Tech News
UAE and Saudi businesses cite skills gaps, governance challenges and resource shortages as factors that stall or halt AI projects
Qlik today launched research of 4,200 C-Suite executives and AI decision makers, revealing what is hindering AI progress globally and how to overcome these barriers.
A lack of AI skills, governance challenges, and insufficient resources are the main factors stalling successful AI deployment. Despite these challenges, Qlik’s research highlights optimism among AI leaders, with 70% of UAE and 77% of Saudi respondents confident in their countries’ ability to lead in AI skills within the next five years.
Despite believing in the power of AI, most businesses have projects that have been paused, cancelled, or stuck in planning
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are both at the forefront of embracing AI. Businesses in these Middle Eastern countries recognise AI’s strategic importance, with 93% of UAE and 95% of Saudi respondents identifying AI as essential or very important for achieving organisational success, compared to 87% globally.
In the Gulf markets, organisations leverage AI mostly for knowledge sharing, training and enablement, creating cost-saving efficiencies, optimising operations, and predictive forecasting.
Despite this recognition, many AI projects struggle to progress. For instance, in the UAE, about 84% of organisations have up to 50 AI projects stuck in the planning and scoping stage. While the figure is marginally higher in Saudi [85%], both countries are slightly below the global average [87%]. Meanwhile, about 16% of UAE and 15% of Saudi respondents revealed that they have over 51 AI projects that haven’t made it out of the planning and scoping stage — figures higher than the global average [11%].
Even if AI projects do get started, not all get completed. In fact, the majority of UAE [72%] and Saudi [64%] businesses reported they have up to 50 projects that have been paused or cancelled. These figures align with the global average [68%]. Meanwhile, 13% of UAE businesses and 14% of Saudi organisations stated they have paused or halted over 51 AI projects — higher than the 8% worldwide average.
Skills gaps, lack of resources and regulatory challenges are among key barriers
There are different factors that slow down or hinder AI projects in UAE- and Saudi Arabia-based businesses.
In the UAE, the main reasons AI projects are paused or cancelled include regulatory challenges [24%], lack of skills/resources to support the implementation and roll-out [24%], and budgetary challenges/constraints [21%]. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the top reasons include too unorganised/untrusted data for AI to work with [27%], lack of skills/resources to support the implementation and roll-out [25%], and not having enough data available for AI to work with [25%].
On a more general level, organisations in these countries face overarching constraints that prevent them from achieving their AI goals.
In the UAE, the most significant barriers include a lack of AI skills [31%], a lack of data skills [27%], and insufficient data and analytics capabilities and tools [25%]. In Saudi Arabia, the main challenges are a lack of ability to identify the problems to solve [31%], lack of data skills [30%], and insufficient resources, such as inadequate relevant staff [27%].
These issues align with challenges faced by various organisations around the world. Globally, a lack of AI skills [31%], insufficient resources [26%], and regulation and governance issues [24%] emerged as the top obstacles when it comes to hitting AI goals.
On building trust, educating users and the need for funding and upskilling
To overcome AI adoption hurdles, turning to ready-made AI solutions could be the key. The report states that these products serve as practical starting points. In Saudi Arabia, 81% of decision-makers agree that supplier-provided solutions enhance AI development. In the UAE, this figure is at 69%.
Building more trust in AI is also an essential component of the narrative. In Saudi Arabia [83%] and the UAE [82%], AI leaders recognise the need to build more trust among users. Additionally, education and training are also seen as vital. In the UAE, 78% of respondents agree on the need for more training for staff and customers to foster trust in AI. This sentiment is shared by 82% in Saudi Arabia.
To further support AI adoption, funding and upskilling initiatives are also imperative. In Saudi Arabia [82%] and the UAE [72%], decision-makers believe their government needs to provide more funding and training in AI. Industries must also take a proactive approach to nurturing AI talent, with the majority of the respondents in Saudi Arabia [87%] and the UAE [70%] echoing this sentiment.
Amid all these concerns, both the Middle Eastern powerhouses remain optimistic about their AI capabilities. In Saudi Arabia [77%] and the UAE [70%], most of the respondents believe their country has the potential to lead in AI skills within the next five years. These figures are slightly ahead of the global average of 66%.
“Business leaders know the value of AI, but they face a multitude of barriers that prevent them from moving from proof of concept to value creating deployment of the technology. The first step to creating an AI strategy is to identify a clear use case, with defined goals and measures of success, and use this to identify the skills, resources and data needed to support it at scale. In doing so you start to build trust and win management buy-in to help you succeed,” said James Fisher, Chief Strategy Officer at Qlik.
Tech News
ATERMES and IEC secure Landmark Contract to Deploy AI-Powered Bird Repelling System at Lahore Airport
ATERMES, a French leader in advanced surveillance and security solutions, announces in partnership with The Imperial Electric Company (IEC), the award of a major contract by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) for the deployment of a state-of-the-art Bird Repelling System (BRS) at Lahore International Airport.
This milestone project represents a first-of-its-kind integrated solution combining SURICATE, ATERMES’ advanced AI-enabled multi-sensor surveillance system, with acoustic and laser deterrence technologies. The system delivers a fully automated, intelligent, and environmentally friendly approach to mitigating bird-strike risks; one of aviation’s most persistent safety challenges.
The SURICATE system, developed by ATERMES in France, brings together cutting-edge optronics, embedded AI, and edge computing to continuously monitor airfields, identify potential avian threats in real time, and automatically activate deterrence mechanisms.
Once a bird threat is detected by the system’s deep-learning algorithms, SURICATE autonomously triggers the surrounding acoustic and laser repellers, driving the birds away from critical flight zones such as runways and taxiways.
This unique synergy between AI-based detection and automated multi-modal deterrence marks a turning point in airport security and environmental protection. Unlike traditional manual or time-based repelling systems, the BRS for Lahore Airport operates only when necessary, optimizing energy use and minimizing disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem.
Lionel Thomas, Chairman of ATERMES, stated: “This project is not just about technology; it’s about redefining how airports ensure safety through intelligence. By merging AI, optics, and deterrence, we’re transforming bird control into a predictive, autonomous, and eco-responsible process.”
Sajid Jamal, Executive Director of The Imperial Electric Company, added: “Our partnership with ATERMES reflects Pakistan’s growing commitment to embracing advanced, AI-driven safety systems. Lahore will become the first airport in the region equipped with such an integrated and intelligent Bird Repelling System.”
The project underscores a strong collaboration between France and Pakistan in technological innovation. ATERMES will provide the detection and control systems, while IEC, a key player in Pakistan’s engineering and infrastructure sectors, will oversee integration, installation, and local support. Together, they will ensure the delivery of a robust, scalable, and sustainable system that sets a benchmark for other international airports in the region.
Tech News
Ramco Systems Celebrates 20 Years in the Middle East, Unveils Vision for the Future at Milestone Event
Doubles down on AI-native applications and localized innovation to shape enterprise technology in the region
Ramco Systems, aglobal enterprise software company offering next-generation SaaS-enabled platforms and products, celebrated two decades of powering enterprise transformation in the Middle East. To mark this milestone, Ramco hosted Ramco@20 – Experience That Matters, a full-day event in Dubai designed to showcase its regional journey, highlight cutting-edge innovations, and bring customers and industry leaders together for forward-looking discussions.
The first half of Ramco@20 convened senior HR and payroll leaders from across the region for a thought leadership forum on the future of employee experience. Industry leaders discussed how enterprises in the Middle East are moving beyond traditional HR process optimization toward more intelligent, intuitive, and employee-centric models of workforce management. Conversations explored balancing automation with empathy, using AI thoughtfully, and elevating payroll as a trust-building touchpoint.
The second half welcomed a large gathering of customers across business units – Global Payroll, Aviation MRO, ERP, Services Resource Planning and Logistics – along with partners, and industry influencers, for a celebration honouring the relationships that have defined Ramco’s two-decade journey. Ramco’s leadership unveiled its technology vision: shifting from Systems of Record to Systems of Intelligence through AI-native applications, agentic workflows, and conversational UX. The leadership’s address also emphasized its investments in platform modernization and localized initiatives, while outlining a roadmap to further strengthen Ramco’s focus for the next 20 years.
Abinav Raja, Managing Director, Ramco Systems, said, “The Middle East has been a cornerstone of Ramco’s growth story for two decades and has shaped our thinking in profound ways. The region’s appetite for transformation has inspired us to design solutions that combine global best practices with local relevance. This milestone is built on the trust and partnership of our customers, and our commitment is clear: double down on AI-native, API-first applications that incorporate special features aligned with the region, platform modernization, and customer-centricity. We are shaping the future of enterprise technology with solutions enabling businesses to focus on what truly matters: growth and people.”
Sandesh Bilagi, Chief Operating Officer, Ramco Systems, said, “Our presence in the Middle East has been built on strong partnerships and a commitment to delivering outcomes. This region is not merely a market for us, but also a proving ground for ideas that redefine global enterprise technology. The presence of all our business units in this region makes the Middle East a key pillar and reflects the confidence our customers have placed in us for twenty years.“
“Our investments in agentic AI, conversational UX, and platform innovation are designed to deliver enterprise applications that are intuitive, secure, scalable and integrate regional nuances,” Bilagi added. “We also focus on customer-focused initiatives like local deployment and training because every digital journey is, at its core, a human journey. The region is setting global benchmarks, and we are proud partners of the next era of enterprise innovation.”
Over the past two decades, Ramco has partnered with leading enterprises across the region, enabling digital transformation through innovative solutions. Its work in the Middle East has been shaped by sectors and functions that demand precision at scale – payroll, aviation, manufacturing, conglomerates, trading, infrastructure, professional services and logistics – giving Ramco an execution depth that continues to define its competitiveness in the region.
Tech News
Vertiv and Caterpillar announce Energy Optimization Collaboration to Expand End-to-End Power and Cooling Offerings for AI Data Centers
Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), a global leader in power systems, today announced the signing of a strategic undertaking to collaborate on advanced energy optimization solutions for data centers. This initiative will integrate Vertiv’s power distribution and cooling portfolio with Caterpillar’s, and its subsidiary Solar Turbines’, product and expertise in power generation and CCHP (Combined Cooling, Heat and Power) to deliver pre-designed architectures that simplify deployment, accelerate time-to-power and optimize performance for data center operations.
A Powerful Collaboration:
This collaboration directly addresses the growing demand for on-site energy solutions that deliver reliable power and cooling. Together, the companies are able to offer a fully integrated solution with validated interfaces and performance, enabling customers to accelerate design, installation and deployment.
- Caterpillar and Solar Turbines will supply power generation solutions, such as natural gas turbines and reciprocating engines, to deliver dependable, scalable electric power and thermal energy for CCHP.
- Vertiv will provide a complete portfolio of power and cooling solutions and services, packaged as modular, pre-designed blocks, to shorten design cycles and standardize deployment.
The Customer Advantages:
- Accelerates Time-to-Power – by utilizing predesigned, modular reference architectures to speed up deployment time.
- Lowers PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) – enables improved energy efficiency and carbon footprint because the system is optimized end-to-end: power, cooling, distribution and dynamic load management, compared to traditional design.
- Global lifecycle support – the offering is backed by the trusted, global service and support networks of both Vertiv and Caterpillar.
“This collaboration with Caterpillar and Solar Turbines is a cornerstone of our Bring Your Own Power & Cooling (BYOP&C) strategy and aligns seamlessly with our grid-to-chip framework by offering resilient, on-site power generation solutions. This is optimal for customers looking to reduce or eliminate grid dependence,” said Gio Albertazzi, CEO, at Vertiv. “By combining our complementary technologies, portfolios and expertise, we are enabling coordinated integration. Our pre-engineered, interoperability-tested building blocks let customers execute design, build and deploy concurrently, with predictable system performance.”
“As AI-driven workloads continue to accelerate, the demand for robust and scalable power infrastructure and cooling is becoming increasingly critical,” said Jason Kaiser, group president of Caterpillar Power & Energy. “Our collaboration with Vertiv will enable us to deliver integrated, on-site energy solutions that lower PUE and meet customers’ evolving needs.”
This initiative directly addresses the growing demand for on-site energy solutions and offers a coordinated, customer-first approach to solution design and implementation. The Vertiv and Caterpillar Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) represents a pivotal step in further refining this ecosystem, enabling customers to overcome energy constraints and deploy optimized AI centers.
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