encrypted Messaging
Features
X
has introduced Chat, a fully
encrypted overhaul of its direct
messaging system, adding end-toend
encryption, video and voice calls,
file sharing, disappearing messages, and
enhanced privacy controls. Available
now on iOS and the web, with Android
support coming soon, Chat replaces
the previous DM system and transfers
past conversations seamlessly. While
messages and files are encrypted, X
notes that metadata and man-in-themiddle
protections remain limited, with
authenticity verification tools planned.
Users gain control through options
like screenshot blocking, screenshot
alerts, and timed message deletion,
along with the ability to edit or remove
messages. By merging improvements
from earlier encrypted DM tests, Chat
aims to deliver stronger security and a
more flexible, modern communication
experience.
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Valve Turns microSD
Cards Into Plug-and-
Play Game Cartridges
Across Devices
Valve is turning microSD cards into
plug-and-play game cartridges
with the upcoming Steam Machine
PC and Steam Frame VR headset. Since
both devices run a Linux-based OS and
use the same microSD format as the
Steam Deck, any card already prepared
on the handheld works instantly. Players
can access their libraries immediately
without downloads, creating a seamless,
cartridge-like experience across all three
systems. Although UHS-I readers are
slower than SSDs, Valve intentionally
prioritized simplicity, broad compatibility,
and reliable performance. The result is
an easy, unified storage system that
lets players swap devices effortlessly
while keeping full access to their games.
This streamlined approach strengthens
Valve’s position as it expands further into
the console and VR hardware market.
Valve’s cartridge-like system signals a
bold challenge to traditional consoles.
RØDECaster Video S
Debuts as Compact
All-in-One Production
Console
The RØDECaster Video S debuts as a
compact console combining video
switching, recording tools, and a
professional audio mixer for streamlined
production. Designed for simplicity, it
helps creators produce polished content
without complex setups or high budgets.
Smart automation, scene control, and
studio-grade sound enhance efficiency
for solo hosts and small podcast teams,
making video and audio workflows
smoother and more consistent.
Sony Unveils 240Hz
PlayStation Monitor
With Built-In Controller
Charging Hook
Sony has revealed a new 27-inch
QHD gaming monitor featuring
a 240Hz refresh rate, HDR, and
VRR support, though consoles cap at
120Hz. Launching in 2026, it includes
a fold-down charging hook that keeps
DualSense controllers powered and
organized. The monitor joins Sony’s
broader push into PC gaming, following
recent cross-platform hardware
designed to create a more seamless
gaming experience.
Honda Marks Major
Breakthrough With
Successful Reusable
Rocket Test
Honda has achieved a major milestone
in its aerospace program
with a successful test of its
reusable rocket, which reached 271.4
meters and landed just 37 centimeters
from its target after a 56.6-second flight.
The result highlights rapid progress
since Honda began engine combustion
and hovering tests in 2024. As global
interest in reusable launch systems
accelerates, the company’s advancement
aligns with research showing that
reusability can significantly cut launch
costs and increase mission flexibility.
Programs in China and Europe are also
exploring similar technologies despite
engineering and financial hurdles. Honda’s
accomplishment adds momentum
to the growing shift toward sustainable
space access, positioning the company
as a potential contributor to the next
technologically-advanced generation
of reusable launch vehicles.
Threads Introduces New Features to Strengthen
Podcast Community Engagement
Threads is rolling out features
designed to highlight podcasts
and spark richer conversations.
Podcast links will soon appear with
colorful backgrounds and thumbnails,
and creators will gain a dedicated profile
section to promote their shows. With
over 400 million monthly users, the
platform aims to become a central hub
for podcast discussions by improving
visibility, expanding discovery tools,
and deepening connections between
podcasters and fans, move much-awaited
by users.
December 2025 / 107

Blockchain
The $250 Billion Web3
Opportunity
UAE blockchain market expands at 42% annual growth through
2030
The UAE is emerging as a global frontrunner in institutional
Web3 adoption, combining clear regulation,
advanced financial infrastructure, and alignment with
traditional finance to attract significant capital flows
from institutions and enterprises transitioning into
digital assets.
The global stablecoin market
reached 250 billion dollars in
circulation as of mid-2025, facilitating
more than 2.3 trillion dollars
in monthly transaction volume. This
expansion reflects a fundamental
transition: stablecoins are transitioning
from speculative vehicles into
critical infrastructure for institutional
payments, cross-border settlement,
and programmable finance. Global
projections indicate stablecoin supply
will reach 400 billion dollars by
year-end 2025 and exceed 2 trillion
dollars by 2028, according to the European
Central Bank and J.P. Morgan
forecasts.​
The UAE has positioned itself at
the epicenter of this institutional migration.
Dubai hosts over 700 blockchain
companies, while the broader
UAE ecosystem comprises nearly
1,500 active Web3 organisations.
The UAE blockchain market itself is
projected to grow at a compound
annual growth rate of 42 percent
through 2030, driven by government
digital transformation initiatives,
including the Emirates Blockchain
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Strategy 2021 and the National
Blockchain Strategy targeting 50
percent of government transactions
on blockchain rails by 2031.​
Multi-Layered Regulatory Architecture:
A Competitive Moat
The UAE’s regulatory strength
comes from its three distinct jurisdictions:
Abu Dhabi Global Market,
Dubai International Financial Centre,
and the Virtual Assets Regulatory
Authority in mainland Dubai.
Each serves a specific role within
the wider market. ADGM, through
the Financial Services Regulatory
Authority, offers full institutional
coverage across custody, exchanges,
tokenized securities and
fund units, lending services, and
derivatives. VARA functions as a
dedicated virtual asset regulator
with activity-based licensing and
mandatory rulebooks that define
conduct, risk controls, and technical
standards.
This structure stands apart from
countries that rely on narrow
or inconsistent models. It gives
traditional financial institutions the
legal clarity needed to enter the
Web3 sector. First Abu Dhabi Bank
is testing a dirham-backed stablecoin
for institutional settlement,
and leading domestic banks now
serve licensed digital asset firms
under clear compliance require-
ments. In November 2025, Federal
Decree Number 6 placed DeFi,
Web3 protocols, stablecoin issuers,
under Central Bank oversight, with
licensing required by September
2026.
Tokenized Real Assets: Unlocking
Institutional Capital
Real estate tokenization has
become the strongest institutional
draw for UAE Web3 growth. In
October 2025, the Dubai Land
Department worked with VARA
and the Central Bank to launch the
Real Estate Tokenization Project,
making Dubai the first major
registry in the region to adopt
large-scale blockchain tokenization.
The system supports fractional
ownership, lowers investment
entry points, and opens access to
high-value properties that once
required substantial capital.
Similar progress is underway in
corporate debt and other financial
instruments, supported by ADGM
rules that recognize digital securities
as equivalent to traditional
securities. Smart contracts handle
dividends, voting, and compliance
functions, which shortens settlement
cycles and embeds oversight
into each transaction. These advances
now feed into DeFi models
that use property tokens as collateral
for stablecoin loans. Broader
enterprise adoption is underway,
including customs, healthcare
identity systems, and supply chain
provenance tracking.
Competitive Positioning and Capital
Migration
The UAE is rapidly becoming a
central hub for institutional Web3
activity, with regulatory clarity
driving capital migration from
Silicon Valley and major financial
centres. Leading digital asset
firms, including Binance, Crypto.
com, Bybit, Copper, HashKey,
Laser Digital, and Coinbase, now
operate under the ADGM, VARA, or
DIFC frameworks, reflecting a shift
toward jurisdictions that offer legal
certainty. The MENA blockchain
market is projected to reach 40 billion
dollars by 2027, with the UAE
capturing an outsized share.
In 2025 alone, the country saw
34 billion dollars in digital asset
inflows and adoption approaching
30 percent of its population,
signaling institutional-grade
engagement. Traditional finance is
also integrating Web3 infrastructure,
exemplified by BNY Mellon
onboarding 5 billion dollars in
tokenized treasuries with real-time
settlement capabilities. As stablecoins,
tokenization, and CBDCs,
expand, the UAE’s mature regulatory
environment.
We are dedicated to providing a holistic
environment that facilitates a seamless and
secure adoption of digital assets to foster
the growth of this new digital landscape.”
— H.E. Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Mheiri,
Advisor to the Chairman,
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
December 2025 / 109

GADGET REVIEWs
RAY-BAN META SMART
GLASSES (GEN 3)
NEXT-GENERATION WEARABLE AI
Meta’s upcoming Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Generation
3 are poised to launch in late 2025, bringing
substantial upgrades in both hardware and artificial
intelligence capabilities. Expected to be unveiled at Meta
Connect 2025 on September 17, these smart glasses
represent a
significant
evolution
in
wearable
technology,
building
upon
the success
of the popular
Ray-Ban Meta
lineup.
The Gen 3 lineup introduces
two distinct frame styles codenamed
“Aperol” and “Bellini,”
catering to different user
preferences. Aperol
offers chunky
aviator-inspired
sunglasses,
while Bellini
provides prescription-ready
eyewear in an upgraded Headliner
style. Both models prioritize
fashion-forward design that
disguises their technological capabilities,
making them appear as
regular eyewear rather than obvious
tech gadgets.
The glasses feature Qualcomm’s latest
Snapdragon AR1+ processor, delivering transformative
performance improvements. This advanced
chip is 26% smaller than its predecessor while offering
substantially better power efficiency and an integrated
neural processor for on-device AI processing. The result
is an impressive battery life extension from the current
4-6 hours to approximately 8 hours of continuous use.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking feature is “Super
Sensing,” an enhanced AI system that provides hours
of
continuous environmental awareness. Unlike
current models that operate in
30-minute sessions,
the AR1+ chip
enables
persistent
on-device
AI that
processes
information
locally without
constant
cloud connectivity.
This technology
supports
proactive memory
functions, automatic
reminders, real-time
translation across multiple
languages, and contextual
assistance throughout the day.
The upgraded camera system features
12-megapixel sensors with enhanced
low-light performance and
smoother video recording capabilities.
These improvements position
the Gen 3 glasses on par with Meta’s
recently released Oakley collaboration
models.
Pricing is expected to remain competitive at
$300-$500 depending on frame style and lens options,
making these advanced AI glasses accessible to
mainstream consumers. This aggressive pricing strategy
contrasts sharply with Meta’s premium Ray-Ban glasses.
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GOOGLE PIXEL 10 PRO
AI-POWERED PHOTOGRAPHY EXCELLENCE
Google launched the Pixel 10 Pro, introducing groundbreaking
camera technology and the powerful Tensor
G5 chip. This flagship smartphone redefines mobile
photography with an advanced
triple-camera system and seven
years of guaranteed OS, security,
and Pixel Drop updates.
The device features a stunning
6.3-inch LTPO OLED Super
Actua display with 120Hz refresh
rate and exceptional 3,000 nits
peak brightness. Protected by
Gorilla Glass Victus 2, the display
delivers vibrant colors and
smooth scrolling in a compact
form factor measuring 152.80 x
72.00 x 8.60mm and weighing
just 207 grams.
The Pixel 10 Pro’s camera configuration
represents a significant
leap forward in smartphone
imaging. The triple rear camera
setup includes a 50MP wide-angle
primary sensor with ƒ/1.68 aperture and 2x optical image
quality, a 48MP ultra-wide camera with 123° field of view and
Macro Focus capability, and a 48MP telephoto lens offering
5x optical zoom.
The revolutionary 42MP front-facing camera features autofocus
and an expansive 103° ultra-wide
field of view, capturing
remarkably sharp selfies even
in challenging lighting conditions.
Google’s Pro Res Zoom
technology now extends to an
unprecedented 100x magnification
with AI-enhanced imaging
algorithms.
Powered by Google’s Tensor
G5 processor paired with 16GB
RAM, the Pixel 10 Pro delivers
exceptional multitasking capabilities.
The octa-core chipset
features a configuration of dual
2.85 GHz Cortex-X3 cores, triple
2.35 GHz Cortex-A710 cores,
and quad 1.80 GHz Cortex-A510
cores.
Magic Cue represents Google’s
most intelligent AI assistant integration yet, proactively suggesting
contextual information precisely when needed.
DJI MAVIC 4 PRO
TRIPLE-CAMERA AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY REVOLUTION
DJI launched the Mavic 4 Pro on April 24, 2025, introducing
groundbreaking imaging technology with a
100MP Hasselblad camera and revolutionary 360° Infinity
Gimbal. This flagship consumer drone establishes new
standards for aerial photography with its triple-lens camera
system, extended flight capabilities, and advanced obstacle
detection reaching down to 0.1 lux darkness.
The centerpiece is the meticulously engineered 4/3 CMOS
Hasselblad main camera featuring a brand-new 100MP sensor
supporting Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS) for
exceptional color fidelity. The versatile ƒ/2.0 to ƒ/11 aperture
enables clean low-light filming while rendering eye-catching
10-ray starburst effects. The lens has been completely
reengineered to meet the demanding requirements of the
100MP sensor, delivering unprecedented sharpness and detail.
Complementing the main camera are large CMOS dual
telephoto cameras with 1/1.3-inch and 1/1.5-inch sensors.
This triple-camera configuration provides focal lengths of
24mm, 50mm, and 145mm, offering exceptional versatility for
different shooting scenarios. The system records stunning
6K video at 60fps with HDR support and 4K slow-motion
footage at 120fps.
The innovative electronic ND filter system eliminates the
need for physical lens attachments, allowing seamless exposure
adjustments during flight. This built-in solution provides
professional-grade control over shutter speeds and aperture
settings without adding weight or complexity.
The Mavic 4 Pro achieves an impressive 51-minute maximum
flight time, providing extended shooting sessions without
battery changes. Maximum flight speed reaches 27 m/s in
Sport mode with wind resistance capabilities up to 12 m/s,
enabling stable operation in challenging conditions.
December 2025 / 111

Smart Mobility
Smart Mobility:
Electric Autonomy
Dubai targets 25% autonomous transit by 2030 through
systematic deployment
The UAE is accelerating the transition to electric and
autonomous mobility through infrastructure investment,
regulatory frameworks, and coordinated public
transport electrification, establishing itself as a regional
pioneer in sustainable urban mobility systems.
112 \ December 2025
Dubai’s Roads and Transport
Authority has taken a leading
position in fleet electrification
across the region. By 2023, about
seventy-two percent of the city’s taxi
fleet had shifted from conventional
engines to hybrid, electric, or hydrogen
propulsion. This marks steady
progress toward the authority’s
target of reaching a fully environmentally
friendly fleet by 2027, supported
by yearly increases in hybrid
and electric deployments. Long-term
trials carried out by the RTA show
clear economic advantages.
Over fifteen years, hybrid vehicles
achieved fuel savings of roughly
one-third and delivered similar
reductions in carbon emissions.
Maintenance costs also fell, with
hybrid and electric models operating
at roughly half the cost of traditional
taxis. These efficiencies supported
the wider rollout, which brought
more than two thousand four hundred
hybrid vehicles, one hundred
seventy electric units, and three
hybrid limousines into the Dubai Taxi
fleet between 2020 and 2023.

thetechnologyexpress.com
Franchise operators added further
hybrid capacity during the same
period. The programme also includes
early exploration of hydrogen propulsion.
In 2019, the RTA introduced
the region’s first hydrogen-powered
taxi at Dubai International Airport,
broadening its technology base for
future transport needs.
Charging Infrastructure: The Backbone
of EV Adoption
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s
Green Charger programme
has grown at a striking pace. By
September 2025, the city had more
than 1,270 public charging points,
rising sharply from 740 in March
of the same year. This expansion
reflects both direct investment by the
authority and increasing participation
from licensed private operators
working within a structured regulatory
system.
The number of registered EV
owners rose from a small group in
2015 to more than twenty thousand
by early 2025. By the middle of the
year, over forty thousand electric vehicles
were in use across Dubai, placing
the city on course to surpass its
2030 target. Since the programme
began, charging activity has delivered
more than thirty-nine thousand
megawatt-hours of electricity, supporting
a cumulative driving distance
of roughly one hundred ninety-five
million kilometres.
The network now includes a growing
share of ultra-fast chargers capable
of restoring most of a vehicle’s
battery within half an hour, which
improves usability for private drivers
and commercial fleets. The authority’s
role within the Charging Interface
Initiative strengthens technical
alignment and prepares the network
for future growth.
Testing and Deployment Framework
​By November 2025, autonomous
transport made up 9.4 percent of
Dubai’s overall mobility activity,
supported by early deployment of
autonomous shuttles and ongoing
testing programmes. The Roads and
Transport Authority aims for 25 percent
autonomous mobility by 2030
across buses, taxis, trains, marine
transit, and private vehicles, setting
a broader scope than jurisdictions
that restrict trials to single modes.
An Enterprise Command and Control
Centre provides real-time data, vehicle
tracking, and research capacity,
while high-definition mapping
systems support safe navigation in
complex city conditions.
The authority is also shaping the
regulatory environment through
dedicated testing facilities, new
frameworks for insurance and
liability, and formal infrastructure
standards for autonomous operations.
Public agencies are running
active trials of autonomous taxis
and buses, with progression tied to
improvements in sensing and computing.
Dubai Metro, already a large
Dubai’s strategy is
inclusive of all mass
transit modes, while
many countries focus
on limited transit
modes.”
— H.E. Mattar Al Tayer,
Director-General and Chairman,
Roads & Transport Authority (RTA)
driverless system, offers evidence
of successful automation, and local
shuttle projects are moving toward
full capability.
Electrification and Autonomy as
Integrated Transition
The UAE’s approach treats electrification
and autonomy as complementary
rather than sequential
transitions. Electric drivetrains
simplify autonomous vehicle control
systems by eliminating gear-shifting
complexity and reducing powertrain-related
failure modes endemic
to combustion engines. Autonomous
dispatch systems, conversely,
optimize electric vehicle utilisation by
matching available battery capacity
to trip distances and eliminating idle
periods characteristic of conventional
taxi operations.
This integrated strategy aligns
with the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic
Initiative and Dubai’s Green
Mobility Strategy 2030. The convergence
of electrified fleets and autonomous
dispatch systems represents
a systematic pathway toward
carbon-neutral urban mobility while
simultaneously enhancing transport
efficiency, safety, and accessibility.
By establishing both infrastructure,
charging networks now exceeding
1,270 points, and operational
frameworks supporting autonomous
deployment, the UAE is constructing
the systemic foundation for sustainable
smart mobility at scale.​
Dubai’s integrated push toward
electrified and autonomous mobility
positions it as a global benchmark
for sustainable urban transport. With
robust charging networks exceeding
1,270 points, proven fleet efficiencies,
and forward regulatory frameworks,
the RTA is building resilient infrastructure
that scales seamlessly to
meet rising demand. This convergence
not only accelerates net-zero
goals but redefines city mobility for
efficiency, safety, and accessibility
across diverse urban demands. As
other cities watch closely, Dubai’s
model offers a replicable blueprint.
December 2025 / 113

DRIVE TO THE FUTURE
MERCEDES-BENZ
G 580 with EQ Technology: Electric Legend Reimagined
The Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology redefines the legendary
G-Class by introducing a revolutionary electric powertrain while preserving the
iconic SUV’s legendary off-road capabilities. Launched globally in 2024 and
arriving in India with pre-bookings initiated in December, this electrified Geländewagen
demonstrates that luxury, performance, and sustainability can coexist
harmoniously.
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5.05 s
0–100 km/h
587 bhp
Horsepower
1,164 Nm
Torque
At its core lies an innovative quad-motor electric system featuring four permanently excited
synchronous motors (PSMs), one at each wheel, collectively producing 587 horsepower
and 1,164 Nm of torque. This architecture enables individual motor control, delivering exceptional
torque distribution and traction management across all surfaces. In real-world acceleration
testing, the G580 accelerates 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds and completes the quarter-mile in 12.6
seconds at 108 mph, decisively outperforming the gasoline-powered G550.
The G580 introduces groundbreaking off-road innovations, including G-TURN, enabling complete
360-degree rotation in place on unpaved surfaces by independently controlling opposite
wheel rotation. Virtual differential locks, advanced torque vectoring, and an intelligent off-road
crawl function (managing up to 35-degree inclines equivalent to 70% gradients) maintain G-Class’s
all-terrain reputation. These capabilities, combined with 250mm ground clearance and underbody
protection plates safeguarding the battery, ensure genuine go-anywhere capability.
Powered by a liquid-cooled 116 kWh lithium-ion battery, the G580 delivers 473 km driving range
and charges from 10% to 80% in just 32 minutes using 200kW DC fast chargers. AC charging
requires 11.7 hours for full capacity at 11kW. Despite being 1,208 pounds heavier than its gasoline
counterpart, the electric drivetrain provides superior weight distribution (48.4% front vs. 52.5%
gas model) and enhanced braking performance.
The G580 maintains the iconic boxy exterior design instantly recognizable as a G-Wagen, featuring
circular LED headlights and distinctive styling. Interior luxury includes leather seating, 10 airbags,
advanced driver assistance systems, and Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment with customizable
displays providing real-time battery and consumption data. At $375,000, the G580 represents
Mercedes’ flagship electric SUV offering uncompromised luxury.
Independent testing confirms the G580’s superiority over the gasoline G550: achieving 0-100
mph in 10.4 seconds versus 13.3 seconds for the gas model, with superior braking from 70 mph
(162 feet vs. 165 feet stopping distance). EPA ratings of 68 MPGe city and 53 MPGe highway
demonstrate excellent efficiency for a vehicle of this size and capability.
The Mercedes-Benz G 580 successfully balances electric innovation with off-road authenticity,
proving electric SUVs needn’t compromise performance, luxury, or capability.
December 2025 / 115

APP EXPRESS
DESCRIPT – AI VIDEO & PODCAST
EDITOR
4.6/5 | 500K+ DOWNLOADS
Descript revolutionizes video and audio editing by enabling
creators to edit media like a document through
transcribed text. Unlike traditional timeline-based software,
Descript automatically transcribes content with 95%
accuracy across 25+ languages, allowing you to cut, rearrange,
and refine material through intuitive text manipulation. This
document-style approach transforms tedious editing hours
into minutes, making professional-quality content production
accessible to all skill levels.
The platform excels at handling dialogue-heavy content
including podcasts, interviews, and tutorials through intelligent
speaker identification and automatic filler word removal.
Standout features include AI voice cloning (Overdub) for
synthetic narration, multitrack editing for complex projects,
screen recording with narration, AI green screen replacement,
and automatic caption generation. Real-time collaboration
capabilities enable teams to work simultaneously with comments
and feedback, while the transcription automatically
exports as closed captions for accessibility.
Descript offers flexible pricing for different creator needs.
The free plan provides basic text-based editing with limited
features. The Creator Plan at $15 monthly ($12 annually)
includes 10 transcription hours and 1080p exports. The Pro
Plan at $30 monthly ($24 annually) unlocks 30 transcription
hours, 4K exports, unlimited AI tools, 2 hours of AI speech,
and 1TB storage. Enterprise plans include custom pricing with
dedicated support, unlimited storage, and SSO capabilities.
Education and non-profit organizations receive special pricing.
MOISES AI – AI MUSIC STEM
SEPARATOR
4.6/5 | 10M+ DOWNLOADS
Moises AI revolutionizes music practice and production
by using advanced AI to separate vocals and individual
instruments from any song with precision, creating
isolated backing tracks for learning and remixing. Unlike traditional
stem separation tools, Moises enables extraction
of granular instruments including lead guitar, rhythm guitar,
drums, piano, strings, and bass from any audio file in seconds.
The platform excels across diverse musical applications
through intelligent feature integration including AI chord detection
displayed in real-time, smart metronome synced to
song tempo, BPM detection, pitch and tempo shifting, and
AI lyric transcription across five languages. Music producers
benefit significantly from Hi-Fi audio separation preserving
original recording quality, AI mastering for industry-standard
finalization, Voice Studio for synthetic vocal generation, and
VST plugin integration into Digital Audio Workstations.
Moises offers flexible pricing accommodating various user
needs. The free plan includes vocal, drum, and bass stem
separation with chord detection and metronome access.
Premium at $3.99 monthly ($39.99 yearly) unlocks unlimited
audio separations with advanced instrument isolation. The
Pro plan at $29.99 monthly delivers Hi-Fi separation models,
multimedia track separation for dialogue and effects.
116 \ December 2025

thetechnologyexpress.com
LENSA AI – AI PHOTO EDITOR & AVATAR
GENERATOR
4.6/5 | 50M+ DOWNLOADS
Lensa AI revolutionizes photo editing by harnessing advanced
neural networks to transform ordinary selfies and
portraits into professional-grade images with one-tap
enhancements, requiring zero manual selection or technical
expertise. Unlike traditional photo editors requiring complex
manual adjustments, Lensa uses Stable Diffusion AI technology
to automatically detect faces and apply intelligent retouching
that preserves natural skin texture while eliminating imperfections,
blemishes, and unwanted background elements.
The platform excels through its standout Magic Avatars
feature, allowing users to upload 10-20 selfies to generate
stunning AI-created avatars in diverse artistic styles ranging
from anime and oil painting to fantasy and fairy-tale aesthetics.
Beyond avatars, Lensa delivers professional editing tools
including Magic Retouch for automatic facial enhancement,
object removal technology, Hollywood filters for glamorous
effects, black-and-white filters, film effects, and trendy presets
with grain, light leaks, and VHS effects perfect for social
media content.
Lensa offers flexible pricing starting with a free plan providing
three photo edits daily with limited features. The annual
Unlimited subscription costs $29.99, delivering unlimited
photo and video editing access plus all artistic effects. Magic
Avatars require separate purchases: $7.99 for 50 avatar packs
or $14.99 for 100 packs with additional options available. A
seven-day free trial enables risk-free exploration of premium
features. Social media enthusiasts and content creators praise
Lensa’s intuitive interface and exceptional output quality.
ANY.DO – TASK MANAGEMENT &
PRODUCTIVITY PLATFORM
4.4/5 | 40M+ USERS
Any.do revolutionizes personal and team task management
through its bright, intuitive interface that simplifies
workflow organization and turns daily planning into an
engaging experience. Unlike cluttered project management
tools requiring steep learning curves, Any.do combines the
simplicity of a to-do list with powerful organizational features
including task prioritization, color-coded categories, recurring
reminders, and subtask breakdowns that make managing
complex projects accessible to everyone.
The platform excels at unifying personal, family, and team
workflows within a single dashboard featuring calendar integration,
location-based reminders, voice command input for
hands-free task creation, and the innovative Any.do Moment
feature that enables daily review and prioritization sessions.
Collaborative capabilities include real-time task assignment,
in-context chat with team mentions, shared grocery lists with
auto-sorting by aisle, family projects for household planning,
and WhatsApp integration for seamless communication and
reminders across platforms.
Any.do offers flexible pricing across multiple tiers. The
Personal plan is completely free, providing unlimited tasks,
subtasks, and basic organization features. Premium at $5.99
monthly adds recurring tasks, AI features, and color tags.
December 2025 / 117

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