CIOs in Dubai discuss the AI-Ready IT team of tomorrow

As organizations across the Middle East accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), a critical question arises: how do you build an IT team equipped to handle this transformation? This was the central theme of a panel discussion at the 18th edition of the IDC Middle East CIO Summit, held in Dubai, which brought together IT leaders to explore talent development strategies for the AI-infused enterprise.

The panel recognized that IT organizations are undergoing a fundamental shift, requiring CIOs, data heads, and AI leaders to rethink their approach to talent management. The discussion revolved around key areas such as skill assessment, gap analysis, data architecture, security, governance, and the non-technical skills necessary for cross-functional collaboration and change management.

“The biggest challenge is that people are not used to operating at a very fast speed and making decisions quicker than they currently do. This will cause some challenges when we start to see good use cases of AI implementation. How do we work with that speed? On the tech side, there is a big skills gap. Part of the problem is that when we start a course, the technology has already changed; it’s also changing so fast,” said Adam Lalani, CTO at Alliad (UAE).

Echoing this sentiment, Ahmed Al Zarouni, First VP Head of IT, Government Entity (UAE), stressed the urgency of adaptation. “The gap is real, many people are not paying a lot of attention. People don’t understand AI is going to change how we work,” he stated. “If you don’t adopt the change so fast, we will find someone who will do it faster.”

Dion remarked, “What new skills do you need with AI demand? We need to adapt faster; we are going to need to learn how to collaborate as business users and understand the needs.”

A key takeaway from the discussion was the need for companies to invest in their own employees. “We need to train people in how to use these skills in a positive way. Companies need to invest in their own employees. Initiatives should start from academies, from universities,” shared Khaled Salem, CIO, BSF-JB (KSA).

The IDC Middle East CIO Summit highlighted the importance of talent development in enabling organizations to fully leverage the potential of AI. As AI adoption continues to accelerate across the region, equipping IT teams with the necessary skills and knowledge will be crucial for success.