MENA’s IoT & AI Frontier: Key Trends Transforming Industry and Society
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stands at the forefront of digital transformation, with the Internet of Things (IoT) & Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing a pivotal role in revolutionizing both industry and society. This panel will explore the key trends shaping MENA’s IoT & AI landscape, including the integration of IoT & AI in sectors such as energy, smart cities, healthcare, and agriculture. Panelists will discuss the region’s unique opportunities, such as its strategic geographic location, governmental support for digitalization, and rapid urbanization, which are driving IoT & AI adoption. Additionally, the discussion will address critical challenges, including infrastructure development, data security, and regulatory hurdles, as well as the role of partnerships between public and private sectors in fostering innovation. The session will highlight how IoT & AI is not only transforming industries but also addressing societal needs by enhancing quality of life, promoting sustainability, and fostering economic growth in the MENA region.
Dr. Husameldin Mukhtar
Director of Research | Associate Professor, College of Engineering & IT, University of Dubai, UAE
Dr. Abdulhadi AbouAlmal
Founder & CEO, MEA-Comm, UAE | Head of “Industry 4.0 and Future Connectivity” HUB, UAE | Adjunct Professor, Dubai University, UAE | Chairman and Vice-Chairman, ITU-T and Arab Expert Group on IoT & Smart Cities
Ahmed Farouk Hassan is a dynamic and accomplished business executive with over 25 years of diversified experience spanning the telecommunications, technology, global business, and banking sectors. His expertise lies in driving strategic growth, optimizing financial performance, and leveraging innovative technology to achieve business objectives. Ahmed’s professional journey is marked by his transformational leadership, which has delivered sustainable success across regional and international markets.
**Key Highlights:**
**Educational Excellence & Professional Development**:
– **Academic Credentials**:
– Bachelor of Commerce in Business Administration from Cairo University.
– Advanced Diploma in Management Sciences
– Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
– Doctoral research in economics.
**Strategic Leadership Roles**:
– **Current Position**:
**Group CEO**, World Business Network (WBN) since 2014
– Spearheading the company’s vision to integrate technology and innovative business models, driving expansion across the Gulf and Egypt.
– Achieving exceptional ROI for clients by delivering cutting-edge solutions and
fostering strong partnerships.
– **Previous Executive Positions**:
– **Deputy General Manager**, International Turnkey Systems Group – since 2004
– Directed business development across 32 countries, enhancing customer technology offerings and operational efficiency.
– Led initiatives in automation, group restructuring, and product lifecycle optimization.
– **Finance Manager**, Vodafone Bahrain
– **Deputy CFO**, Orascom Development Holdings
**Transformational Achievements**:
– **Corporate Growth & Strategic Expansion**:
– Successfully led multi-million-dollar projects, including technology ventures and telecom operations, ensuring financial and operational milestones were achieved.
– Negotiated high-impact intellectual property and international acquisition deals, reducing development timelines and costs.
– **Operational Excellence**:
– Designed and implemented automation workflows, boosting organizational agility and efficiency.
– Restructured legal and operational frameworks to maximize financial benefits and streamline inter-company transactions.
**Core Competencies**:
– **Strategic Planning**:
Expertise in financial and business modeling, budgeting, and forecasting to guide corporate strategy.
– **Global Operations Management**: Oversight of compliance and financial performance in diverse, multi country environments complex projects.
– **Business Automation**: Pioneered digital transformation initiatives to optimize processes and innovation in AI.
**Professional Impact**:
I embody a unique blend of strategic vision, financial acumen, and operational expertise. The ability to navigate complex challenges, coupled with his commitment to innovation and excellence, positions a driving force for achieving transformative business success on a global scale.
Mr. Ahmed Farouk
Group CEO, World Business Network, UAE
Dr. Issam Maaz is a senior telecom researcher with 10+ years of experience in the telecom industry. Issam completed his PhD in 2015 at Telecom ParisTech, France specializing in electronics and telecommunications. His doctoral research established a strong foundation in the field, focusing on the channel modeling for small cells and heterogenous networks. Issam began his professional journey in the telecom industry, where he spent over three years with Orange (one of Europe’s largest telecom operators). Issam was leading the channel modeling part of the European project SHARING CELTIC Plus. After that, Issam joined a startup in Paris while his work was focusing on Self Organizing Networks (SON) for 5G systems. In 2017, Dr. MAAZ transitioned to academia as an Assistant Professor in the college of engineering and technology at the American University of the Middle East. He played a crucial role in educating and mentoring the next generation of telecom professionals, supervising numerous students. Issam got promoted to managing the academic activities in the college for over 3 years. Over the years, Issam has published numerous papers in high-impact journals and conferences, highlighting his significant contributions to the field. Currently, Dr. Issam Maaz serves as head of Advanced Research for Middle East at Keysight Technologies. His primary focus areas include the development of 6G technologies, AI in the loop, digital twin and strategies for reducing energy consumption in the telecom industry. Additionally, Dr. MAAZ is being actively involved in several notable European projects, including 6G SANDBOX, CENTRIC and many others. These projects focus on collaborative telecom solutions and the development of next-generation 6G technologies, respectively.”
Dr. Issam Maaz
Head of Advanced Research for Middle East, Keysight Technologies, UAE
Wathiq Mansoor is an esteemed Professor at the University of Dubai, renowned for his extensive academic leadership experience in esteemed universities worldwide. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Aston University in the UK, where his research focused on the design and implementation of multiprocessor systems and communication protocols for computer vision applications. With a strong foundation in Computer Engineering, Dr. Mansoor’s current research interests lie in the domains of Artificial Intelligence, intelligent systems, and security. He leverages his expertise in neural networks and deep learning models to develop innovative solutions for various applications. Dr. Mansoor’s contributions to the field of Computer Science and Engineering are widely recognized, evident in his impressive publication record comprising over 200 journal and conference papers. In recent years, his work has particularly emphasized the advancements and applications of Artificial Intelligence. He consistently strives to push the boundaries of knowledge and promote cutting-edge research in this rapidly evolving field.
Dr. Wathiq Mansoor
Professor, University of Dubai, UAE
Pioneering the Next-Gen Intelligence: Augmented AI, Metaverse, and Beyond
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, Augmented AI and the Metaverse represent two of the most transformative innovations shaping the future of technology, business, and human experience. Augmented AI, which enhances rather than replaces human capabilities, is revolutionizing industries—from healthcare and finance to creative arts and manufacturing—by driving smarter decisions, increasing efficiency, and enabling new levels of personalization. Simultaneously, the Metaverse is redefining the way we interact in virtual worlds, creating immersive digital environments that blend the physical and digital, unlocking new realms of social connection, commerce, and entertainment. This panel will bring together thought leaders and pioneers who are at the forefront of these cutting-edge developments. Together, we will explore how Augmented AI is powering more intelligent, intuitive systems and how the Metaverse is transforming not only how we engage with technology but how we interact with each other and our environments. We’ll dive into key questions such as: What are the most exciting innovations at the intersection of AI and the Metaverse? How are these technologies converging to shape the future of digital experience? What ethical and practical challenges must we overcome to fully unlock their potential? Join us for a forward-looking discussion as we navigate the opportunities and challenges of Next-Gen Intelligence and examine how Augmented AI and the Metaverse will reshape the future of work, creativity, and human interaction in the digital age.
Dr. Boutheina Tlili
Professor of Electrical Engineering, RIT Dubai | Women in Engineering Liaison for IEEE TEMS, UAE
Dr. Yousra Chtouki
Speaker, an Author and a Professor at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morrocco
Dr. Jinane Biri
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and ECE Department Chair at RIT Dubai | Head of Research and Education for Women in AI (WAI), UAE section, UAE
Dr. Hoda Alkhzaimi
Associate Vice Provost of Research Translation, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, NYUAD, UAE
Ms. Noora Nasser
Manager – ICT Project Management, du
Ms. Latifa Saleh Alshehhi
Director of Investment Data, Ministry of Investment, UAE
Transforming Economies: DeepTech Investments as a Pathway to MENA Innovation
As the region seeks to reduce reliance on traditional industries, investment in pioneering technologies—such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced materials, and biotechnology—offers a strategic pathway to foster sustainable growth and global competitiveness. This panel discusses this aspect by bringing experts in venture capital, technology policy, and industry innovation to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges for DeepTech in MENA, highlighting how targeted investments and supportive ecosystems can drive technological breakthroughs, cultivate talent, and catalyze a knowledge-based economy. This session aims to provide insights into building robust innovation frameworks to position MENA as a global hub for DeepTech advancements.
Eng. Ahmed Sedky
Managing Partner, Significa Ventures, UAE