Digital Strategies of the UAE: The Path to Global IT and Technology Leadership

Artificial intelligence is being integrated into all business spheres: from newspaper creation to banking operations. Metro Bank reduced employee time by 80% using agent AI. March saw the release of the first newspaper entirely created by AI. New models like Gemini 2.0 and Manus AI are changing the market, but challenges exist – Grok recently "went out of control" when communicating with users.

On March 25, 2025, Global CIO hosted the online International Conference "Information Technologies in the Global Retail" on Zoom and LinkedIn. The event brought together IT leaders to discuss key challenges and best practices in digital transformation, customer experience, and IT management in the retail sector.

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technology of the future – it is a reality that is changing business, daily life, and even creativity. But how fast is the AI project market growing? Which segments are developing the fastest and what challenges companies face when implementing AI solutions are described in the article.

The opportunity to connect with IT leaders from different countries and industries is one of the things we value most at Global CIO. Today, the Global CIO editorial team interviewed Golib Khusainov, the CIO of Uzavtosanoat.

Corporate cybersecurity, IT staffing shortages, and IT budget alignment have been pressing issues for decades. However, IT leaders have recently encountered new challenges in each of these areas. Key problems and potential solutions were discussed during the Global CIO online ideation session as part of the "Key Trends in Digital Transformation 2024" online conference.

The Examen Sentinel project arose out of a desire to improve security. In partnership with RSA Laboratories, we have developed a solution that uses data analytics and AI to proactively identify potential problems, ensuring timely medical intervention.

In 2025, HR in the IT sector will face new challenges, which is due to both the ongoing development of technologies and the transformation of this highly competitive segment of the job market.

The Avia Code company has launched the BAGS ID system, allowing passengers to independently check in luggage in just 30 seconds. The solution reduces queues and improves service at airports. Konstantin Panev, Director of Digital Transformation, Airports of the Regions Management Company, shares his experience.

The professional community Global CIO brings together IT leaders from various industries. Understanding the differences in IT management across sectors like healthcare, retail, industry, and arts institutions is crucial. To explore the insights of Healthcare CIOs, the Global CIO editorial team interviewed Luciano Santos da Silva, CIO of the Zerrenner Foundation and one of the winners of the 2024 Project of the Year competition.

In 2025, revolutionary solutions in the field of artificial intelligence and data analysis have emerged that can radically change the usual way of working in various industries. From OpenAI's GPT-5 to Google DeepMind's Gemini 2.0, learn how emerging technologies are transforming law, medicine, and more.

On February 26, 2025, Global CIO hosted an online panel discussion “IT Talent Market in Central Asia: Challenges and Solutions.” The event brought together leading IT and HR experts to discuss key trends, hiring challenges and the future of the regional IT job market.

The MENA region is emerging as a fast-growing IT hub, home to 1.5 million professionals, driven by strong government support, a thriving startup ecosystem, and major investments in AI and digital transformation. Natalia Domashenko, CEO at NGRS, moderated a panel discussion on the evolving IT job market in the region.

“The project approach is being replaced by a product approach: the company has proven the effectiveness of a phased transition when implementing automated control systems,” said Egor Skaletsky, project manager at EuroChem. Experience has shown that consistent changes in IT solution development methods can achieve additional business benefits.

Director of IT and Business Process Automation at Binnopharm Group Evgeniy Zaitsev spoke about the implementation of a computer vision system in drug production, which provides 99% accuracy in detecting bottle defects.

Key trends such as artificial intelligence, automation and cloud technologies are opening up new opportunities. The main goal is not just the introduction of technology, but the creation of a culture in which employees accept changes and develop together with the company. With over 30 years of IT experience, Pernod Ricard's CIO brings a compelling perspective on digital transformation.

Increasingly, people and organizations are overwhelmed by the abundance of information. One of the most "affected" industries is information technology. IT specialists are at the forefront of the development of new technologies and, as a result, are bombarded with a huge amount of information and produce it themselves. What effective strategies exist to help in dealing with stress and information overload?