Five technology trends shaping Gulf business next year
Kholoud Al Hajri ·
From Arabic AI to smart cooling, the technologies companies across the region are budgeting for.
Budgets for next year are being set now. These are the technologies we hear about most from companies across the region.
Generative AI in Arabic. Better Arabic language models are moving chatbots and document tools from pilots into everyday customer service.
Cloud regions closer to home. Data centres inside the Gulf make it easier for banks and public bodies to meet data residency rules.
Instant payments. Real-time bank transfers and digital wallets keep cutting into cash, from supermarkets to school fees.
Smart buildings. Sensors that manage cooling can cut electricity bills sharply in a region where air conditioning runs most of the year.
Cybersecurity spending. As more services go online, boards are asking harder questions, and security budgets are rising with them.