UAE companies face a stark AI readiness gap, with 99 percent recognizing the need for adoption while investments in infrastructure, security and skills are required to thrive in the AI era, David Meads, Vice President for the Middle East, Africa, Türkiye, Romania, and CIS at Cisco revealed.
In a recent interview, Meads said that we’re going to see two kinds of companies emerge: those that dive headfirst into AI and embrace it with innovation and agility, and those that struggle to stay relevant.
Meads also noted the tremendous economic potential of AI in the region, citing studies that project AI could contribute over $135 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030 and almost 14 percent of the UAE’s GDP.
Q: How do you see AI transforming industries in the next 5-10 years?
A: It’s already happening. A hospital in the UK recently used AI to scan and prioritise over 300,000 patient X-rays — spotting early signs of cancer faster than human teams could.
That’s not future-gazing. That’s now. And that’s just one example. Across every industry — from finance to logistics — AI is reshaping how things get done.
I’m seeing three big shifts:
- First, businesses are rethinking how they operate, end to end — and they’re turning to us to make sure their infrastructure is secure, scalable, and AI-ready.
- Second, customers are hungry for real use cases. Things like predictive maintenance, automated onboarding, AI-assisted coding — stuff that drives results today.
- And third, AI is changing the way teams work. It’s cutting out repetitive tasks so people can focus on what really matters.
But what excites me most is Agentic AI — tools that aren’t based on static rules or data, and don’t wait for instructions. They learn and act on their own. Without being asked.
Imagine a customer service AI that predicts user needs before a query is made, or a network management AI that identifies potential issues and resolves them autonomously, ensuring uninterrupted service. That’s where we’re headed — and it’s coming fast.
Q: In what ways can AI contribute to upskilling the workforce and supporting economic growth?
A: You might be expecting a bit of a contradiction here. I just said AI could handle customer service before a person even steps in… so where does that leave the people? One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it’s here to replace people. The truth is, the biggest opportunity lies in helping people do more — and do it better.
As AI takes on more tasks — especially the predictable, repetitive ones — the value of human skills goes up, not down. The real opportunity now is helping people shift gears: from doing the task to training, managing, and collaborating with AI.
We’re already seeing companies use AI to support that shift — with personalised learning programs, smart coaching tools, and systems that free up time so people can focus on higher-value work. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, by 2030, 77% of employers plan to prioritize reskilling and upskilling their employees so they can work effectively alongside AI systems.
And this matters at a national level, too. In the Middle East, for example, AI is expected to contribute over $135 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030, and nearly 14% of the UAE’s GDP.
But that growth doesn’t just come from the tech — it comes from people having the right skills to unlock its potential. So yes, AI might be stepping in. But it’s also stepping up the importance of human capability — and companies that invest in both will lead the future.
Q: What is crucial for organizations in the region to be able to leverage AI technology and have a successful AI roadmap?
A: I mentioned, upskilling being a key element in the success of AI journeys… But there is much more for businesses to do today to fully benefit from AI tomorrow.
We have recently did an interesting survey with around 8,000 business leaders from all over the world, and that includes responses from the UAE. The results really showcase a strong commitment to adopting AI.
In fact, a solid 64% of organizations in the UAE have set up clear strategies for implementing AI solutions. And nearly half of these companies are ready to invest 10% to 30% of their IT budgets specifically into their AI initiatives.
That’s impressive, right? But here’s the turning point: while 99% of companies in the UAE feel a pressing need to get on board with AI technologies—according to the Cisco AI Readiness Index—only 7% actually have the infrastructure in place to lead the way.
This highlights a big gap between the huge potential of AI and the actual steps companies need to take to get there.
When we dug a little deeper to find out what’s holding these organizations back, we found three main concerns:
- Infrastructure and Expertise: Many companies aren’t entirely sure if they have the right infrastructure or the technical know-how to build it out effectively.
- Safety and Security: There are tons of ideas floating around within these organizations, but often they get stalled because of worries about safety and security concerns.
- Skill Development: There’s a general feeling that internal training and skill development aren’t quite up to speed to harness the full power of AI just yet.
In all these areas, Cisco can step in and make a real difference. We can help organizations address these issues and unlock the tremendous opportunities that AI has to offer. It’s about bridging that gap and turning AI potential into reality!
Q: What role does talent development play in harnessing the full potential of AI, and how should companies approach this in our region?
A: Now, it’s becoming clear that without the right talent, AI’s vast possibilities might remain just that-potential. To really harness the transformative power of AI, organizations need professionals who can not only manage these technologies but also innovate new solutions and real use cases that drive progress.
The magic happens when AI’s capabilities meet human expertise, creating a synergy that brings real value.
The World Economic Forum predicts a big shift in the job market, with nearly 39% of essential skills set to change by 2030. This highlights the urgent need to upskill our workforce to meet future demands. To thrive in an AI-driven world, we must equip ourselves and our teams with the skills that will be in high demand.
In our region, governments are making significant strides with AI strategies as part of their long-term visions. Many countries have already kicked-off projects focused on AI learning and development, aiming to attract and nurture top talent.
At Cisco, we believe in the power of partnership. We’re committed to equipping professionals with the skills they need to advance their careers and bridge the skills gap. One way we do this is through the Cisco Networking Academy, one of the longest-running programs connecting IT skills to real job opportunities.
We work hand-in-hand with educational institutions across the region to empower learners, helping build a workforce ready for the future. Since launching the Networking Academy, we’ve trained over 4.4 million learners in essential IT, networking, and security skills, preparing them to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
Q: How will advancements in AI impact the broader tech ecosystem, and what collaborative efforts are necessary to maximize its benefits?
A: AI is shaking things up in the market in ways we couldn’t have imagined just ten years ago, and it’s opening up some pretty exciting opportunities.
I genuinely believe that we’re going to see two kinds of companies emerge: those that dive headfirst into AI and embrace it with innovation and agility, and those that struggle to stay relevant. Honestly, this could be the most significant transformation we’ve experienced in our lifetimes from a platform perspective.
Here at Cisco, we’re all in on supporting the AI revolution. We’re committed to providing the infrastructure that will power a massive network of AI agents communicating across data centres, as well as physical applications like robotics and humanoid technology.
Imagine this: as digital workers become more prevalent, the processing capacity of our world of 8 billion people could feel like it’s expanded to 80 billion! This explosion of connectivity is going to ramp up the demand for high-performance, low-latency, and energy-efficient networking solutions.
As we look ahead, there are five key areas we need to address: networking, security, safety, data, and AI models. Cisco is focussing on all of these, and we’re also forging strategic partnerships—like our collaboration with Nvidia, which now features Cisco in its reference architecture.
Having been instrumental in building the internet over the past four decades, we’re now laying the groundwork for AI. We truly believe that a robust network is essential for AI’s success, and it plays a crucial role in enhancing security—because when it’s connected, it’s protected.
Follow us on
