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Riverbed Study: 90% of Saudi Organisations Say AI Has Met or Exceeded ROI Goals as Focus Shifts to Execution at Scale

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Riverbed, the leader in AIOps for observability, today announced the results of the Riverbed Global Survey on ‘The State of Autonomous IT Operations’. Artificial intelligence has crossed the threshold from experimentation into the IT operating model, with organisations accelerating efforts to operationalise AI and progress towards autonomous IT. As AI assumes a greater role in enterprise operations, the ability to understand, trust and govern it will become increasingly important.*

The Saudi findings from this new research indicate that organisations in the Kingdom are particularly alert to this requirement. More than half (54%) of Saudi respondents are extremely confident in their organisation’s AI governance and human-oversight capabilities, compared with 42% globally. At the same time, 93% agree that effective AI assurance, observability and governance will become a critical new IT domain to manage, while 77% report internal hesitation about allowing AI to make operational decisions without human approval.

The findings suggest that Saudi enterprises view governance as an enabler of AI adoption rather than a constraint. Establishing visibility into how AI performs and retaining appropriate human oversight will give organisations the confidence to expand automation while maintaining control over operational decisions.

“Riverbed’s new research shows that AI is becoming fundamental to how IT operates, as organizations look to use it to create more resilient, efficient and proactive environments,” said Jim Gargan, Chief Marketing Officer, at Riverbed. “The next phase of AI is not simply more automation, but AI that enterprises can understand, trust and govern. Riverbed is helping customers close these gaps with unified observability, trusted data, AI governance and intelligent automation, accelerating toward zero-disruption autonomous IT operations.”

Saudi organisations move from AI investment to execution

Saudi enterprises are increasing investment in AI and reporting measurable returns from their initiatives. Two-thirds (66%) of Saudi organisations increased their AI investment during the past year, while 90% say their AI initiatives have met or exceeded their original return-on-investment goals. Looking ahead, 85% want to progress to human-supervised or highly autonomous IT operations within the next two years.

These findings indicate that the conversation is shifting from whether organisations should adopt AI to how effectively they can operationalise it at scale. Continued success will depend on translating investment and ambition into more resilient, efficient and proactive IT operations.

Autonomous IT will be judged by the employee experience

Saudi organisations are already reporting strong capabilities in using AI to improve IT operations and reduce employee disruption. Forty-four percent say their IT operations teams are extremely effective at using AI to identify and resolve issues before employees notice a disruption, compared with 34% globally. In addition, 96% expect AI-powered operational intelligence to have at least a moderate impact on frontline IT and service-desk capabilities within the next two years, while 36% expect the service desk to shift from reactive support towards proactive prevention.

The findings suggest that the success of autonomous IT should not be measured simply by the number of processes automated or the volume of service-desk activity reduced. Its impact will increasingly be determined by whether organisations can anticipate problems, prevent disruption and provide employees with a consistently high-quality digital experience.

A unified operational foundation will be essential to scale

As organisations in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia progress towards more autonomous IT, unified visibility and simpler technology environments will become increasingly important. Almost all Saudi respondents (95%) consider multi-domain visibility at least somewhat important for successful AI-driven IT operations, but only 22% currently have fully unified visibility across networks, applications, endpoints and cloud environments. Encouragingly, 94% agree that tool consolidation can reduce operational friction, while 94% also agree that a unified platform can simplify problem identification and resolution.

Closing this gap will require organisations to consolidate fragmented tools, establish trusted and accessible data, and create unified visibility across their IT environments. These capabilities will give AI the operational context required to make reliable recommendations, support faster decisions and enable greater levels of autonomy.

“Saudi Arabia has built tremendous momentum around AI, supported by ambitious national programmes and organisations focused on translating innovation into measurable outcomes,” said Salman Ali, Senior Manager – Solution Engineering, GCC, at Riverbed. “The next stage will be defined by how effectively enterprises can govern AI and apply it to improve everyday operations. By unifying their data and observability capabilities, Saudi organisations can progress towards autonomous IT while maintaining appropriate human oversight, strengthening digital experiences and ensuring their AI investments deliver lasting business value.”

The findings point to a more operational phase of enterprise AI adoption in Saudi Arabia. As the Kingdom continues its digital transformation journey under Vision 2030, its organisations have an opportunity to accelerate human impact by building a globally competitive organization from the ground up to unlock new levels of creativity, achievement, and human potential through accessible AI technologies.

* Note: Unless otherwise noted, all data and percentages referenced in the press release are based on a sample of 100 Saudi Arabia responses to the Riverbed Global Survey 2026: The State of Autonomous IT Operations. Survey respondents included business and IT leaders and technical specialists.

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Three Dubai Plans to Add to Your Week: Poolside Escapes, Italian Dining and a Little Self-Care

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Looking for a few ideas to fill your week in Dubai? From a relaxing afternoon by the pool at Dahlia Restaurant & Lounge to a long Italian lunch or a little time set aside for yourself, these are three experiences worth adding to your plans.

A Poolside Pause at Dahlia Restaurant & Lounge

Set within Sofitel Dubai Downtown, Dahlia Restaurant & Lounge offers a sun-drenched escape from the pace of the city. Framed by sweeping views and the gentle rhythm of water and light, its poolside setting is made for leisurely swims, sun-soaked afternoons and refreshing drinks served with attentive flair. As the day unfolds, the atmosphere shifts into a relaxed social setting, with crafted beverages and light, flavourful bites made for sharing. Chic yet unpretentious, Dahlia is an invitation to take things slowly and enjoy a little understated indulgence in the heart of Downtown Dubai.

When: Daily | Where: Dahlia Restaurant & Lounge, Sofitel Dubai Downtown

A Little Taste of Italy at LOONA 

For those who love a meal that turns into a long, leisurely affair, LOONA brings a little Italian warmth to Dubai’s dining scene. Its menu celebrates handmade pasta, fresh seafood, pizza and classic Italian flavours, with highlights including pappardelle with duck, potato ravioli with beef ragù and Italian-style sushi served on fresh crab. For a memorable finish, La Fortuna Ravioli is a special creation inspired by the Head Chef’s family tradition. Every table is guaranteed a surprise prize, making the end of the meal just as memorable as the first bite.

When: Daily | Where: LOONA, Dubai | Offer: New Italian menu featuring La Fortuna Ravioli, with a surprise prize guaranteed for every table

A Little Time for Yourself at Aesthetics by King’s College Hospital London – Dubai

For those looking to make a little more time for themselves this week, a considered approach to self-care can be just as worthwhile. Aesthetics by King’s College Hospital London – Dubai offers personalised treatments designed to support skin health, confidence and natural-looking results. Its services span facial rejuvenation, regenerative skin therapies, laser treatments, body contouring, hair restoration and intimate wellness, with each treatment tailored to individual concerns and goals.

Led by Plastic Surgeon and Medical Director Dr Dragana Spica, the clinic takes an approach centred on enhancing rather than transforming, combining medical expertise with treatments designed to help patients look and feel their best. Where: Aesthetics by King’s College Hospital London – Dubai

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Carnistore Brings Its Viral Food Dreams to Life atWhat The Food 2026

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Some things deserve more than a like. This year, Carnistore is bringing its viral food dreams from screen to table at What The Food 2026, taking place on 31 October and 1 November at Alserkal Avenue.

Inspired by the festival’s theme, Khubz wa Milh (Bread & Salt), which celebrates the connections built around food, the homegrown premium protein brand will serve two seriously indulgent creations from Dan x Fix’s Dream Series, created by Carnistore’s co-founders: a loaded Philly cheesesteak and a multi-layered lasagna.

Following its Shawermoo dream concept at the previous edition of What The Food, Carnistore is back with an activation inspired by the simple pleasure of gathering around good food, passing plates and sharing something worth talking about.

First to the table is the Dream Carni Philly Cheesesteak, a generously loaded sandwich that has already been making its rounds on social media. Bringing together multiple cuts of beef, caramelised onions, homemade cheese and a rich cheese sauce, all piled into a toasted roll and finished with a crispy topping, it’s everything a cheesesteak should be, taken several delicious steps further.

Next up is the Dream Lasagna, a seriously indulgent creation featuring layers of rich ragù, slow-cooked pulled meat, cold cuts with ricotta, and a spicy combination of nduja and chorizo, all brought together with a decadent bone marrow béchamel. It’s Carnistore’s take on the ultimate comfort food, made for those who believe there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing.

Born from Dan x Fix’s Dream Series, which has generated millions of views and hundreds of thousands of likes and shares, both creations bring Carnistore’s playful approach to premium proteins beyond the screen. What began as an online celebration of bold flavours and over-the-top food ideas is now something guests can actually get their hands on.

And in the spirit of Khubz wa Milh, what better way to bring people together than over good bread, exceptional meat and food that’s too good not to share? Find Carnistore at its dedicated booth directly outside the Carnistore store at Alserkal Avenue, serving both Dream creations throughout the two-day festival. Come hungry. You can put your phone down for this one.

Activation Details

What: Carnistore Brings Dan x Fix’s Dream Series to What The Food 2026 | When: Saturday, 31 October & Sunday, 1 November 2026 | Where: Outside Carnistore, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai | Timings: To be confirmed

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Above the City with CRANK at Level 43

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Who says your morning workout has to come with four walls? Level 43 Sky Lounge is teaming up with CRANK to bring an exhilarating rooftop cycling experience to Dubai, inviting fitness enthusiasts to start their day with an energising ride high above the city.

Taking place on the Level 43 helipad, A Morning Above the City combines the thrill of an outdoor cycling session with spectacular views of Dubai’s skyline as the city comes to life. Guests can choose from two morning sessions before enjoying a well-deserved breakfast at Level 43 Sky Lounge. With just four classes across two days and limited spaces available, this is one morning workout worth setting an early alarm for.

Details:

  • Event: A Morning Above the City – Rooftop Cycling with CRANK | When: 31 October and 1 November 2026, 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM | Highlights: Rooftop cycling on the Level 43 helipad, panoramic Dubai skyline views and post-workout breakfast | Availability: Four classes across two days, limited spaces | Location: Level 43 Sky Lounge, Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road | Reservations.
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