Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh

For a variety of reasons that would take time to explain, many Arab individuals may step back, or even retreat repeatedly, from pursuing innovation. This is not due to any lack of intellectual or knowledge capacity, but rather because people often tend to favor paths perceived as easier and less costly. Rather, convenience can be deceptive: the further people move away from producing knowledge, the more dependent they become on those who generate it. When innovation is merely consumed rather than created one becomes part of a system shaped by others, and as a result, such a dependency gradually weakens the capacity to understand, influence, and define the boundaries of their future.
Statistics, reports, and research studies continue to examine the Arab world's current position and assess its place in the global future of interactive technologies known collectively as Artificial Intelligence (AI). The question is simple but at the same time critical: Are we contributing to shaping the future, or are we just its consumers?
It is a question whose answer may take time; however, in history’s great races, those who fall behind do not merely lose their place; rather they gradually lose their ability to define themselves. That is precisely what is happening today. We are witnessing the emergence of a new global economic architecture, one in which the very concept of value is being redefined; between those who create it, those who own it, and those who ultimately bear its costs.
At first glance, this may initially seem like a corporate-focused discussion. In reality, however, AI enterprises do not emerge in isolation, nor do they succeed by chance. Rather, they are the product of a robust ecosystem created by governments through transparent data governance, resilient digital infrastructure, sustained investment in scientific research, having educational systems that prioritize critical thinking over rote memorization. When these foundations exist, competitive companies emerge. In their absence, productive capacity diminishes, leaving consumption as the sole alternative.
However, the outlook is far from pessimistic. A viable opportunity exists which can be leveraged, if it is effectively translated into tangible outcomes.
Reports across the Arab world, point to the growing adoption of AI. This is true, but usage alone does not equate to control, ownership, or the ability to generate its economic value. We therefore face both an economic and a strategic gap. I have never been pessimistic about the Arab nation, nor do I believe that the Arab world is excluded from this race. At the same time, however, it is not currently positioned among the leading actors, and we are presently in the phase of still building the foundations.
The experiences of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia offer encouragement for us all. These countries have invested significantly in infrastructure development, talent attraction, and the adoption of more flexible and forward-looking policy frameworks. Nevertheless, they continue to operate within a global system whose rules and structures they did not establish. Other Arab countries have also begun to engage in similar journey, though more cautiously and on a narrower scale.
The core challenge we face is not a lack of intelligence, talent, or determination. Rather, is rooted in deeper structural constraints. These include shortcomings in digital infrastructure, limited data center capacity, underutilized resources, insufficient computing power, and continued reliance on external technological foundations. There are also policy-related gaps, including the absence of clear regulatory frameworks, limited support for innovation, and fragmented institutional efforts.
Herein lies the central strategic challenge: we use AI, yet we do not create it. We depend on global platforms and models developed outside our cultural and economic context, which means that the priorities embedded in these systems do not always align with our own. As a result, much of the economic value generated through our use of these technologies flows abroad, while we remain primarily users rather than creators.
Yet the outlook remains far from hopeless. A real opportunity exists if we recognize and seize it wisely. The competition is not necessarily about developing giant AI models capable of matching those developed by leading global corporations. Such an endeavor is both capital-intensive and highly complex. Rather, the real opportunity lies in the development of specialized intelligence; applications tailored to our specific contexts, designed to address our needs, and creating value within our environment. We already possess strong foundations on which to build. For example, there is significant potential to develop Arabic-language AI models capable of deep linguistic understanding and the generation of high-quality content. There are also substantial opportunities in sectors such as energy, logistics, and government services; areas in which the region already has expertise and influence that can be transformed into platforms for leadership through the intelligent adoption of AI.  
Centralized decision making as a competitive advantage in Arab countries serves as an exceptional advantage in accelerating AI applications.
I am even more optimistic when considering that the centralized nature of decision-making in some Arab countries may provide an additional advantage in accelerating AI adoption, especially within digital government initiatives. When the ability to implement decisions rapidly is combined with a clear strategic vision, years of hesitation can be eliminated.
The real question, therefore, is not how far we may be lagging behind, but how we could move forward by effectively leveraging our resources and strengths. Progress is not achieved through wholesale imitation of others’ models; rather, it is driven by a clear understanding and investing in our comparative advantages.
We do not need to become another Silicon Valley. What is required is the creation of genuine value within our own context, using tools and approaches that suit our realities. This moment demands clarity, informed decision-making, and a deep understanding of the transformation taking place; not delayed reactions to changes already underway.
The race for technology, advanced models, and AI systems will wait for no one. Yet science has always maintained one enduring principle: it never closes its doors to those who choose to enter with seriousness and determination.
What we need today, above all else, is to recognize that this transformation is not a distant possibility, rather it is a reality within which we are already being reshaped. Those who engage in shaping it will determine their place in the world to come.