Riyadh: The 14th annual installment of the IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit brought together more than 900 of the kingdom’s top IT leaders, visionaries, and decision-makers this week at the Fairmont Riyadh. Hosted by International Data Corporation (IDC), the two-day summit, which took place on September 18-19, explored the theme ‘The Future of IT: Rethinking Digitalization for an AI Everywhere World’, providing an essential platform for empowering Saudi Arabia’s IT leaders to succeed in this new era.
“Artificial intelligence sits at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s vision for a dynamic, future-ready economy,” said Hamza Naqshbandi, IDC’s Vice President of Custom Solutions for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa and Country Leader for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as he welcomed the assembled delegates. “The kingdom’s commitment to AI innovation positions it as a global leader in the digital era, driving sustainable growth, security, and opportunities for future generations.”
With attendees joined by more than 65 pioneering IT vendors, service providers, and professional associations, the IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2024 featured a diverse array of informative presentations, real-life end-user case studies, best practice sessions, and individually themed tracks. These sessions delved into cutting-edge developments and strategies surrounding digital resiliency, digital trust, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and the rise of the intelligent enterprise.
The summit also played host to the highly anticipated inaugural edition of the CIO50 Saudi Arabia Awards, which honored the kingdom’s top 50 CIOs and senior technology executives for their role in driving extraordinary innovation and change within their organizations and across Saudi Arabia. Organized by Foundry (an IDG, Inc. company), the awards highlighted the transformative leadership and achievements of those who are leading their organizations into the future, setting new benchmarks for the region’s IT landscape.
The main event commenced with a captivating speech by Mohammed Qahtani, the World Champion of Public Speaking. Renowned for his storytelling and powerful oration, Qahtani set the scene for the summit’s focus on leadership and innovation.
Thomas Meyer, IDC’s General Manager and Group Vice President of Research for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, then presented the event’s keynote, which examined the disruptive power of AI and the critical need for CIOs to adopt an AI-first strategy. “AI is not just the next wave of innovation; it’s the cornerstone of competitive advantage in today’s digital economy,” said Meyer. “Those who harness its potential will lead the next era of digital transformation.”
The summit included a series of specially curated tracks that provided a blueprint for how organizations can unlock new growth opportunities, optimize operations, and enhance customer experiences through the strategic use of AI, cloud computing, and automation. These discussions addressed the most pressing issues faced by today’s IT leaders, with sessions on:
- Harnessing generative AI, automation, and low-code platforms for business process transformation
- Unlocking Business Value from Data in an AI-Powered World
- Reimagining security, resilience, and business continuity for the AI Everywhere Era
A key highlight of the agenda was the numerous dedicated ‘For the CIO, by the CIO’ panel discussions that took place throughout the event. Featuring exclusive insights from respected regional and international industry pioneers, these sessions explored critical topics such as the development of optimal IT operating models, the enhancement of citizen centricity through smart cities, the optimization of IT performance and business value, and the implementation of best practice strategies for vendor selection and management.
As the event drew to a close, it was clear that the IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2024 had cemented its position as the premier forum for driving conversations that shape the future of IT. With a focus on AI-driven transformation, digital trust, and sustainable innovation, the summit empowered attendees with the knowledge and connections needed to lead their organizations through the next wave of technological disruption.
The connections and ideas exchanged over the two days are set to create a lasting impact on how technology leaders across Saudi Arabia and the broader region navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
To learn more about the IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2024 and future IDC events, please contact Sheila Manek at [email protected] or on +971 4 446 3154. You can also join the conversation on X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #IDCSAUDICIO.
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