CXO INSIGHT March 2026 Online

FLASH-FORWARD: TRENDS FOR DATA STORAGE IN 2026

AlBawani Holding’s Fady Sleiman on navigating change and driving progress at every stage

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BUILT FOR WHAT’S NEXT

AlBawani Holding’s Fady Sleiman on a career shaped by adaptability, transformation, and a mission of driving organisations forward

18 THE NEW TRUST CRISIS

Exploring the impact of AI-driven fraud on trust, resilience and sovereign infrastructure

32 REDEFINING THE CONNECTED AGE

A look inside MWC26 as telecom shifts from connectivity to intelligent, secure and AI-driven digital infrastructure

42 WHY VPN + MFA IS NOT ENOUGH FOR OT

SANS Institute’s Mike Hoffman on closing the gap between identity-based security and operational risk in industrial environmentsdigital infrastructure

30 PORTABLE POWER

ASUS’ Tolga Özdil on combining performance, portability and on-device AI to support the next generation of professionals

INTERVIEW VIEWPOINTS

26 THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Epicor highlights why pricing precision is becoming critical as supply chain volatility and cost pressures intensify

28 FLASH-FORWARD: TRENDS FOR DATA STORAGE IN 2026

Sandisk delves into the growing role of flash storage in enabling real-time insights and scaling AI-driven workloads

50 The latest gears and gadgets to keep you ahead of the curve

REDEFINING MOMENTUM

moving right now. For all the noise around uncertainty,

Resilience, in that sense, goes beyond standing firm to and Digital Officer at AlBawani Holding, the conversation joining journeys, not companies—stepping into complex environments, understanding where things don’t connect,

The conversation has shifted beyond network expansion to what those networks now need to support AI-driven infrastructure, embedded intelligence, and the growing demands placed on connectivity at scale. The focus is no longer just on building, but on how these systems are governed, secured, and made to work together.

We also feature perspectives from Epicor on the growing importance of pricing precision in volatile markets, SANS Institute on the limitations of traditional security approaches in operational environments, and Sandisk on the role of storage in managing rising data volumes and real-time workloads.

At a time when conditions continue to shift, moving forward isn’t about speed alone. It’s about knowing how to take stock, adapt, evolve, and move with intent.

Adelle

Adelle Geronimo

Managing Editor

Commercial Director

Merle Carrasco merlec@insightmediame.com +97155 - 1181730

Administration Manager

Fahida Afaf Bangod fahidaa@insightmediame.com +97156 - 5741456

Operations Director

Rajeesh Nair rajeeshm@insightmediame.com +97156 - 4110215

Designer Anup Sathyan

While the publisher has made all efforts to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to enter consumer hardware with an AI-powered smart speaker, expected to launch as early as 2027. Designed with advanced contextual awareness, the device may feature a built-in camera, facial recognition and conversational AI, signalling a shift towards more immersive, always-on intelligent assistants.

launched a Robot

service in the GCC, enabling businesses to adopt automation through a flexible, subscription-based model. By eliminating upfront costs and bundling support and maintenance, the initiative lowers barriers to entry while accelerating scalable, low-risk robotics adoption.

Censys has appointed Meriam ElOuazzani as Vice President for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, signalling a deeper regional push. With over two decades of cybersecurity experience, she will lead growth, partnerships and market expansion as demand rises for real-time threat intelligence and exposure management.

The UAE’s virtual reality market is set for rapid growth, with revenues projected to quadruple from around AED 366 million in 2024 to over AED 1.6 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Rising adoption across real estate and immersive experiences is driving demand.

Emirates NBD has launched a new Carbon Calculator within its mobile banking app, enabling customers to track the environmental impact of their spending. By linking financial behaviour to carbon emissions, the tool offers personalised insights and nudges users towards more sustainable, climate-conscious decisions.

OPSWAT has named Jan Miller as Chief Technology Officer to strengthen its innovation roadmap and enhance its AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities. He will lead global technology strategy, focusing on advancing threat detection, deep content inspection, and critical infrastructure protection amid rising cyber risks.

Dubai Digital Knowledge Hub expands digital content reach

The Digital Knowledge Hub (DKH), an initiative of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, has expanded its platform to more than 35 million digital materials and 2.3 million titles, reinforcing its role as a comprehensive knowledge resource.

The platform integrates a wide range of content, including books, research papers, manuscripts and audio-visual materials, aimed at supporting students, researchers and the wider public. The expansion reflects significant growth, with content

Ericsson, Mastercard partner to scale digital payments and financial inclusion

volumes doubling over the past year.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to promote open access to knowledge and support the development of a knowledgebased economy. As part of this push, DKH introduced free access initiatives during UAE Reading Month to increase engagement and accessibility.

The platform has also expanded its inclusivity efforts, including the launch of an audio library for People of Determination in collaboration with Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Ericsson and Mastercard have partnered to expand digital payments and advance financial inclusion by integrating Ericsson’s Mobile Financial Services platform with Mastercard Move.

The collaboration will enable telecom operators, banks and fintechs to offer seamless domestic and cross-border money transfers, reducing integration complexity through API-led and cloud-based infrastructure.

“By combining Ericsson’s mobile financial services platform with Mastercard Move, we are enabling our customers to connect to the global financial ecosystem more efficiently,” said Peter Heuman, Head of Ericsson Mobile Financial Services.

35 million

The number of specialised digital resources available

“Through the Digital Knowledge Hub, we aim to build an integrated and innovative knowledge ecosystem that enhances access to information and supports sustainable development,” said Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation.

The expansion highlights the growing importance of digital knowledge platforms as foundational infrastructure for education, research and innovation in the region.

Mastercard positioned the partnership as a step towards expanding access to digital financial services at scale. “This partnership with Ericsson will help extend the reach of digital payments and support financial inclusion by connecting more people and

businesses to the global economy,” said Chiro Aikat, Co-President, Americas at Mastercard.

The initiative will initially target regions such as the Middle East and Africa, where mobile money continues to play a critical role in expanding access to financial services.

Anthropic acquires Vercept to advance AI ‘computer use’ capabilities

Anthropic has acquired Vercept, a startup focused on enabling AI systems to interact with software interfaces, as it pushes forward its vision of action-oriented AI.

The acquisition is aimed at strengthening Claude’s ability to perform tasks across applications— moving beyond text-based responses to executing multi-step workflows

in real-world digital environments. Vercept specialises in AI perception and interaction, allowing systems to “see” and operate software in a more humanlike way.

“AI systems that can effectively use computers will be transformative for a wide range of tasks,” Anthropic said in a statement, highlighting the growing

Aramex launches AI-first data foundation

Aramex has launched an AI-first global data foundation as part of its ongoing digital transformation, aimed at enabling real-time, datadriven decision-making across its global operations.

Built on Google Cloud using a Lakehouse architecture, the platform establishes a unified “single source of truth” across Aramex’s network, covering operations in more than 70 countries. The initiative is designed to streamline data flows, improve visibility, and support faster, more predictive decision-making

Data is the fuel that powers modern logistics, but

it’s

true value lies in how it is harnessed

importance of agents that can take action, not just provide insights.

As part of the deal, Vercept’s founding team, including Kiana Ehsani, Luca Weihs and Ross Girshick, will join Anthropic. The company said it will discontinue Vercept’s existing product as it integrates the team’s capabilities into its broader roadmap.

The move reflects a wider shift in the AI landscape, where leading model developers are racing to build systems capable of autonomous execution across digital tools. Anthropic noted significant progress in this area, with its models showing rapid improvement in benchmarks that measure real-world computer interaction.

The acquisition signals Anthropic’s focus on developing AI agents that can operate software on behalf of users— marking a transition from conversational AI to systems designed for direct task execution.

The acquisition will see Vercept’s product offerings phased out

across functions—from last-mile delivery to strategic planning.

The company said the platform is structured around three core pillars: high-velocity data processing, scalability, and real-time insights. It also incorporates governance and compliance measures to meet data residency and regulatory requirements across different markets.

Françoise Russo, Chief Technology Officer, Aramex, said, “Data is the

fuel that powers modern logistics, but it’s true value lies in how it is harnessed. By building this AI-first Lakehouse architecture, we are not just modernising our technology; we are enabling our teams to predict, adapt, and deliver faster than ever before. This platform is the foundation of our vision to be a technology-driven logistics powerhouse, providing our teams with the tools to navigate disruption with absolute precision.”

SK Telecom unveils AI-driven 6G roadmap

SK Telecom has outlined its vision for 6G with an AI-driven roadmap targeting commercial deployment around 2030, signalling a shift towards fully autonomous, intelligence-led network infrastructure.

The roadmap, detailed in the company’s latest ATHENA white paper, positions AI at the core of future network architecture— spanning radio access, core, transport

and data layers. The approach aims to move beyond traditional, human-operated networks to systems that can selfoptimise, predict demand and adapt in real time.

Built around six key pillars—AI-native design, trust, hyper-connectivity, enhanced user experience, openness and agility— the strategy reflects a broader industry

Qualys adds AI capability to reduce patch rollbacks

Qualys has introduced an AI-powered capability within its TruRisk Eliminate platform designed to reduce patch rollbacks by predicting patch reliability before deployment.

The new Patch Reliability Scoring feature analyses large-scale, real-world signals to assess the stability of patches, helping security teams make more informed, risk-based decisions. By assigning a clear reliability score, the tool enables organisations to prioritise testing, avoid unstable updates, and minimise disruption.

“Patch rollbacks aren’t just inconvenient — they’re disruptive. They burn time, trigger outages, and create security gaps while teams scramble to stabilise production. And as patch volumes and critical vulnerabilities keep rising, the old approach of ‘deploy

Patch rollbacks aren’t just inconvenient — they’re disruptive

ERAN LIVNE Qualys

The 6G framework is built around two core strategies: “AI for Network” and “Network for AI

transition towards programmable, software-defined networks powered by AI.

SK Telecom said the evolution to 6G will enable new classes of services, including advanced robotics, immersive applications, satellite communications and real-time AI-driven use cases. The company also highlighted the importance of integrated security, with AI expected to play a central role in detecting and responding to emerging threats.

The roadmap underscores a wider shift in the telecom sector, where operators are increasingly positioning themselves as AI infrastructure providers rather than connectivity providers alone.

As global momentum builds towards 6G standardisation and deployment by the end of the decade, SK Telecom’s strategy signals how next-generation networks will be defined not just by speed and latency, but by embedded intelligence and autonomous operation.

and hope’ or ‘test everything forever’, doesn’t scale,” explained Eran Livne, Sr Director of Product Management, Qualys. “Patch Reliability Score uses artificial intelligence to analyse large-scale real-world feedback signals to forecast the likelihood that a patch will create issues in customer environments.”

The capability continuously updates reliability assessments throughout a patch’s lifecycle, allowing teams to adapt deployment strategies as new data emerges. It also supports faster, more confident patching by identifying potential issues before they impact production environments.

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Infobip launches data centre in Saudi Arabia to support sovereign AI and digital services

Infobip has launched a new data centre in Saudi Arabia, enabling in-country data processing to support AI-driven services, improve latency, and meet growing data residency requirements.

The facility is designed to help enterprises and government entities operate within the Kingdom without relying on crossborder data transfers, addressing increasing regulatory and operational demands across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and the public sector.

OPSWAT introduces AI-native decision engine for zero-day detection

OPSWAT has introduced MetaDefender Aether, an AI-powered decision engine designed for fast zeroday detection at the perimeter.

The solution processes files across multiple entry points—including email, web traffic, cloud storage and removable media—before they reach enterprise systems. It combines threat reputation, dynamic analysis, threat scoring and threat hunting

Amsal Kapetanovic, Head of KSA at Infobip, said, “Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing its digital economy and accelerating its Vision 2030 ambitions, making trusted, in-country digital infrastructure more important than ever. In times of regional uncertainty and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, having sovereign, locally hosted data centres isn’t just a regulatory convenience; it’s a strategic necessity. With our new data centre in the Kingdom, enterprises and

into a unified pipeline, delivering a single, confidence-scored verdict per file.

The platform is designed to address growing challenges in perimeter security,

In

times of regional uncertainty and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, having sovereign, locally hosted data centres

isn’t just a regulatory convenience; it’s a strategic necessity”

AMSAL KAPETANOVIC

government entities can run AI workloads locally, meet regulatory requirements with confidence, and maintain continuity even during crises, benefiting from secure, low-latency infrastructure that supports innovation at scale while enhancing digital sovereignty and operational resilience.”

By hosting data and workloads locally, the new data centre is expected to enhance performance, reliability, and resilience, particularly for latency-sensitive and mission-critical applications.

where traditional sandbox and antivirus tools struggle with scale, inconclusive results and alert fatigue.

“Traditional sandboxing was never built for AI-driven threats at scale,” said Jan Miller, Global CTO of OPSWAT. “Security teams don’t need more telemetry. They need decisive answers.”

OPSWAT positions MetaDefender Aether as a shift towards decision-led security, enabling faster response through pre-correlated verdicts and integration into SIEM and SOAR workflows.

The company said the platform delivers 99.9 percent zero-day detection efficacy while improving resource efficiency compared to VM-based sandboxing, reflecting a broader move towards AI-driven, automation-ready security architectures.

Hatem Dowidar to step down as e& Group CEO

Hatem Dowidar will step down as Group CEO of e& by the end of March 2026, marking the close of a six-year tenure that oversaw the company’s transformation from a regional telecom operator into a global technology group.

The transition follows a record 2025 performance. Consolidated revenue rose 23.1 percent year on year to AED 72.9 billion, while net profit climbed 33.6 percent to AED 14.4 billion EBITDA increased 21.1 percent to AED 32 billion, with earnings per share reaching AED 1.65.

Growth was supported by strong international expansion, with the group’s total subscriber base rising 31.3 percent to 244.7 million. In the UAE, subscribers increased 8.4 percent to 16.3 million.

Dowidar’s tenure has been defined by this strategic shift, alongside geographic expansion across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. Under his leadership, e& strengthened its presence in key growth markets while

I am honoured to have led e& during a defining chapter, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished together

building out new digital verticals to drive long-term value.

“With 2025 marking a record year for e&, I have decided to conclude my six-year tenure as Group CEO,” Dowidar said. “I am honoured to have led e& during a defining chapter, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, currently CEO of e& UAE, is set to assume the role of Group CEO from 1 April 2026, ensuring continuity in leadership as the company moves into its next phase.

The leadership change signals a planned transition rather than a shift in

direction, coming at a point where e& has completed a significant phase of its transformation journey. As the company enters a more execution-focused stage, the emphasis is expected to shift towards scaling its digital portfolio, strengthening global operations, and delivering sustained growth across its expanding business lines.

Meta opens WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots in EU

Meta will allow rival AI chatbots to operate on WhatsApp in Europe through its Business API, marking a shift in policy as the company faces mounting antitrust scrutiny from EU regulators.

Oman unveils five-year drive to expand digital economy

Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has launched a new five-year programme (2026–2030) aimed at accelerating the growth of the Sultanate’s digital economy.

The initiative focuses on scaling digital transformation across sectors, with plans to establish digital transformation centres in every governorate, tailored to local economic priorities. It also includes the development of a national predictive intelligence platform powered by large language models to support government decision-making.

As part of the strategy, Oman will strengthen its capabilities in AI, cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure,

The move will enable general-purpose AI assistants to integrate with WhatsApp, expanding access to one of the world’s largest messaging platforms. Previously, Meta had restricted such capabilities, favouring its

while also exploring local manufacturing of servers and cloud equipment to reduce reliance on imports. Additional initiatives include building an integrated cloud environment for satellite data processing and exploring the launch of a national payment card.

The programme builds on recent progress, with more than 2,200 government services digitised over the past five years and over 29 million digital transactions recorded annually.

The government has also invested approximately $205 million (OMR 79 million) in AI and trained more than 11,000 Omanis in digital skills.

The digital economy contributed approximately $2.1 billion (OMR 800 million) in 2023, reflecting its growing role in national development.

The latest push aligns with Oman Vision 2040, as the country seeks to position digital technologies as a key driver of economic diversification and long-term growth.

own Meta AI within the ecosystem.

The decision comes as European regulators raised concerns over potential anti-competitive practices, particularly around limiting third-party AI access. By opening the platform, Meta is seeking to address these concerns and avoid potential interim enforcement measures.

Access will be granted under specific conditions, including a 12-month window and a usage-based pricing model, with AI providers required to pay per message through the API.

The development highlights the growing importance of messaging platforms as key distribution channels for AI services. It also reflects a broader tension between platform control and regulatory demands for openness, as governments push for greater interoperability in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

While positioned as a compliancedriven step, the move signals how regulatory pressure is shaping the competitive dynamics of AI, particularly in how and where AI services can reach end users.

“AI IS REDEFINING COMPUTING AND DRIVING THE LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDOUT IN HUMAN HISTORY — AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS NEXT”

Jensen Huang, founder and CEO, NVIDIA

“AS THE INDUSTRY THAT CONNECTS THE WORLD, WE HAVE A REAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CHAMPION

OPEN COLLABORATION ACROSS BORDERS TO SECURE NETWORKS, CLOSE DIGITAL GAPS, AND STRENGTHEN TRUST IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY”

THE NEW

TRUST CRISIS

DEEPFAKES AND IDENTITY RISKS

AI-driven cyber fraud surged by 1300 percent in 2024, signalling a sharp escalation in how financial institutions are being targeted as digital banking expands.

That finding comes from Fortinet’s latest report, Cybersecurity for the Banking Sector in the Middle East and Africa 2026 , which examines how accelerating digital transformation is reshaping both risk and resilience across the region’s financial systems.

The shift is being driven by the rapid adoption of cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and Bankingas-a-Service models, all of which are extending the operational perimeter of banks. As services move further into digital channels, exposure to external ecosystems— particularly third-party providers—has deepened. What was once a contained technology environment is now

an interconnected network of dependencies, introducing new points of failure and attack.

Saudi Arabia sits at the forefront of this transition. The Kingdom’s banks are scaling digital services at pace, supported by regulatory oversight from bodies such as the Saudi Central Bank and the National Cybersecurity Authority. This has brought tighter scrutiny on third-party risk and operational resilience, reflecting a broader effort to safeguard financial stability and maintain consumer trust.

The threat landscape itself is evolving alongside these structural changes. Deepfake-enabled fraud, automated phishing, and digital identity impersonation are becoming more sophisticated, targeting mobile and digital banking channels with increasing precision. Artificial intelligence is embedded on both sides of the

equation—enhancing detection and response capabilities within security teams, while also enabling attackers to operate at greater scale and speed.

Infrastructure is becoming a strategic control point. The report highlights the rapid expansion of sovereign cloud across the Gulf and parts of Africa, driven by data localisation requirements and national security considerations. The global sovereign cloud market is projected to grow from $154.7 billion in 2025 to $823.9 billion by 2032, with Saudi Arabia positioning itself as a regional hub as global providers establish in-country cloud regions.

At the same time, preparedness gaps are emerging in areas that will define the next phase of cybersecurity. Postquantum cryptography remains an early-stage priority, with 61 percent of organisations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa unprepared for the transition, and only 12 percent having begun deployment. The risk of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks is no longer theoretical.

Operational pressures are compounding the challenge. A global shortage of 4.7 million cybersecurity professionals continues to constrain response capacity, pushing institutions towards automation and AI-driven security operations to sustain coverage and efficiency.

In response, banks in Saudi Arabia are focusing on stress testing resilience, strengthening supply chain oversight, expanding sovereign cloud adoption, and investing in AI-led threat detection. Cybersecurity is now tightly coupled with the stability of the financial system itself, as digital growth continues to redefine both opportunity and exposure.

61%

The proportion of EMEA organisations unprepared for the post-quantum era

47 million

The global cybersecurity workforce shortfall

1300%

The surge in AI-driven fraud in 2024

BUILT FOR WHAT’S NEXT

Fady Sleiman, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, AlBawani Holding, on a journey defined by adaptability and transformation, and the discipline of always looking ahead

Digital transformation is rarely defined by a single programme or a fixed endpoint. It unfolds over time, shaped by shifting priorities, evolving technologies, and the realities of how organisations operate. Systems are introduced, scaled, and reworked. Processes are refined and expectations change. What matters at one stage of the journey rarely holds in the next.

For leaders responsible for driving that change, the work does not settle. It moves with the organisation, often requiring clarity of direction in environments where conditions continue to shift.

With a professional journey spanning industries and geographies, Fady Sleiman has built his career within that rhythm. “I’ve always said that I join journeys, not companies,” he says. “When I look at the decisions I’ve made over the course of my career, it’s always been moving the organisation forward, building something that lasts, and keeping an eye on what comes next.”

Today, as the Group Chief Information and Digital Officer at AlBawani Holding, Sleiman operates within an environment defined by scale, complexity, and pace. Established in 1991, AlBawani is a diversified Saudi group that has grown from a civil works contractor into one of the Kingdom’s leading general contracting and infrastructure companies, with operations spanning construction, MEP, EPC, energy, water, and industrial sectors.

As part of the Public Investment Fund’s portfolio, the company is embedded in the delivery of large-scale infrastructure and development programmes across the Kingdom, aligned with the ambitions of Vision 2030.

Against that backdrop, Sleiman’s role centres on how technology, data, and systems bring structure and visibility to operations that are spread across projects, sites, and teams, driving how the organisation delivers at scale.

For all the scope and significance of that role, his early ambitions pointed in a very different direction. He had initially set his sights on becoming a pilot.

While aviation was his primary focus at the time, he was also drawn to technology, studying computer studies at university in Nottingham in the United Kingdom, where he specialised in information management.

In 2001, after finishing university, Sleiman had secured a place on British Airways’ pilot training programme, one that accepted only a small number of candidates each year. However, the events of September 11 forced the airline to reassess their operations, and the opportunity was withdrawn.

British Airways referred affected candidates to a graduate careers fair at Imperial College London where

Sleiman met recruiters from Citigroup, Chase Manhattan, and GE Capital. He secured multiple offers, but ultimately decided to participate in GE Capital’s Information Management Leadership Programme, a decision that would shape the direction of his career.

“I chose GE because of the way their programme was structured. All the others had two rotations — one year in London and one year in New York. Instead, GE Capital had four six-month rotations that are designed to place candidates into different operating environments,” he explains.

The programme placed him into a series of high-pressure assignments across functions and

markets, each tied to operational performance, process improvement, and technology-led initiatives. It established an approach that would carry forward into more senior roles — entering complex environments, quickly identifying where systems were failing to connect, and focusing on outcomes.

“I didn’t want something static. I wanted to be exposed to different environments and keep adapting. The programme at GE Capital stood out because of that,” he says.

Working alongside finance teams, accountants, and Six Sigma practitioners, he developed an approach grounded in business

outcomes rather than technical implementation. “That made me look at things differently. I look at things from a business lens first. I define the outcomes, and then I use technology solutions to help achieve those outcomes.”

That perspective would carry through a series of increasingly senior roles across Europe, Asia, and the United States. From Japan to California, Switzerland to Dublin, Sleiman’s career became a sequence of high-intensity assignments, each tied to transformation.

He later took on a lead role within GE Capital’s mergers and acquisitions team, working across multiple international markets, including early exposure to the Middle East through projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

After leading the due diligence for the formation of Al Futtaim GE Money — a turning point in his career — he was asked to step in as CIO at GE Money in 2008, a role that later expanded into broader leadership responsibilities across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“That was my first CIO role. It was a greenfield project that started with just myself, the CEO, and the CFO. We built the business from three people to around 1,900 employees, serving millions of customers within two and a half years. At that pace, there’s no separation between strategy and execution. You’re building systems, defining processes, and managing growth all at the same time,” says Sleiman.

Sleiman’s move into the region aligned with both professional opportunity and personal motivation. “I have Arabic roots, so one of the things I wanted to do was help the region to develop,” he says. “Back then, it was fairly raw. The changes that have happened since have been dramatic. It fulfilled me personally because I felt I was part of that journey.”

Among the most significant programmes during this time was his work with GE Aviation on predictive maintenance for aircraft engines.

“One of the most iconic projects I worked on was ‘Time on Wing’ with GE Aviation. We developed predictive maintenance for aircraft

I always say I join journeys, not companies. Every organisation is on its own journey, and our role as CIOs is to help move it to the next stage

engines—what we now call IoT, though back then it was referred to as the Industrial Internet. It was one of the first programmes globally in that space,” explains Sleiman.

The concept evolved into a commercial offering that allowed airlines to monitor engine performance and maintenance in real time.

His remit expanded further into innovation, including the establishment of innovation centres across Africa, Turkey, and Masdar in Abu Dhabi, each focused on applying emerging technologies within industrial contexts.

GE later offered Sleiman a global Chief Digital Officer role in California, which he declined due to personal reasons, marking a natural point to move on.

After leaving GE in 2014, Sleiman’s next move took him into Waha Capital, a Mubadala-backed company in Abu Dhabi. “My remit there was to make Waha the first digital investment company in the world, using technology to assess acquisitions and shape growth across its portfolio. The size of the organisation meant we could move quickly and apply technology in a more direct way,” he says.

That experience deepened the link between technology, investment strategy, and long-term value creation.

He was later approached by Petrofac to take on the role of Chief Digital Officer, driving transformation

across the oil and gas firm, before joining Mantrac in 2021 to lead a broader shift towards a digitally enabled operating model.

By 2024, Sleiman stepped into the construction sector, taking on the role of Group CIDO at Saudibased AlBawani Holding. The company’s portfolio spans largescale infrastructure and high-profile developments, including data centre programmes and government-linked projects tied closely to the Kingdom’s national priorities.

“We specialise in iconic and core infrastructure programmes across the Kingdom itself. We’ve won the contract for Hexagon, the largest government data centre in the world. We have a lot of government-linked projects as well, and we’re very critical to the 2030 vision for the Kingdom.”

According to Sleiman, AlBawani’s growth is reflected in the scale of operations, both in workforce and project delivery, as the organisation continues to expand while remaining selective in how it positions itself within the market.

“Currently, our workforce is around 16,500, and by the end of this year I think we’re going to be about 20,000 to 22,000, and we’re just going to continue to grow. The Saudi market is providing us with ample amount of opportunities, but we’re being very selective on what we take on in the Kingdom,” says Sleiman.

Within that environment, Sleiman’s focus extends beyond digitising processes to addressing structural challenges that define how the construction industry operates globally.

“If you look at the digital maturity curve, construction is one of the

In order to get the benefit from any technology, including AI, you need to invest

sectors that are on the lower side. My goal is to disrupt the construction industry generally, not just for the region, because when you look at it globally, we all have the same problems.”

Those problems are consistent and systemic, particularly in how projects are managed and how information is shared. “Most construction companies operate sites in silos. We don’t have digital threads. We don’t have single sources of truth. We have a lot of legacy issues, and a lot of the programmes are dictated by clients asking us to use specific tool sets, so it’s very hard to have a single stack.”

The operational reality on the ground adds another layer of complexity, particularly in environments where large workforces must be coordinated across multiple sites. In these conditions, decisionmaking depends heavily on sitelevel information, and when that information is fragmented across systems, it often becomes reactive rather than structured.

Part of the challenge, Sleiman explains, lies in how the industry has traditionally approached technology. “There’s often this idea that because construction is a labour-driven operation, we don’t need technology. That’s why, it’s important that when you introduce technology, it has to work in that environment and it needs to be practical. It has to fit into how people actually operate on site. And ultimately, it comes down to having the right data. Because that’s what drives the operational efficiency and quality of work, we all aspire to have.”

Throughout his journey, Sleiman has also seen the role of the CIO change

significantly. What was once centred on managing infrastructure and maintaining systems has expanded into something far more embedded in how organisations operate and grow.

“CIOs are not just typical technologists anymore,” he says. “Before, CIOs would keep the lights on, or they were told what problems need to be solved. Now it’s about understanding the business strategy and how the technology function becomes a growth partner, not just an enabling function.”

That shift has moved the role away from being a purely technical function into one that is expected to shape direction and influence business outcomes. That expectation has become more pronounced with the rise of artificial intelligence, where organisations are under pressure to adopt quickly, often before the underlying foundations are in place. Across conversations with peers, Sleiman sees a consistent pattern.

“I see a lot of my peers struggling to get real value from AI,” he says.

Sleiman notes that the issue is not the technology itself, but how it is

being introduced into environments that are not ready to support it. “They adopt AI technologies using the information already in the company, but that data is unrefined. It hasn’t been looked at, there’s no classification. The AI is doing its job, but they’re not getting the value because it’s working with poor data.”

Alongside data, culture remains a defining factor in whether those initiatives succeed. “People don’t like change. When you start introducing AI, the first thing people start looking at is their roles, and they get scared.”

According to Sleiman, managing that transition requires deliberate effort, particularly in aligning how technology is introduced with how people adapt to it. “When we introduce new platforms or digitise processes, we have to look at how people will react and how they will adopt that technology. We need to have a separate programme for people and culture around technology generally, not just AI.”

At the same time, the pace of AI development has introduced new

challenges around investment and accountability. The balance between ambition and measurable value is becoming more closely scrutinised, particularly at board level. “In order to get the benefit from any technology, including AI, you need to invest. But at the same time, the C-suite needs to understand what that benefit is going to achieve for the organisation.”

Those pressures reinforce the need for clarity in how technology is positioned within the organisation. According to Sleiman, that clarity comes from defining where technology delivers measurable outcomes, not just potential.

“Once that foundation is set, it needs to be maintained and built on — and then the focus shifts to what comes next,” he says.

He adds, “That mindset comes from my early days at GE — that change is constant, and you always have to keep evolving. I always say I join journeys, not companies. Every organisation is on its own journey, and our role as CIOs is to help move it to the next stage.”

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

By Vibhu Kapoor, Regional VP – Middle East, Africa & India, Epicor

The economic outlook for the Middle East is exceptionally strong, positioning the region as one of the most dynamic growth markets globally.

Oxford Economics expects GCC GDP growth to reach 4.4 percent in 2026, up from four percent in 2025. At the same time, real household consumption across the GCC is projected to grow by 3.4 percent annually over the next five years, nearly double the rate forecast for advanced economies. For manufacturers serving sectors

such as retail, FMCG, construction and automotive, this combination of economic momentum and rising consumer confidence represents a significant opportunity to scale. Yet strong market momentum does not guarantee easy wins. Global supply chains remain fragile, energy prices continue to fluctuate, and geopolitical uncertainty still influences the cost and availability of raw materials. Even in growth markets, these factors create feedback loops that quickly ripple through manufacturing operations,

impacting production costs, delivery timelines and ultimately pricing. As a result, customers are becoming more price conscious, competition is intensifying, and margins are under constant pressure. In this environment, the ability to price accurately and adjust pricing dynamically is no longer optional, it is central to sustaining growth.

When pricing misses the mark

The risks of getting pricing wrong are well understood. Research from SPARXiQ shows that most distributors charge customers either too much or too little. Overpricing damages loyalty and limits repeat business, while underpricing may help close deals but quietly erodes profitability and leaves value unrealised.

However, while the risks of sub-optimal pricing are widely recognised, the factors behind it are often less visible. Revenue can appear healthy even as margins

shrink. In other cases, margins look protected on paper, yet sales teams struggle to compete. Left unaddressed, these disconnects undermine both performance and organisational confidence.

Why traditional pricing no longer works

Many manufacturers still rely on pricing methods that are out of step with today’s market dynamics. Spreadsheets, historical benchmarks and cost-plus formulas remain common, despite their inability to reflect real-time changes in costs or demand. These approaches are slow, manual and prone to error, especially as energy prices, transport costs and supplier terms shift rapidly.

There is also a structural challenge. Sales teams are under pressure to discount, while production and operations absorb rising input costs. When pricing decisions are made in silos, they

For manufacturers considering their next move, transitioning ERP to the cloud is a practical way to futureproof pricing and decision-making

stronger margins without alienating customers. When supplier costs change, pricing can be adjusted automatically to protect profitability. Forecasting also allows pricing strategies to be planned in advance, rather than formed reactively once margins are already under pressure.

become reactive compromises rather than strategic choices— supporting short-term goals but weakening long-term performance.

What effective pricing should look like

In an ideal scenario, pricing is informed by real-time data and a shared understanding across the business. Sales, finance, operations and supply chain teams align around common objectives, with decisions reflecting current costs, inventory and demand.

This creates clarity and confidence. Sales teams can quote competitive, profitable prices, finance gains visibility into margins, and operations understands how production influences pricing— supported by a single, trusted source of truth.

The solution is one many manufacturers already have in hand

Most manufacturers already have the foundation for this approach in place, even if they have not yet applied it to pricing. ERP systems are typically used to manage warehousing, inventory, order processing and supply chains, but they also contain the data required to support more intelligent pricing decisions.

By extending ERP into pricing, manufacturers can directly link prices to inventory, costs and forecasts. Slow-moving products can be priced more strategically to stimulate demand, while high-demand items can support

This shift is not theoretical. In Qatar’s ceramics sector, Uniceramic moved away from estimate-based costing that broadly divided energy and raw material costs across production. By defining clear standards and capturing actual material usage, energy consumption and labour time for each run, the business gained precise visibility into product costs—enabling stronger margins, competitive pricing and fair value delivery.

The next acceleration with AI and cloud ERP

The evolution of pricing is set to accelerate further as AI becomes embedded directly into ERP systems. Teams will increasingly be able to interact with ERP platforms conversationally, exploring customer behaviour, supply trends and demand forecasts without relying on complex reports. Pricing decisions can become more predictive, scenario-driven and strategic, rather than reactive.

Cloud-based ERP is the foundation for this shift. It enables faster innovation, easier integration of AI capabilities and continuous improvement without the constraints of legacy infrastructure. For manufacturers considering their next move, transitioning ERP to the cloud is a practical way to futureproof pricing and decision-making.

Pricing

as a strategic advantage

As growth accelerates across the Middle East, manufacturers must become more deliberate in how they approach pricing. The good news is that many already have the systems needed to do this, but their potential remains underutilised. By treating pricing as a strategic discipline, enabled by ERP and strengthened by AI, manufacturers can protect margins, remain competitive and convert regional growth into sustainable value.

FLASH-FORWARD: TRENDS FOR DATA STORAGE IN 2026

FBy Christophe Vaissade, OEM Sales Director EMEA, Embedded and Cloud Market, Sandisk

rom the explosion of AI use cases and AI-capable technologies to the rapid optimisation of softwaredefined vehicles (SDVs), 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for data growth and data-centre development. Governments across the GCC, from the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 to Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for Data & AI, have mandated heavy investment in AI infrastructure to expand onshore AI capabilities and datacentre footprint through streamlined planning approvals, prioritized power grid connections and financial incentives. Growth in data centers shows no sign of slowing as we approach the new year.

At the same time, organisations are under increasing pressure to manage the data traversing their own networks at scale. There is an immediate need to access insight in real-time, and that means adopting the right technologies and capabilities to stay competitive.

At the core of this is a need for storage that can deliver efficient, reliable, real-time access to insights. In 2025, flash storage emerged as the solution of choice for many industries due to its scalable, robust, and flexible nature. As we move in 2026, this trend is set to accelerate in a few key ways:

Storing and managing

unstructured data

As data volumes continue to rise in 2026, organisations will no doubt

generate more unstructured data than ever before. This unstructured data can include anything that does not fit neatly into predefined formats or models, which could be text, emails, video, imagery, sensor readings, and system logs from different formats. Produced rapidly and in large quantities, unstructured data only becomes valuable when efficiently stored, processed, and converted into actionable intelligence. Industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and finance generate vast amounts of unstructured data every day, and this will only continue into the new year.

From medical scans and clinical notes, through to machine logs, quality-control imagery, and vehicle sensor streams, organisations will need to be able to convert this unstructured data into structured insight that can be analysed in realtime. The insights enable informed decision-making, predictive maintenance, and operational efficiency.

Flash storage is well suited to meet the needs of data-heavy sectors as it provides high-speed data processing, low latency, and the reliability required to handle vast volumes of unstructured data rapidly and dependably. Its ability to support real-time insights, enable edge processing, and manage demanding workloads with minimal degradation also enables it to turn raw data into valuable, actionable outcomes across sectors.

Ongoing advancements in flash storage also allow for accelerated read/write performance which is ideal for building robust data repositories, training next-generation AI models, and processing insights in real-time which enables efficient and seamless operations.

Making Software-Defined Vehicles a reality

The opportunity for SoftwareDefined Vehicles (SDVs), or Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), in 2026 will be significant. It is estimated that significant employment opportunities could be created across manufacturing, software development, testing, and optimisation. The region is gearing up to become a global leader in the next generation of mobility, with the market estimated to be worth as much as GBP 42 billion by 2035. However, this new market will come with unprecedented data demands. Each SDV could produce 1 to 2 terabytes of raw data each day according to a 2021 study by McKinsey & Company. This is because cameras, radar, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and AI systems are constantly collecting, storing, and analysing information in real-time to improve safety, performance, and seamless operation. Without reliable

data storage, specifically flash storage, will enable the making SDVs a reality.

and partnerships are expected to drive rapid expansion in digital infrastructure, creating opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.

Flash storage offers significant advantages for data centres, delivering enhanced performance, efficiency, and scalability. Its features – high speed and low latency – can enhance the performance of read and write operations, resulting in improved overall system responsiveness. This performance uplift is complemented by lower power consumption and reduced heat generation, helping minimise cooling requirements and lower operating costs.

Moreover, the compact design of flash solutions supports higherdensity deployments, making it ideal for environments where physical space is at a premium. With no moving parts, it also provides enhanced durability and reliability, supporting long-term system stability and minimising the risk of mechanical failure – making it a resilient and dependable choice for modern data centre infrastructure.

With investment expected to ramp up, and space at a premium across the region’s data centre network, flash will become a storage solution of choice to support these intense delivery requirements.

Flash storage offers significant advantages for data centres, delivering enhanced performance, efficiency, and scalability

This is because resilient, vehicle optimized flash storage can manage the massive data demands of SDVs reliably and efficiently. Such devices are able to withstand varying temperatures, vibrations, and mechanical shock commonly encountered in automotive environments.

Flash: The backbone of the data economy

Ultimately, in 2026 the volume of data traversing our networks will continue to soar, and AI-powered technologies will increasingly become ubiquitous. Having the right storage in place will be key.

storage at the heart of these systems, all the innovation, jobs and economic growth which come with this, could face operational challenges.

With these intense data requirements, it will be even more crucial that storage is not overlooked in the coming year. While the focus tends to be on real-time processing and immediate vehicle performance,

Flash storage also enables the real-time processing of sensor data, supporting the secure logging of critical information, and underpinning the performance of software-defined and autonomous systems.

Flash innovation in the data centre

As data volumes continue to grow and new technologies like AI proliferate, development of the region’s underlying data centre network, and technology within these data centres, will be critical. Driven by national strategies, funding

With such emphasis on new technologies in development and data opportunities, the role of storage has often been overlooked.

Going forward however, if governments and organisations really want to benefit from the trove of insight now available to them, they will have to pay more attention to data storage options that underpin much of our future data economy. And flash storage will continue to rise as the option of choice for many, across interesting and diverse use cases.

PORTABLE POWER

Tolga Özdil, Regional Commercial Director, Middle East, Turkey & Africa (META) at ASUS, discusses how the ExpertBook Ultra combines portability, performance and on-device AI to support the next generation of professionals

What was the core vision behind the development of the ExpertBook Ultra, particularly its compact, lightweight and top-tier performance?

We wanted to remove the traditional tradeoff between portability and performance since a high-end laptop typically has components that would make it bulky and heavy. With the ExpertBook Ultra, we focused on these main aspects: top-tier performance, lightweight and durability. Since work is no longer confined to an office space, workers need a device that can offer a workstation-level experience but is also portable enough to be carried anywhere. The ExpertBook Ultra ticks all of those boxes and is engineered to handle rugged usage. These features combined makes it a powerful device designed for nextgeneration professionals.

How do on-device AI capabilities address concerns around data privacy and compliance for regulated industries?

Data privacy is actually one of the reasons why on-device AI capabilities are a top choice for businesses investing in AI. Strict regulatory requirements often state where and how confidential data is stored and processed. The ExpertBook Ultra can handle AI-based tasks all on the device, without the need to connect to cloud servers. Since all processes happen offline, organisations have more control over their data and lower risks.

One thing to note is that cloudbased AI servers run on high-end hardware. The ExpertBook Ultra runs on Intel’s latest Panther Lake CPUs. With up to 50 TOPS (trillion operations per second) performance, it can effortlessly handle AI workloads efficiently.

How has thermal design been engineered in the ExpertBook Ultra to sustain high-performance AI processing without compromising reliability?

Sustained performance is often difficult to achieve because of heat, and a good thermal management

AI will be even more integrated into everyday work tools, more than it is being used today

more real-time assistance for creative tasks and data analysis. This shift in AI usage will grow in parallel with cloud-based AI services. This means that workloads are now distributed: AI on-device for privacy and speed, and cloud for large-scale AI tasks and training. The ExpertBook Ultra is equipped to process AI tasks locally, and we have designed the device in a way that ensures support for many AI-driven applications that will be released in the next couple of years.

system is essential. With the Expertbook Ultra, we designed a thin and high-strength aluminum module that expands the cooling surface inside the laptop with triple air outlets that actively cool the CPU and the SSD. This method allows the device to achieve sustained performance while keeping the fans quiet.

How do you see AI capabilities evolving over the next few years, and how future-ready is the ExpertBook Ultra in that context?

AI will be even more integrated into everyday work tools, more than it is being used today. AI will take over repetitive tasks, and there will be

What role do your local partners play in shaping and delivering your overall Middle East strategy?

Our local partners play a critical role in our success in this region. With our partner ecosystem, we are able to tailor solutions for our target customers. Their knowledge of the local markets allows us to understand how customer needs vary with each industry, so we can offer solutions that are relevant and practical.

To recognise our partners’ efforts, we organise the annual Partner Excellence Night that honours the top performers and celebrates the achievements they’ve accomplished.

REDEFINING THE CONNECTED AGE

The Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona marked a turning point for telecom, shifting the focus from network expansion to delivering intelligent, secure and scalable digital infrastructure

The Mobile World Congress celebrated its 20th edition in Barcelona this year, returning to Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via at a moment when the telecom industry is being forced to redefine its role. No longer just a provider of connectivity, it now sits at the centre of how AI scales, how economies digitise, and how trust is maintained in increasingly complex, softwaredefined systems.

The event drew nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries, alongside 2,900 exhibitors and more than 1,700 speakers. What stood out, however, was not just scale, but composition—58 percent of attendees came from industries beyond the traditional mobile ecosystem, reinforcing MWC’s evolution into a broader digital infrastructure platform.

John Hoffman, CEO and Director, GSMA, said: “Twenty years in Barcelona and MWC continues to surprise and surpass expectations. From the very beginning, the GSMA and host city parties shared a common vision: to build something that would matter to the world. Barcelona was the city with the infrastructure, the ecosystem, and the commitment to grow with us, and I’m particularly proud of the local impact we’ve had along the way.”

That shift is reflected in the industry’s priorities. In his opening keynote, GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath, outlined three:

accelerating 5G standalone investment, scaling open and inclusive AI, and strengthening collective responses to cyber threats. He said: “One week. Hundreds of stages and exhibitors. And thousands of conversations. It’s clear, the global connectivity industry has never been more energised or more purposeful. MWC26 has shown us what happens when the world’s brightest minds come together around genuinely hard problems – from open and inclusive AI and realising the full potential of 5G, to keeping the world safe from the growing threat of fraud and cybercrime. I leave this week inspired by what I’ve seen, and more convinced than ever about the role our amazing industry plays in shaping a safer and betterconnected world.”

The data underscores the urgency. Mobile technologies generated $7.6 trillion in 2025—6.4 percent of global GDP—and are projected to reach $11.3 trillion by 2030. Yet over three billion people remain unconnected, and cybercrime costs are set to rise sharply, signalling that scale without resilience is no longer viable.

MWC26 ultimately reinforced how the industry’s next chapter will be defined not by how fast it builds networks, but by how effectively it governs, secures, and monetises them.

Against this backdrop of scale, urgency, and industry realignment, the conversations at MWC26 translated into a series of tangible announcements and strategic moves across AI, networking, devices, and more.

Here are some of the highlights at MWC26:

INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS

GSMA launches Open Telco AI

The GSMA has announced Open Telco AI, a global initiative designed to accelerate the development of telecom-grade artificial intelligence.

The programme focuses on building AI models tailored to the unique demands of telecom networks, where requirements around reliability, latency and precision differ significantly from general-purpose AI. To support this, Open Telco AI will provide a shared platform with access to open models, datasets, and development tools, enabling collaboration across operators, vendors, developers and academia.

The initiative reflects a broader shift within the industry. Rather than relying solely on external AI platforms, telecom players are looking to develop domain-specific capabilities that can support core network operations, automation and service innovation.

By anchoring AI development in open frameworks, the GSMA aims to drive interoperability, reduce fragmentation and accelerate adoption. The long-term goal is to position AI as a foundational layer of future networks, enabling more efficient, intelligent and scalable telecom infrastructure.

NVIDIA leads industry push for AI-native 6G networks

NVIDIA introduced a global initiative with industry leaders including Booz Allen, BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, MITRE, Nokia, OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation, ODC, SK Telecom, SoftBank Corp., and T-Mobile to build the next generation of wireless networks on AI-native, open and secure platforms.

The collaboration focuses on shaping 6G infrastructure as a foundation for the AI era, where networks move beyond connectivity to support autonomous systems, robotics and intelligent machines at scale. Traditional architectures are no longer sufficient, as rising complexity and security demands require a more adaptive, software-defined approach.

By embedding AI across the radio access network, edge and core, the initiative aims to enable real-time intelligence, integrated sensing and stronger resilience. Built on open and interoperable frameworks, the model is designed to accelerate innovation while maintaining trust.

The effort signals a broader industry shift: positioning telecom networks as intelligent infrastructure underpinning the next phase of global digital and physical AI ecosystems.

“AI is redefining computing and driving the largest infrastructure buildout in human history — and telecommunications is next,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together with a global coalition of industry leaders, NVIDIA is building AI-RAN to transform the world’s telecom networks into AI infrastructure everywhere.”

AI-NATIVE NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Huawei introduces Xinghe AI Fabric 2.0 Huawei unveiled its upgraded Xinghe AI Fabric 2.0 solution, targeting the growing demands of AI-driven data centre networks.

The solution is designed to support large-scale AI workloads through a three-layer architecture comprising AI Brain, AI Connectivity and AI Network Elements. It focuses on improving network reliability, enabling automated operations, optimising load balancing and delivering faster fault recovery to maintain high availability in AI environments.

Huawei also introduced new hardware innovations, including a 51.2T liquid-cooled switch and 800GE optical modules, aimed at increasing bandwidth capacity and energy efficiency for high-density computing scenarios.

The upgrade reflects increasing pressure on enterprise networks to handle AI training and inference workloads, where performance, latency and stability requirements exceed those of traditional cloud architectures.

SoftBank unveils Telco AI Cloud SoftBank Corp. unveiled a strategy that repositions telecom networks as AI-native infrastructure. The company announced its transition from a traditional carrier—focused on moving data—to a distributed AI platform capable of running workloads across edge and cloud environments.

Central to this shift is its Telco AI Cloud vision, which embeds intelligence directly into network infrastructure. Using AI-RAN and multi-access edge computing, SoftBank aims to orchestrate AI workloads in real time, enabling faster inference and reducing reliance on centralised cloud processing.

A key focus is “Physical AI,” where networkembedded intelligence supports robotics and autonomous systems. By offloading compute to the network, robots can perform more complex, realtime tasks beyond the limits of onboard hardware.

SoftBank also demonstrated this approach through a proof-of-concept with Ericsson, highlighting how AI-driven networks can enhance connectivity and operational stability in real-world robotic deployments.

NEXT-GENERATION CONNECTIVITY

Qualcomm builds AI-ready connectivity with Wi-Fi 8 portfolio

Qualcomm is advancing its wireless strategy with an AI-native Wi-Fi 8 portfolio, which combines the FastConnect 8800 mobile system with a new range of Dragonwing networking platforms.

The FastConnect 8800 features a 4x4 Wi-Fi radio configuration, delivering speeds beyond 10 Gbps, up to double the performance of Wi-Fi 7 and up to three times the wireless range. It also integrates Wi-Fi 8, Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband and Thread into a single chip, alongside Proximity AI capabilities for centimetre-level tracking.

The Dragonwing platforms are designed for routers, gateways and enterprise access points, incorporating AI processing and high-performance wireless connectivity. The NPro A8 Elite includes a 5x5 Wi-Fi 8 system, improving throughput, reducing latency and lowering power consumption, while integrating a next-generation CPU and AI acceleration.

Additional platforms support fibre and fixed wireless access deployments, extending Wi-Fi 8 capabilities across both premium and high-volume networking segments.

HUMAN–MACHINE INTERACTION

Honor blurs the line between phone and robot Honor pushed its AI hardware vision forward with the unveiling of its Robot Phone, a concept that reimagines what a smartphone can be.

Unlike traditional devices, the Robot Phone integrates a motorised, AI-powered camera system. It features a 200MP sensor mounted on a compact multi-axis gimbal. This allows the device to physically move, track subjects and stabilise footage in real time, effectively turning the phone into an autonomous imaging system rather than a passive tool.

Designed around Honor’s broader push into “Augmented Human Intelligence,” the device blends robotics, AI and mobile computing. It can respond dynamically to movement and environmental inputs, enabling more immersive and intelligent interactions.

Positioned alongside the Magic V6 foldable, the Robot Phone signals a shift toward embodied AI in consumer devices—where smartphones evolve from interfaces into active, responsive systems capable of interpreting and interacting with the physical world.

Lenovo brings human-centric AI to workflows

Lenovo showcased its AI Workmate Concept, presenting a proof of concept focused on AI-assisted workflows.

The concept is designed as an always-on desk companion, supporting multiple input methods including writing, voice, gesture and spatial interaction. It processes inputs locally using on-device AI, enabling real-time interaction without relying on cloud connectivity.

AI Workmate is built to assist with tasks such as scanning and summarising documents, organising notes, and supporting the creation of presentations and other work content. The system translates physical actions into digital outputs through natural interaction models.

The concept also includes spatial capabilities, allowing content to be projected onto nearby surfaces such as desks or walls. This enables information to extend beyond the device screen, supporting alternative ways of interacting with digital content in professional environments.

CONSUMER TECH

Motorola enters book-style foldables segment Motorola has extended the Razr series into the bookstyle category with the Razr Fold.

The device features a 6.6-inch external display that unfolds into an 8.1-inch 2K LTPO main display, with a thickness of 4.6 mm when open and 9.9 mm when closed. It uses a stainless steel teardrop hinge, titanium inner screen plate, ultra-thin glass and Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 for durability.

The camera system includes three 50MP sensors: a Sony LYTIA 828 main camera, a periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom, and an ultrawide lens. It supports 8K video recording, Dolby Vision imaging and Pantone-validated colour accuracy. A 32MP internal and 20MP external front camera are also included.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, the device offers up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, with liquid cooling. It includes a 6000mAh battery, supporting 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, and supports stylus input via moto pen ultra.

Nothing debuts Phone (4a) Pro

Nothing introduced the Phone (4a) Pro, featuring a redesigned camera system, updated Glyph Matrix and performance upgrades.

The device uses a full-metal aluminium body with a 7.95 mm profile, IP65 rating and a vapour chamber cooling system. Its Glyph Matrix includes 137 mini-LEDs, delivering higher brightness and a larger coverage area for notifications and custom light patterns.

The camera setup includes a Sony OIS main sensor, a 50MP 3.5x OIS periscope telephoto lens with up to

140x zoom, an ultra-wide camera and a 32MP front camera. It supports Ultra XDR photos and 4K Ultra XDR video.

Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the device delivers improved CPU, GPU and AI performance, supported by LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage. The 5080 mAh battery supports 50W fast charging.

The phone features a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate and up to 5000 nits peak brightness. It runs Nothing OS 4.1 with AI tools including Essential Space and Essential Search.

THE NEW COMPUTE LAYER

Qualcomm powers the rise of personal AI Qualcomm Technologies announced the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, a wearable-focused system designed to

support on-device AI across multiple form factors, including smartwatches, pins and pendants.

The platform integrates a dedicated NPU, enabling AI processing directly on the device, with support for billionparameter models at the edge. It combines AI capabilities with sensor fusion, allowing features such as contextaware interactions, voice processing, life logging and task automation.

Snapdragon Wear Elite delivers performance improvements including up to 5x faster CPU speeds and up to 7x faster GPU performance. It also supports multi-day battery life, extended usage through power optimisation, and fast charging up to 50 percent in approximately 10 minutes.

Connectivity includes 5G RedCap, micro-power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 6.0, Ultra Wideband, GNSS and NB-NTN for satellite-based communication.

The platform is compatible with Wear OS, Android and Linux, with ecosystem support from partners including Google, Motorola and Samsung. Commercial devices are expected to launch in the coming months.

AMD advances desktop AI processing

AMD expanded its AI PC portfolio with the Ryzen AI PRO 400 Series processors for desktops.

The processors are built on the Zen 5 architecture and integrate CPU, GPU and a dedicated NPU, enabling local AI processing for enterprise workloads. They feature XDNA 2 NPUs delivering up to 50–60 TOPS of AI compute, meeting requirements for AI-enabled PC experiences.

The desktop lineup combines Zen 5 CPU cores, RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, and AI acceleration in a single chip, supporting tasks across productivity, engineering and content creation.

The processors also include AMD PRO features for enterprise use, such as remote management, security capabilities and long-term platform stability.

Systems powered by Ryzen AI PRO 400 Series processors are expected to be available through OEM partners including Dell, HP and Lenovo starting in Q2 2026.

FUN AND FUTURE TECH

Smartphones for pets

Singapore-based uCloudlink presented the PetPhone, a wearable device designed to enable communication between pets and their owners.

The device attaches to a pet’s collar and connects to a mobile application, combining AI, motion sensors and GPS tracking to monitor activity and location in real time. Owners can initiate calls, send audio messages or trigger alerts directly through the app.

The PetPhone is also designed to detect specific movements and translate them into actions. Repeated motions, such as jumping, can trigger a call to the owner, while other patterns can generate notifications indicating needs such as hunger, thirst or a desire for attention.

The system continuously tracks movement data and provides updates on a pet’s behaviour and location. It also allows owners to receive alerts and maintain two-way interaction through the connected platform.

The device was demonstrated at MWC Barcelona 2026 as part of a growing category of connected wearables extending beyond human users.

Xiaomi unveils hypercar vision

Xiaomi displayed the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo, a concept electric hypercar developed for the Gran Turismo franchise.

The vehicle features a teardrop-shaped cockpit and a body designed around aerodynamic efficiency, with air flowing through sculpted channels integrated into the structure. It incorporates an Active Wake Control System, which manages airflow at the rear through vents around the taillight to reduce turbulence and improve stability.

The exterior includes a halo-shaped taillight that also functions as an air outlet, along with aerodynamic elements designed to balance drag and downforce.

Inside, the concept features a “Sofa Racer” cockpit, where the dashboard, seating and interior surfaces form a continuous loop structure. The system integrates Xiaomi Pulse, which uses light and sound to interact with the driver and respond to environmental inputs.

The vehicle is designed to connect with Xiaomi’s “Human × Car × Home” ecosystem, linking in-car systems with external devices and services.

WHY VPN + MFA IS NOT ENOUGH FOR OT

Mike Hoffman, SANS Certified Instructor, breaks down the growing gap between identity-based security and operational risk in ICS—and why remote access must evolve beyond VPN and MFA

For many industrial organisations, securing remote access typically follows a familiar formula: deploying a Virtual Private Network (VPN), requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA), and considering the risk largely addressed. These controls are essential and form the backbone of secure connectivity in both IT and OT environments. However, operational technology systems involve safetycritical processes, unique engineering workflows, and specialised devices that demand a deeper level of validation than traditional remote access tools provide. VPN and MFA confirm who is accessing the environment, but they do not address what actions a user may perform, which devices they will interact with, or how their activity might affect physical operations. As industrial networks become increasingly interconnected and reliant on remote capabilities, identity verification alone is no longer enough.

The SANS 2025 State of ICS Security Survey highlights this gap particularly clearly. As Figure 1 illustrates, over

the past 12 months, 22 percent of organisations have experienced an ICS/ OT cybersecurity incident, with half of these incidents originating from external connectivity or remote access pathways. Another 38 percent involved ransomware, which frequently gains its foothold through remote-access mechanisms that bridge IT and OT environments. None of these findings suggest that identity controls are ineffective; rather, they highlight the importance of adding ICS-specific layers that extend beyond identity management. Even when a user’s identity is properly verified, OT operations must answer additional questions, such as which systems this user should be granted access to? What activity is appropriate? Are their actions safe for the process? Who approves and monitors their work? These are contextual decisions that VPNs and MFA alone cannot make, but they are critical in environments where system changes can impact physical equipment and human safety.

The survey also highlights an interesting contrast: organisations

are improving in their ability to detect incidents, yet they still struggle with the speed and complexity of remediation. Nearly half of the respondents detect ICS/OT incidents within 24 hours, and more than 65 percent take containment action within the following day. These improvements reflect stronger monitoring, better SOC alignment, and increased collaboration between IT and OT teams. However, eradication and full restoration take much longer. The survey discusses that 22 percent of organisations require two to seven days to fully remediate an incident, eight percent require one to three months, and three percent take over a year to return to a normal, validated operational state. These lengthy remediation timelines are not a failure of remote access identity controls; instead, they highlight the complexity and time required to safely recover industrial systems. Unlike IT assets, ICS devices cannot be simply reimaged or replaced without conducting reconstitution activities. As Figure 2 shows and is described in the OT Disaster Recovery Quick Start Guide, alarm limits, base layer controller modes, advanced control modes, process sequences, and even controller logic may need to be reviewed and modified to align with the most current conditions for the process. The detailed considerations of remediation underscore why organisations need visibility not only into who performed remote actions, but also into what those actions were.

Cloud adoption adds another dimension to the challenge. Only 17 percent of organisations report no cloud usage across their IT/OT footprint, meaning that 83 percent rely on some degree of cloud-connected capability. Whether through OEM support portals, predictive maintenance systems,

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Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center - Malham, Saudi Arabia

SECURE YOUR PASS NOW

analytics platforms, or enterprise historians, cloud connectivity is becoming embedded within industrial operations. Yet only 13 percent of organisations have fully integrated cloud activity into their monitoring and detection workflows. This discrepancy does not reflect a weakness in VPN or MFA, but rather the reality that modern industrial architectures incorporate multiple remote access pathways that may not pass through those controls. Cloud services often rely on their own authentication, device interaction models, and support channels. As a result, an organisation can enforce strong MFA on its primary VPN while still having additional vendor portals, embedded agents, or automation tools that offer remote access pathways that may not be known. This growing complexity underscores the need for organisations to maintain a comprehensive inventory of all user-tosystem and system-to-system remote

access pathways, not just their primary remote access connections.

Unfortunately, 31 percent of organisations surveyed do not maintain a formal inventory of their remote access points. This is one of the most significant contributors to risk across modern industrial environments. Without a comprehensive inventory, security teams cannot enforce consistent policies or even ensure that all pathways are monitored. And remote access in OT is far broader than many initially assume. It includes vendor and OEM portals, cloudbased maintenance dashboards, remote diagnostics tools, portable engineering laptops, temporary contractor sessions, cellular field modems, and more. Many of these pathways were created for valid operational reasons but lack centralised governance. The survey clearly shows that organisations with complete remote access inventories demonstrate stronger preparedness, improved detection, and

more cohesive IT/OT coordination. Visibility is fundamental to security, especially in OT, where remote actions have a direct impact on the physical world. What the 2025 survey makes increasingly apparent is that the real gap in OT remote access is not identity validation; it is the absence of ICS-specific controls that provide the engineering context necessary for safe operations. Figure 3 highlights critically low adoption rates of several essential mechanisms: only 13 percent fully implement session recording and replay, 11 percent enforce ICS-specific device or protocol awareness, eight percent require real-time session approvals, and 23 percent implement mandatory jumphost–based session brokering. These numbers suggest that most organisations have robust identity controls but often lack deeper layers that govern what occurs during remote sessions. Session recording and replay, for example, enable the reconstruction of automation configuration and programming activities, analysis of incidents, compliance with regulatory requirements, and resolution of vendor disputes. This level of transparency becomes essential when industrial processes are involved, because a single configuration change may have safety consequences. Real-time access approvals ensure that remote actions are coordinated with on-site personnel, maintenance windows, and operational needs. This prevents unexpected or unsafe activity, even when the individual’s identity has been validated. Device- and configuration-aware controls add another layer by ensuring that only authorised and properly maintained engineering workstations interact with critical assets. Similarly, ICS-specific protocol mediation allows organisations to restrict which applications or industrial protocols are allowed during the session. Finally, session brokering through enforced jump hosts, aligned with the Purdue Model’s OT DMZ structure, provides organisations with a monitored, controlled chokepoint for all remote access. Despite its importance, only 23 percent of organisations implement this architecture. Detection of remote access misuse also remains an essential capability. Only 13 percent of organisations report full visibility across the ICS Cyber Kill Chain, and the most significant detection gaps

appear at remote or unmanned facilities. These sites rely heavily on remote access due to geographic distribution, yet often lack sufficient monitoring. Common indicators of misuse include unexpected after-hours sessions, unusual cloudoriginated access, sudden configuration changes to HMIs or PLCs, unauthorised firmware activity, direct access to Level 1 devices, historian anomalies, or irregular authentication attempts on engineering workstations. These signals require tools that understand ICS behaviours and can distinguish between normal engineering activity and potential threat behaviour. Identity controls cannot provide this level of insight on their own.

To help practitioners address these challenges, SANS offers a structured pathway that equips teams to both design and validate secure remote access architectures.

ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials lays the foundation by teaching OT practitioners and defenders how to build secure OT environments aligned to the Purdue Model, incorporate session brokers and jump hosts, inventory remote access pathways, apply ISA/IEC 62443 requirements, harden engineering workstations, and design ICS-specific least privilege workflows.

Once the architecture is established, ICS612: ICS Cybersecurity In-Depth provides hands-on practice with real industrial equipment. Students work with live PLCs, HMIs, and Engineering Workstations in hands-on labs to set up a remote access server and then walk through an attack sequence that demonstrates remote access misuse leading to a Level 1 compromise. Students

capture and analyse OT network traffic, leverage Network Security Monitoring (NSM) tools to identify malicious engineering actions, and recognise abnormal process conditions. Where ICS410 provides the blueprint, ICS612 puts the blueprint into action and stress-tests it under real-world attack scenarios.

The conclusion from the 2025 SANS data is clear: remote access is now one of the most significant and impactful components

of industrial cybersecurity. VPN and MFA are essential, but they represent only the identity layer of a much more complex risk landscape. Industrial operations require controls that incorporate engineering context, protocol awareness, operational approvals, and comprehensive visibility into user actions. The organisations that demonstrate the highest preparedness share common characteristics: complete remote access inventories, ICS-specific access controls, integrated IT/OT monitoring, engaged engineering teams, and regular exercises that reflect the realities of industrial operations. These organisations treat remote access not as an IT service, but as a safety-critical function that demands engineering-grade rigor. VPN + MFA remains a vital part of secure remote access. But industrial organisations must build on this foundation with ICS-aware access control to achieve true defensibility. By leveraging the architectural principles taught in ICS410 and validating them with the hands-on experience of ICS612, practitioners can transform remote access from a top concern into a wellgoverned, transparent, and resilient element of modern ICS operations.

BUILT FOR MOMENTUM

ASunil Paul, Co-Founder and MD, Finesse, on how resilience is enabling the UAE to keep growth on course

cross the Middle East, periods of disruption have often served to sharpen how organisations operate rather than slow them down. The current environment is no different. Businesses are reassessing how they sustain performance while continuing to move forward. In the UAE, that recalibration is not interrupting momentum, it is refining it. The country continues to support and enable growth through

consistency, clarity of direction, and a system built to absorb change without losing pace. This has been demonstrated before. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE acted quickly to stabilise operations, accelerate digital adoption, and reopen its economy ahead of many global markets. What followed was not simply a recovery phase, but a stronger and more integrated foundation for growth.

Today, that same discipline is evident across the market. Organisations are not stepping back from their ambitions, but they are becoming more precise in how those ambitions are executed. There is a stronger focus on alignment— between leadership priorities, operational capabilities, and longterm outcomes.

Technology plays a central role throughout these shifts. It is not being pursued as a standalone transformation agenda. Instead, it is integrated into how businesses maintain continuity and operate effectively. The emphasis is on ensuring that systems, platforms, and processes work cohesively, supporting stability as much as expansion.

Decision-making is becoming more deliberate. Companies are prioritising initiatives that deliver measurable value, while ensuring that their operating models remain resilient. There is less fragmentation and a clearer sense of direction. What continues to set the UAE apart is the strength of its broader ecosystem. Years of investment in infrastructure, diversification, and global partnerships have created a stable foundation for business. Trust remains high, and that trust supports ongoing activity, investment, and long-term planning. This is further reinforced by proactive UAE leadership, with targeted measures such as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s recent Dh1-billion support package introduced to ease costs, strengthen liquidity, and sustain business activity as the region navigates shifting economic conditions. There is also a strong level of coordination across the market. Public and private sectors remain aligned in maintaining economic momentum. Initiatives continue to move forward, and the overall trajectory remains intact. Adjustments are absorbed quickly and translated into action without disruption.

For business leaders, this is not a moment to scale back on ambition. Rather, it is an opportunity to refine how it is delivered.

CIENA: Vesta 200

Ciena has introduced a 6.4 Tb/s optical engine built on 3nm silicon, designed for high-capacity data centre interconnects. The engine supports 800G per wavelength and scales to multiterabit transmission over a single fibre pair, targeting AI-driven traffic growth between data centres.

Key specifications include advanced coherent optics with probabilistic constellation shaping, enabling higher spectral efficiency and extended reach. The platform integrates digital signal processing (DSP) with improved baud rates and optimised modulation schemes to balance capacity and distance.

Power efficiency is a core design element. The engine reduces power consumption per transmitted bit by up to 70 percent compared to previous generations, addressing energy constraints in high-density AI and cloud environments. It supports flexible deployment across metro and long-haul networks, with programmability to adjust performance parameters based on link conditions. The architecture is also designed for interoperability with existing optical infrastructure, allowing incremental upgrades without full network replacement.

VERTIV: POWERBAR TRACK MONITOR

HPE: Juniper PTX12000 modular routers

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has rolled out the Juniper PTX12000 line of modular routers, designed for highdensity 800GbE deployments across WAN and data centre environments.

The platform is available in 8-slot (PTX12008) and 12-slot (PTX12012) chassis. The PTX12008 delivers up to 345.6 Tbps switching capacity with 432 × 800GbE ports, while the PTX12012 scales to 518.4 Tbps with 648 × 800GbE ports.

Each line card provides 43.2 Tbps forwarding capacity and supports 54 ports using QSFP-DD or OSFP pluggable optics. The system is powered by the Express 5 ASIC, enabling high radix routing and scalable packet processing.

The platform supports 100GbE, 400GbE, and 800GbE interfaces, with ZR/ZR+ optics compatibility for long-distance transmission. It is also 1.6 Tbps-perport ready, allowing forward compatibility with higherspeed interfaces.

The routers are designed for deployment across core, peering, data centre interconnect, metro aggregation, and AI-driven network architectures, with high port density optimised for space- and powerconstrained environments.

Vertiv has expanded its PowerBar Track busway family with a double-stack configuration to increase power density in overhead distribution systems.

The platform supports current ratings up to 2000A (UL) and 2500A (IEC), with both copper and aluminium conductors and 100 percent continuous load capacity. The double-stack design enables more tap-off points within the same footprint, improving rack-level power scalability.

It uses an open-track architecture, allowing tap-off units to be added or repositioned without shutting down the system. Tap-offs are hot-swappable and include mechanical and electrical interlocks, with ground-first, break-last sequencing for safety.

The system is modular, with extendable track sections for incremental deployment. It supports overhead installation in high-density environments and is designed for compatibility with existing busway layouts.

Optional integrated metering provides real-time monitoring of load, capacity, and power usage via network connectivity.