Reseller Middle East December 2025

ISSUE 332 | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025 www.tahawultech.com

2026 UAE’S DIGITAL-FIRST VISION POWERS MENA CHANNEL MENA CHANNEL PARTNERS ARE SCALING SKILLS, SERVICES, AND EXECUTION AS THE UAE’S DIGITAL-FIRST AGENDA STRENGTHENS THE REGION’S ECONOMY IN 2026.

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY DUBAI PRODUCTION CITY, DCCA

25 hour battery life on one charge*

Meet the EM45 Serious about work and simple to use The Zebra EM45 Mobile Computer brings all the features your workers need in a consumer style they’ll love to use.

It’s quick to deploy and built for retail, hospitality, transport, healthcare, and mobile workforces.

• The power of Zebra with sleek consumer ergonomics • Unmatched productivity and flexibility for your frontline • Personalised user experience and an intuitive interface • Latest and fastest wireless connectivity: 5G and Wi-Fi 6E • Processing power unlocks AI potential • Simple to set up and manage with Zebra DNA enterprise software

Built for Work.

Designed for You. www.zebra.com/em45 * Estimated based on average performance under typical usage conditions.

ISSUE 332 // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

28 40 46

20 TOP STORIES CyberKnight expands security 15 portfolio with Hexnode to

Helix empowers 40 BMC enterprises in Saudi with

boost endpoint visibility, control

Agentic AI at Riyadh Roadshow

VAD Technologies highlights 28 power of co-creation and cyber

Kyndryl strengthens regional 46 leadership with appointment

resilience in AI era

15

of Adib Kilzie

FROM PILOTS TO PERFORMANCE: WHY 2026 WILL REWARD CHANNEL EXECUTION

N

ovember–December is our moment to take stock — and to look ahead with clear eyes. Across this combined issue of Reseller Middle East, one message is unmistakable: AI is no longer a talking point. It is becoming infrastructure, operating model, and competitive advantage — and that shift raises the bar for the channel.

Our cover story, “2026 The Year of Channel Execution,” captures the reality now facing partners across the region. Experimentation is giving way to production, and the conversations in boardrooms are changing: compliance, cost control, energy consumption, and data sovereignty are moving from footnotes to decision drivers. In this environment, credibility will belong to partners who stay close to outcomes — designing, integrating, optimising, and supporting what they deploy, not simply reselling what’s available.

Sandhya DMello Editor

E-mail: sandhya.dmello@cpimediagroup.com

You’ll see that theme reflected throughout the issue. Dell’s PowerEdge XE7740 with Intel Gaudi 3 signals how enterprise AI performance is being engineered for scale and price-to-performance — a reminder that architecture choices are now business choices.

Submer’s regional expansion reinforces how sustainable, AI-ready datacentre infrastructure is becoming foundational, not optional. Meanwhile, partnerships such as ServiceNow and NTT DATA underline the next wave of opportunity: AI-led automation delivered through repeatable services, strong governance, and execution discipline.

Beyond the datacentre, the same “delivery-first” mindset is shaping customer experience and industry transformation — from conversational commerce surging ahead of White Friday, to agentic AI enabling knowledge sharing in energy, to human-centred AI rethinking engagement at scale. And in cybersecurity, alliances like SentinelOne and Rilian and initiatives like Qualys’ mROC ecosystem in Saudi Arabia point to a region that is aligning growth with operational resilience.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ TahawulTech Twitter: @TahawulTech Instagram: @TahawulTech

Thank you for reading — and don’t miss our GITEX Global 2025 interviews, where channel leaders share what it really takes to turn ambition into measurable impact.

EXECUTION DEFINES CHANNEL SUCCESS FOUNDER, CPI Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015)

ADVERTISING Group Publishing Director Kausar Syed kausar.syed@cpimediagroup.com

EDITORIAL Editor Sandhya DMello sandhya.dmello@cpimediagroup.com

Sales Director Sabita Miranda sabita.miranda@cpimediagroup.com

OnlineEditor Daniel Shepherd daniel.shepherd@cpimediagroup.com

Published by

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Designer Prajith Payyapilly prajith.payyapilly@cpimediagroup.com

DIGITAL SERVICES Web Developer Adarsh Snehajan webmaster@cpimediagroup.com

Publication licensed by Dubai Production City, DCCA PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 568 2993

@Copyright 2025 CPI All Rights Reserved While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

5 NEWS

DELL LAUNCHES POWEREDGE XE7740 SERVER WITH INTEL GAUDI 3 ACCELERATORS TO REDEFINE ENTERPRISE AI PERFORMANCE The new PowerEdge XE7740 combines Dell’s server innovation with Intel’s latest Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators, empowering enterprises to scale AI workloads efficiently and affordably.

Dell Technologies has unveiled the PowerEdge XE7740 server, the first in the market to feature integrated Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators. The launch marks a major step forward in enterprise AI infrastructure, combining the latest in Dell’s PowerEdge engineering with Intel’s advanced AI acceleration technology.

Designed for high-performance workloads and scalable AI operations, the 4U PowerEdge XE7740 merges the deployment simplicity of Dell’s R-Series with the high-density, flexible architecture of the XESeries. It delivers the performance and scalability required to meet the growing needs of AI model training, inferencing, and fine-tuning across key industries such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, and retail.

Flexible AI performance The PowerEdge XE7740 accommodates up to eight double-wide or PCIe accelerators, offering flexible configurations that include up to eight individual Gaudi 3 accelerators or two groups of four-way bridged accelerators. The four-way Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerator bridging enables 1,200 GBps of combined throughput for accelerator-to-accelerator communication via 18x 200GbE interfaces using RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE v2) — an essential capability for training larger AI models and managing extensive data workflows.

Its networking flexibility is equally notable, supporting a 1:1 acceleratorto-NIC ratio through eight full-height PCIe slots and an integrated OCP networking module. Designed to operate efficiently within ~10kW racks common in enterprise data centres, the XE7740 overcomes power-per-rack

constraints, integrating seamlessly into existing infrastructure.

Purpose-built for enterprise AI Optimised with Dell Smart Cooling, the XE7740 supports air-cooled deployment in standard racks.

Powered by up to eight Gaudi 3 PCIe accelerators, it allows organisations to run and optimise AI models such as Llama4, DeepSeek, Phi4, Qwen3, and Falcon3. The design ensures exceptional performance without the need for costly infrastructure upgrades, making it ideal for enterprises scaling AI capabilities while maintaining operational efficiency.

The server’s flexibility makes it a strong fit for diverse applications — from large language model inferencing and multimodal AI (including image and speech recognition) to data-intensive healthcare analytics, fraud detection, and real-time personalisation in retail and e-commerce.

Making AI adoption simpler and smarter Dell’s new PowerEdge X E7740

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

lowers traditional barriers to enterprise A I adoption. It delivers a compelling price-to-performance ratio and modular scalabilit y, allowing organisations to expand A I capacit y incrementally. The ser ver’s compatibilit y with existing data centre environments also eliminates the need for retrofitting or expensive cooling solutions.

By reducing unpredictable cloud costs and data egress fees, the XE7740 empowers enterprises to bring AI workloads on-premises — maintaining control over performance, costs, and data security.

Driving AI innovation forward With the PowerEdge XE7740, Dell reinforces its commitment to making enterprise AI infrastructure more accessible and adaptable.

By combining proven PowerEdge reliability with Intel’s cutting-edge Gaudi 3 technology, Dell enables businesses to accelerate innovation, fine-tune their AI strategies, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and data-driven world.

6 NEWS

SUBMER STRENGTHENS OPERATIONS TO DELIVER SCALABLE, SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND TURKEY Khalid Aljamed is driving strategic growth and regional expansion as General Manager across the Middle East and Africa region.

Submer, a global leader in sustainable datacentre infrastructure, today announced the strengthening of its operations in the region with the presence of its subsidiary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This regional expansion will be led by Khalid Aljamed, with a focus on positioning Submer MEA as a design-build and sustainability partner for AI-ready datacentre, blending business development with ecosystem growth, local partnerships, and operational execution.

This milestone marks a strategic advancement in Submer’s global expansion and reinforces its commitment to supporting regional transformation initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision Khalid Aljamed, General Manager 2030 and the UAE’s Vision Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Submer.

2031. It also positions the company as a key player in the region for datacentre sustainability, at a CAGR of 17.64%. Together, digital transformation, and AI these projections highlight the innovation. Khalid will drive the region’s strong commitment to regional go-to-market strategy, align advancing technology and digital global and local resources, ensure infrastructure as key drivers of delivery excellence, and shape sustainable economic diversification Submer MEA as a regional hub for and innovation-led growth. talent and advanced technologies.

“The Middle East and the wider The Middle East is transforming MEA region are redefining the into a data centre powerhouse, with future of digital infrastructure,” capacity in the region projected to said Patrick Smets, CEO of Submer. triple from 1GW in 2025 to 3.3GW “Establishing a strong local presence over the next five years. In line with our regional headquarters with this growth, Saudi Arabia’s in Saudi Arabia and planned field data center market was valued offices in the UAE and North at $1.33 billion in 2024 and is Africa, allows us to bring Submer’s expected to reach $3.90 billion by expertise in sustainable, liquid2030, reflecting a strong CAGR of cooled AI datacentres directly 19.64%, while the UAE’s market is to a region that is leading global predicted to grow from $1.26 billion innovation. This is a decisive step in 2024 to $3.33 billion by 2030, in our mission to make the world’s

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

digital growth efficient and sustainable, with datacentres that make sense.”

Khalid Aljamed, General Manager, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Submer, added, “The MEA region is moving with extraordinary speed to build AI-ready, sovereign, and sustainable digital ecosystems.

Our focus is on collaborating with hyperscalers, telecoms, and government-backed digital programs in the region. With Submer’s strong presence on the ground in the Middle East, we’re working and delivering infrastructure that is not only faster and smarter, but also scalable and more resilient.”

The MEA region is at the heart of the world’s next digital infrastructure wave, and Submer’s local presence in KSA and the UAE is creating a platform for lighthouse projects that demonstrate measurable outcomes in efficiency, sustainability and total cost of ownership (TCO). These projects act as blueprints for AIready, liquid-cooled datacentres, setting global benchmarks for performance and sustainability while enabling regional adoption at scale. The goal is to establish Submer MEA as a nucleus for R&D, integration and customer experience.

Submer is committed to fostering an ecosystem of partners, skills and talent that drive repeatable, scalable deployment across the GCC and the wider MEA region. Through strategic collaboration, Submer is accelerating the region’s digital transformation journey by establishing sustainable datacentres as the foundation of an AI-driven future.

7 NEWS

SERVICENOW AND NTT DATA EXPAND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE AI-LED TRANSFORMATION FOR GLOBAL ENTERPRISES ServiceNow to designate NTT DATA as a strategic AI delivery partner, collaborating to help customers deploy AI-powered automation and achieve operational efficiency at scale.

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the AI platform for business transformation, and NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business, and technology services, today announced an expanded strategic partnership to accelerate AI-led transformation for enterprises. The companies will execute joint go-to-market and delivery commitments, including codeveloping and co-selling AI-powered solutions to help organizations to transform the way work gets done.

NTT DATA will also scale its use of the ServiceNow AI Platform to drive productivity, efficiency, and customer experience improvements across its global operations, while ServiceNow designates NTT DATA as a strategic AI delivery partner to help customers deploy AI-powered automation and achieve operational efficiency at scale., a global leader in AI, digital business, and technology services, today announced an expanded strategic partnership to

accelerate AI-led transformation for enterprises. The companies will execute joint go-to-market and delivery commitments, including codeveloping and co-selling AI-powered solutions to help organizations to transform the way work gets done.

NTT DATA will also scale its use of the ServiceNow AI Platform to drive productivity, efficiency, and customer experience improvements across its global operations, while ServiceNow designates NTT DATA as a strategic AI delivery partner to help customers deploy AI-powered automation and achieve operational efficiency at scale.

The expanded partnership builds on the long-standing collaboration between ServiceNow and NTT DATA, and underscores the companies’ shared commitment to helping enterprises operationalize and scale AI responsibly. Leveraging the power of the ServiceNow AI Platform, NTT DATA already helps organizations realize faster time to value through strategic advisory services, platform implementation and expansion, and ongoing managed and lifecycle services. By expanding and accelerating delivery of ServiceNow AI solutions, the new agreement supports NTT DATA’s ambition to significantly increase its ServiceNow business.

As part of the multi-year initiative, NTT DATA will become a strategic AI delivery partner for ServiceNow across industries and global regions. The companies will collaborate to deploy

Abhijit Dubey, President, CEO, and Chief AI officer, NTT DATA.

AI-powered automation for customers in enterprise, commercial, and midmarket segments. Also, ServiceNow will collaborate with NTT DATA to advance new AI deployment models, including through the Now Next AI program, which embeds AI engineering expertise directly into enterprise transformation projects with customers.

NTT DATA itself will become a lighthouse customer for ServiceNow, scaling its use of ServiceNow AI Agents and Global Business Services, among other solutions, as key enablers for NTT DATA’s own ongoing transformation and to accelerate delivery for customers.

“ServiceNow and NTT DATA are expanding access to AI-powered automation across any industry and any geography to achieve measurable business impact for organizations at every stage of the AI journey,” said Amit Zavery, president, chief operating officer, and chief product officer at ServiceNow. “Together, we’re transforming how the world’s leading enterprises operate, making work simpler, smarter, and more resilient with the ServiceNow AI Platform.”

“Expanding our partnership with ServiceNow is a key milestone in our mission to build the world’s leading AI-native services company.” said Abhijit Dubey, president, CEO, and chief AI officer at NTT DATA, Inc. “By combining ServiceNow’s agentic AI platform with NTT DATA’s global delivery scale and industry expertise, we’re enabling enterprises to accelerate innovation, enhance productivity, and achieve sustainable growth.”

NTT DATA expects to begin ramping and expanding delivery of ServiceNow AI solutions to customers across industries and regions, including ServiceNow AI Agents and Global Business Services, among other solutions, with broader deployment expected to follow.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

8 NEWS

MIDDLE EAST RETAILERS EMBRACE CONVERSATIONAL COMMERCE AHEAD OF WHITE FRIDAY SURGE Infobip data highlights sharp rise in AI-driven messaging as brands prepare for record-breaking customer engagement this shopping season.

Retailers across the Middle East geared up for one of the year’s biggest shopping moments, with White Friday and Cyber Monday 2025 driving strong customer engagement across digital channels. New data from global communications platform Infobip revealed a sharp rise in conversational messaging across the region, underscoring how consumers increasingly expected real-time, personalised interactions with their favourite brands.

Platform data showed that customers increasingly turned to AI-powered, omnichannel interactions to connect with retailers. WhatsApp remained the leading conversational channel, with message volumes rising 35% year-onyear during White Friday and 39% on Cyber Monday.

Email marketing also recorded significant growth, with Infobip reporting a 192.7% surge in sends on White Friday compared to 2024—more than double the average daily volume for November. SMS continued to hold its position as a trusted engagement channel, with message volumes increasing 31% on White Friday and 52.6% on Cyber Monday.

Retailers faced engagement and integration challenges Despite rapid digital adoption, many retailers continued to struggle to deliver seamless customer experiences.

Infobip’s CX Maturity Report across EMEA found that 58% of brands faced challenges in building meaningful customer connections, even though most already used email (90%), social media (65%), live chat (58%), SMS (56%), and WhatsApp (50%) as part of their outreach strategies.

Fragmented technology stacks remained a key obstacle. Only 27% of retailers had fully synchronised

PEAK SEASON SUCCESS MEANS MORE THAN MANAGING MESSAGE VOLUMES – IT’S ABOUT MEETING CUSTOMERS EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE,

SAYS DARIJAN BOŠKOVIĆ VP OF REVENUE, INFOBIP EMEA.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

communication channels, limiting their ability to personalise interactions consistently across platforms. While 77% automated some communications and 56% used AI or machine learning tools, comprehensive AI-powered support remained limited. Privacy concerns and constrained technical resources meant just 17% relied on chatbots for most customer service requests, while only 8% deployed generative AI assistants to manage the majority of customer inquiries.

AI-powered engagement as a growth driver Darijan Bošković, Darijan Bošković, said that preparing for peak retail periods went beyond managing message volumes. He noted that success depended on delivering seamless, personalised experiences that met customers on their preferred channels.

By activating conversational commerce across WhatsApp, SMS, email, and live chat using AI-driven orchestration, Middle East retailers were able to reduce friction, enhance customer satisfaction, and convert seasonal demand into longterm loyalty and growth.

Overall, Infobip’s findings indicated that retailers investing in intelligent, connected communication strategies were best positioned to transform every interaction into an opportunity for deeper engagement and sustained business impact.

9 NEWS

WAKECAP TECHNOLOGIES EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT WITH ACQUISITION OF TRACKFY Acquisition extends the footprint of the Saudi company into Latin America.

WakeCap, the sensor-powered project intelligence and controls platform trusted by the world’s most complex construction and oil and gas projects, announces its acquisition of Trackfy, a workforce safety and operational solution for industrial companies. The acquisition underscores the Saudi company’s commitment to expanding its global reach, diversifying product capabilities, and deepening customer relationships across the construction and industrial lifecycle.

WakeCap’s expansion comes at a time when global infrastructure investment is surging, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alone investing nearly $1 trillion in construction and urban development.

Aligned with the ambitions of Vision 2030 to create safer, smarter, and more sustainable built environments, WakeCap’s ability to bridge Silicon Valley innovation, Saudi-scale delivery and now Brazilian reach, uniquely positions the company at the intersection of AI, IoT, and industrial transformation.

Beyond expanding into Latin America, with Brazil as the new LATAM HQ, the Trackfy acquisition allows WakeCap to support clients long after construction is complete. By adding operations and maintenance capabilities, WakeCap can stay with projects from the build phase through to daily industrial operations, offering a single connected solution across the full lifecycle of a facility. This approach significantly increases the long-term value the company delivers to its customers.

“Trackfy brings both regional expertise and product capabilities that perfectly complement WakeCap’s vision to put workers first, make jobsites safer, and bring clarity to the world’s most complex construction projects,” said Dr. Hassan Albalawi, Co-Founder and CEO of WakeCap. “WakeCap’s ability to capture and

WakeCap President Di-Ann Eisnor (left) WakeCap CEO and Founder Dr Hassan Albalawi (centre) and Trackfy Co-Founder Tulio Cerviño. act on real-time jobsite data is critical for high-performing project controls, and this acquisition fuels our next stage of growth as we expand our global footprint, increasing the value we deliver to customers through richer insights, faster reporting, and greater operational efficiency. This is a strong cultural fit, and we are excited to welcome the Trackfy team to WakeCap.” The acquisition will combine WakeCap’s expertise in global construction technology with Trackfy’s strength in industrial operations.

WakeCap transforms how construction projects are managed through live, site-wide visibility across workforce, safety, productivity, and progress. Its technology protects and empowers jobsite workers, transforming construction sites into a safer and more reliable place to work. With more than 150 million labor hours tracked and deployments across US$120 billion in

active projects – including Aramco, NEOM, Qiddiya, and King Salman Park as well as global projects in the UAE, US, Brazil and Japan – WakeCap is setting the standard for how data drives performance, safety, and accountability on the jobsite, leading to data-driven business decisions and reduced insurance costs.

“WakeCap’s mission has always been to solve the construction industry’s most urgent problems through data, software, and IoT, while Trackfy has done the same across the operational core of industrial environments,” said Tulio Cerviño, CEO of Trackfy.

“Joining forces enables us to scale our technology, expand into new regions, and serve customers across the full lifecycle of industrial projects. This move is more than just an acquisition – it’s a big step toward the realization of a shared vision: to build the global standard for smart operations and industrial intelligence.”

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

10 NEWS

PURE STORAGE AND CISCO DELIVER AI FACTORIES FOR THE ENTERPRISE WITH NVIDIA Unifying compute, storage and networking to take generative AI from pilot to production.

Pure Storage and Cisco have announced a new FlashStack Cisco Validated Design (CVD), adding to the collection of AI PODs, a key module within the Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA. The collaboration brings together compute, storage, networking, and software in one unified, production-grade platform to help enterprises move from AI pilot projects to large-scale deployment with confidence.

“Too often, enterprises focus on GPUs and compute power, but without reliable data, the model never reaches its potential,” said Maciej Kranz, GM, Enterprise, Pure Storage.

“Our collaboration with Cisco and NVIDIA removes those data barriers, giving customers the performance, simplicity, and efficiency they need to operationalise AI.” Enterprise AI is no longer an experiment. Organisations have spent months running pilot projects and proof-of-concepts, testing large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-powered assistants, and domain-specific AI applications. But here is the problem many of them hit: the model is ready before the data is.

“With this new FlashStack CVD, we’re not just validating hardware, we’re orchestrating all the elements of RAG into an AI-ready infrastructure, removing complexity and reducing risk so customers can focus on turning data into insights that drive strategic outcomes,” explains Jeremy Foster, SVP & GM, Cisco Compute.

AI success isn’t just about training models. It’s about having data pipelines you can trust. Without them, even the most powerful models stall. For many enterprises, fragmented data architectures, limited visibility, and operational friction make moving from pilot to production feel like an uphill battle.

Data: The Missing Link in Enterprise AI Enterprises moving beyond proof-

• Cisco UCS C845a servers – GPU-accelerated compute powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 GPUs • NVIDIA AI Enterprise software – a production-ready software stack for building and deploying AI at scale Together, these technologies create the blueprint for the enterprise AI factory, an endto-end platform that turns data into insights across use cases like RAG, agentic AI, semantic search, video analytics, and code generation.

Maciej Kranz, GM, Enterprise, Pure Storage. of-concepts and pilot projects, are discovering that AI success depends not only on model design, but on data readiness. Fragmented architectures, limited visibility, and operational complexity can stall even the most advanced AI initiatives before they reach production.

The Cisco and Pure Storage validated solution addresses these challenges by ensuring that both structured and unstructured data are readily available to AI workflows.

Built on Pure Storage’s Enterprise Data Cloud architecture, the solution provides high-performance data access, concurrency, and energy efficiency through FlashBlade//S, while Portworx® by Pure Storage enables persistent, portable, and protected data across Kubernetes-based AI environments.

The result: AI teams can focus on innovation instead of infrastructure management.

A Blueprint for Enterprise-Scale AI At the core of this collaboration is a shared goal: simplify the path from experimentation to scalable, reliable AI deployment. The AI factory integrates: • Pure Storage FlashBlade//S™ – enterprise-level data management at scale solution

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Turning Raw Data into Real Outcomes The Cisco and Pure Storage validated solution converts the raw inputs of electricity and data into tokens - the building blocks of generative AI - that fuel business transformation.

Built on a foundation of over 5,000 existing FlashStack customers, the new FlashStack CVD combines GPU-accelerated compute from Cisco, Nexus Switching, NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, and Pure Storage’s high-performance unified data platform. Enterprises gain a production-ready path from pilot to full-scale deployment, without the complexity of stitching together separate systems.

The result is performance, reliability, and governance built for the dataintensive, regulated industries leading the next wave of AI adoption.

Scaling Without the Complexity AI workloads demand seamless integration across compute, storage, and networking. The FlashStack CVD delivers exactly that - integrating Cisco’s Nexus 9000 series networking, to deliver a low-latency, congestion-aware fabric required for high-performance AI. Telemetry, adaptive routing, and per-packet load balancing ensure efficient data flow between GPUs, storage, and compute.

11 NEWS

ENEC, PRESIGHT CO-DEVELOP ENECIQ PLATFORM TO BOOST EFFICIENCY AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Presight, a leading global AI and big data analytics company, have co-developed ENECIQ, an independent agentic AI platform designed to drive faster insights, decisionmaking, and knowledge sharing at ENEC. ENECIQ marks a significant step in ENEC’s ongoing digital transformation journey, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies to enhance efficiencies across its corporate and support functions. This new platform is designed to securely integrate AI across ENEC’s internal corporate systems to assist employees at all levels, from engineers and analysts to administrative teams – by providing intelligent, context-aware support.

The platform will draw on ENEC-specific knowledge bases to enable employees to generate tailored insights, automate timeintensive tasks, and ensure faster, data-driven outcomes. Applications include summarising technical reports from ENEC’s document management system, extracting insights from project KPIs and risk assessments, and offering staff rapid access to information and procedures.

By integrating AI into everyday workflows, ENECIQ will enable staff to save more time for innovation and problem solving.

ENECIQ is being developed within ENEC to secure cloud environment, and remains entirely separate from its nuclear reactor operations systems, ensuring compliance with the highest local and international standards of

data governance and security.

H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said: “At ENEC, we continue to integrate cutting-edge technologies as part of our ongoing journey to elevate our standards of excellence. The collaboration with Presight and the development of ENECIQ will help our teams with securing AI capabilities tailored to our organisation’s unique needs. Our continued focus on excellence puts us at the forefront of the nuclear industry globally, and this is a welcome step forward in driving efficiencies at every level.”

Thomas Pramotedham, Chief

Executive Officer of Presight, said: “ENECIQ sets a benchmark in innovation for sovereign agentic AI deployment within critical national infrastructure, representing one of the most advanced corporatewide implementations.

This platform integrates secure AI across a highly complex operational and data environment — where precision, reliability, and data integrity are nonnegotiable. Delivering AI at this scale, within such a mission-critical institution, demands not only cuttingedge technology but also deep domain expertise and rigorous governance.

ENECIQ showcases the transformative potential of sovereign AI in the energy sector — enhancing operational resilience, accelerating decisionmaking, and unlocking new efficiencies that support the UAE’s long-term energy and AI ambitions.”

By embedding AI directly into its operations, ENEC is fostering greater knowledge sharing and automation. ENECIQ also creates a platform for ongoing innovation, empowering employees to explore new AI-driven applications across the organisation.

This initiative aligns with the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to be a regional hub for secure and sovereign AI capabilities. ENEC plays a crucial role in powering the UAE’s future with safe, reliable, and sustainable nuclear energy.

Nuclear power’s stable, low-carbon electricity generation is key to supporting AI infrastructure and data centers critical to the nation’s digital economy.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

12 NEWS

E& UAE PARTNERS WITH KREDOSAI TO REDEFINE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH HUMAN-CENTRED AI New collaboration promises personalised, emotionally intelligent interactions across digital channels. e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology group e&, has joined forces with KredosAi, a leading human-centred AI platform, to deliver a new era of intelligent and emotionally aware customer engagement. The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to transform how the telecom giant interacts with its customers — offering communications that are not only faster and more efficient, but also empathetic and deeply personalised. e& UAE will harness KredosAi’s advanced AI-powered communication technology, which blends real-time customer data with context-sensitive and emotionally intelligent messaging.

The solution will enable e& UAE to anticipate customer needs, provide proactive assistance, and deliver communications that align with personal preferences — all while maintaining a human touch.

Chris Lipman, Chief Customer Experience Officer at e& UAE, said the initiative represents a step forward in combining technology and empathy.

“This collaboration enables the delivery of intelligent customer care that reflects each customer’s situation,” he said. “By pairing AI with empathy in every interaction, we can offer timely, personalised guidance delivered on the

Chris Lipman, Chief Customer Experience Officer, e& UAE at the MoU signing ceremony. channel they use most, in the language they prefer.”

KredosAi CEO Balaji Sridharan echoed the sentiment, highlighting the partnership as a landmark in redefining customer experience.

“This partnership with e& UAE is more than an innovation milestone.

It represents the future of customer experience and engagement,” he said. “By combining the intelligence of AI with the immersive power of rich communication platforms such

BY PAIRING AI WITH EMPATHY IN EVERY INTERACTION, WE CAN OFFER TIMELY, PERSONALISED GUIDANCE DELIVERED ON THE CHANNEL CUSTOMERS USE MOST. CHRIS LIPMAN, E& UAE

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

as WhatsApp, we are setting a new global standard for how enterprises communicate with their customers.”

The collaboration will leverage KredosAi’s predictive engagement models and multilingual personalisation capabilities to ensure that every customer interaction feels relevant and meaningful. By automating personalised reminders, clear choices, and seamless escalation paths, e& UAE aims to improve issue resolution times while reinforcing customer trust and loyalty.

Beyond enhancing engagement, the initiative is also expected to deliver measurable business value. With AIdriven insights optimising operations and communication flows, e& UAE will be positioned to achieve greater efficiency while ensuring that every customer experience feels uniquely human.

13 NEWS

LINE INVESTMENTS & PROPERTY PARTNERS WITH PARKONIC TO DRIVE SMART RETAIL TRANSFORMATION New collaboration integrates AI-powered mobility solutions across Lulu’s retail portfolio, beginning with Silicon Central Mall in Dubai.

Line Investments & Property L.L.C, the shopping mall development and management arm of Abu Dhabibased Lulu International Holdings, has announced a strategic partnership with PARKONIC, a leading smart parking solutions provider, to digitise and manage parking operations across Lulu’s retail destinations locally and internationally.

The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Dubai, marks a significant step forward in Line Investments’ long-term digital transformation strategy. The collaboration aims to enhance both operational efficiency and customer experience by integrating advanced AIdriven mobility technologies across its diverse portfolio of shopping malls.

PARKONIC will implement its proprietary Smart Mobility Operating System (PARKONIC OS) — an integrated platform combining AI, cloud intelligence, and intelligent hardware.

This system will enable automated entry and exit, seamless access for shoppers, and real-time operational insights. The technology is designed to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and support sustainability targets in alignment with national smart city initiatives.

Executives from Line Investments & Property L.L.C and PARKONIC at the MoU signing ceremony in Dubai.

The rollout will begin at Silicon Central Mall in Dubai, which will serve as the pilot location for future technology-led innovations across the portfolio.

“We are committed to transforming retail spaces through innovation, technology, and strong strategic partnerships,” said Salim MA, Group Director – Global Operations, Lulu Retail. “Our collaboration with PARKONIC reflects this ongoing commitment by introducing intelligent, AI-powered mobility solutions that enhance operational efficiency and

OUR COLLABORATION WITH PARKONIC REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO REDEFINING RETAIL SPACES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN.

SALIM MA, GROUP DIRECTOR – GLOBAL OPERATIONS, LULU RETAIL

elevate the customer journey. By joining forces, we are setting new standards for the future of retail.”

With this partnership, Line Investments & Property and PARKONIC are reinforcing their shared mission to create smarter, more connected retail environments — where operational efficiency and customer experience go hand in hand with sustainability and innovation.

Imad Alameddine, CEO of PARKONIC, added, “We are proud to partner with Line Investments & Property in this transformative agreement that reimagines the role of smart mobility in modern retail.

Through PARKONIC OS, we are providing the digital backbone for intelligent parking infrastructure that enhances convenience, optimises operations, and advances sustainability.

This collaboration reflects our shared vision of building future-ready retail destinations that move as intelligently as the people they serve.”

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

14 NEWS

SHARJAH RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PARK (SPARK) AND ASTER DM HEALTHCARE PARTNER TO SHAPE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE RESEARCH, INNOVATION IN UAE WeAce whitepaper at SPARK Dubai 2025 reveals how AI-powered mentoring is redefining leadership, nationalisation and talent retention across the region.

Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare and Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK). The signing was witnessed by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President and Chairperson of SPARK, alongside Dr. Malathi Arshanapalai, Chief Medical and Quality Officer, Aster DM Healthcare.

Aster DM Healthcare, one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the GCC, has signed a master research collaboration agreement with the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), one of the region’s foremost innovation ecosystems established to promote collaboration between industry, government, and academic and research organisations. The agreement aims to drive cutting-edge research and innovation in healthcare.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the Sharjah Next: Healthcare forum, a two-day event that brought together global experts, academia, and industry leaders to explore the future of medical research, biotechnology, and healthcare innovation.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), and Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and

Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare. The signing was witnessed by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President and Chairperson of SPARK, alongside Dr. Malathi Arshanapalai, Chief Medical and Quality Officer, Aster DM Healthcare.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing joint research initiatives focused on healthcare technology, clinical innovation, and sustainable solutions that will shape the future of healthcare in the region.

Under this agreement, SPARK and Aster will work together to conduct joint research projects in areas such as medical technology development, bio-innovation, artificial intelligence in diagnostics, and advanced data-driven healthcare solutions. The partnership also aims to nurture an innovation ecosystem that bridges academic and research organisations, industry, and clinical practice, accelerating the translation of research into real-world impact.

Alisha Moopen, Managing Director

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

& Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare and Board Member of SPARK, said, “The partnership reinforces Aster’s commitment to driving healthcare innovation through collaborative research and knowledge sharing. By combining Aster’s clinical expertise with SPARK’s robust innovation ecosystem, we aim to pioneer technologies and models of care that improve patient outcomes and advance the UAE’s position as a global hub for medical excellence and research-led innovation.”

The Master Research Collaboration Agreement outlines a clear framework for cooperation, covering areas such as intellectual property management, data protection, confidentiality, and publication of research outcomes. Aster DM Healthcare will have the rights to develop and commercialise innovations arising from the collaborative research, while both organisations will ensure compliance with UAE’s data protection and ethical research standards.

Dr. Asma Mahmoud Fikri, Director of Government and Corporate Partnerships at SPARK, stated: “This partnership marks a new chapter in linking world-class healthcare providers with our innovation ecosystem. Aster DM Healthcare’s experience in clinical excellence and regional healthcare delivery will bring valuable real-world perspective to our joint R&D efforts and help translate promising research into tangible patient outcomes.”

The partnership will also provide opportunities for joint academic initiatives, innovation acceleration programs, and talent development, supporting the next generation of researchers and clinicians in the UAE. This collaboration between SPARK and Aster DM Healthcare reflects a shared vision to leverage research, innovation, and technology to build a more sustainable and future-ready healthcare system in the UAE.

15 NEWS

CYBERKNIGHT EXPANDS SECURITY PORTFOLIO WITH HEXNODE TO BOOST ENDPOINT VISIBILITY, CONTROL CyberKnight, a leading value-added distributor (VAD) specialising in zero trust security, announced a strategic partnership with Hexnode, the global leader in Unified Endpoint Management (UEM). As organisations across the MEA (Middle East and Africa) accelerate digital transformation and hybrid work adoption, the rising complexity of managing endpoints and applications has created an urgent demand for simplified, scalable, and secure management solutions.

According to Gartner’s Market Guide for Unified Endpoint Management, Hexnode has consistently received honourable mentions, while also cited as a Notable Vendor in the Forrester Landscape Report for Unified Endpoint Management Q3 2025 for its intuitive interface, rapid deployment capabilities, and robust security integrations. With a user base spanning worldwide, Hexnode empowers enterprises to secure, monitor, and manage every device in their ecosystem—across mobile, desktop, and IoT environments—from a single, unified platform.

Wael Jaber, Chief Strategy Officer at CyberKnight, said, “Our partnership with Hexnode represents another milestone in our mission to bring bestin-class cybersecurity technologies to the Middle East. As device sprawl increases alongside hybrid working models, enterprises require unified solutions that deliver both security and simplicity.

Abhishek Pradhan, Tim Bell, Prasad Satav, Saif Khan, and Jaysha Karal.

“Hexnode’s platform aligns perfectly with our Zero Trust vision—centralising control without compromising user experience.”

With features such as Patch Management, Application Management, Remote Monitoring, and AI-driven Automation, businesses can streamline IT operations via Hexnode. Beyond traditional endpoint management services, Hexnode also delivers specialised solutions such as Kiosk Management, BYOD Management, and Rugged Device Management, enabling enterprises to optimise productivity and implement security strategies tailored to modern business environments.

The partnership between CyberKnight and Hexnode aims to tackle one of the region’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges: gaining centralised visibility and control over an increasingly diverse device

landscape. By combining Hexnode’s award-winning UEM technology with CyberKnight’s Zero Trust Security framework and deep regional expertise, the two companies will deliver holistic endpoint protection and compliance solutions to enterprise customers across sectors such as finance, education, healthcare, and government.

Tim Bell, VP of Sales (EMEA & APJ) at Hexnode, added:“Partnering with CyberKnight marks an exciting new chapter in Hexnode’s expansion across the Middle East and Africa.

CyberKnight’s strong enterprise relationships and market leadership provide the perfect foundation to extend our reach in the region.

Together, we will help organisations protect their devices, data, and users through intelligent, unified endpoint management built for today’s connected world.”

HCLSOFTWARE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY SOLUTION OFFERINGS IN AWS MARKETPLACE HCLSoftware, a global leader in enterprise software and the software division of HCLTech, announced the availability of six Total Experience industry solution offerings as multiproduct solutions in AWS Marketplace.

Customers can now easily discover and purchase packaged solutions tailored to specific industries and use cases that include multiple products and services.

The solutions, which address critical challenges facing customers

in healthcare, finance, utilities and other industries, will allow them to modernise customer interactions, streamline operations, improve engagement and retention, and meet regulatory requirements.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

16 NEWS By combining the HCLSoftware Total Experience software platform with Servicesled customised templates, accelerators, deployment, and training, these solutions enable customers to achieve their goals faster and more cost effectively.

Now available in AWS Marketplace are packaged Software and SaaS Solutions that address: Medicare & Medical Insurance, Fleet Management, Field Service Management for Utilities, Utility Customer Experience, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), and Superannuation.

“By offering Total Experience industry solutions in AWS Marketplace, we’re making it easier for customers to transform Rajiv Shesh, Chief Revenue Officer at their customer engagement, HCLSoftware. streamline operations and meet

regulatory requirements,” said Rajiv Shesh, Chief Revenue Officer at HCLSoftware. “The ability to deliver these capabilities through a single solution helps our customers deliver more value while saving time, cost and risk, all while simplifying procurement and deployment.”

With multi-product solutions in AWS Marketplace, customers can streamline procurement through a single AWS Marketplace Seller who serves as their dedicated point of contact. To complete a purchase with their AWS account, customers simply provide one approval that covers the total cost and all the products and services in the solution.

Customers maintain the flexibility to negotiate custom pricing and terms with private offers for each product and service.

MYASTER PARTNERS WITH CHECKOUT.COM TO INTRODUCE FRICTIONLESS GLOBAL PAYMENTS myAster, GCC’s #1 digital health, beauty and wellness app from Aster DM Healthcare, has partnered with Checkout.com, leading global payments solution provider, to enhance the digital payment experience for its users. The integration enables users to make payments quickly, securely, and conveniently through both the myAster app and website, further strengthening Aster’s vision of delivering seamless, connected care.

By leveraging Checkout.com’s advanced payments network, which supports more than 145 currencies and a wide range of local payment methods, myAster now offers users a streamlined and secure transaction experience. The collaboration introduces an improved payment experience approval rates, enhanced fraud prevention, and a frictionless checkout process designed to meet the needs of Aster’s diverse patient base, including those accessing cross-border healthcare services.

Commenting on the partnership, Nalla Karunanithy, CEO – Aster Digital Health & Omnichannel, Aster DM Healthcare said, “This partnership with Checkout.com is a key milestone in our mission to make healthcare more accessible, connected, and convenient. Patients can now book appointments, healthcare packages, or pay for medicines and beauty products within myAster with complete ease and confidence. It reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering a world-class, digital-first healthcare experience.”

The partnership marks another milestone in Aster’s ongoing digital

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

transformation journey. myAster has rapidly evolved into a comprehensive digital health ecosystem – connecting patients with doctors, Aster Pharmacies, home care and diagnostics through a single platform.

The partnership with Checkout.com further enables Aster to build a unified, global-ready payment ecosystem across its network of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, supporting both regional and international patients.

Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout. com, said, “Healthcare is a strategic focus area for Checkout.com, and this partnership with myAster reflects our continued investment in building a strong digital economy. By combining our digital payments capabilities with myAster’s digital ecosystem, we’re powering their performance through payments and supporting the delivery of fast, frictionless digital-first healthcare experiences.”

17 NEWS

PRESIGHT SIGNS LANDMARK MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT TO IMPLEMENT AI-POWERED SMART NATION PROGRAM IN ALBANIA Presight, a leading global AI and big data analytics company, has signed a landmark agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Albania to implement an AI-powered smart nation program.

This program will deliver nextgeneration smart city infrastructure across 20 cities and 28 international border points nationwide. The program reinforces Albania’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation and positioning the country among Europe’s most technology-driven nations.

Under the newly formalised agreement, Presight will deploy an integrated AI powered smart city platform designed to digitalise, optimise, and coordinate essential public services. The initiative includes real-time operations management, enhanced mobility and traffic systems, improved emergency response coordination, and a next generation command and control framework that supports stronger institutional capability and community wellbeing.

Her Excellency Albana Koçiu, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Albania, said: “This national infrastructure program represents a strategic investment in the long-term safety, resilience, and modernisation of Albania’s cities. By partnering with Presight, we are harnessing world class AI expertise to strengthen public services, enhance institutional

Her Excellency Albana Koçiu, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Albania, and Thomas Pramotedham, Chief Executive Officer of Presight. efficiency, and improve the daily experience of our citizens. The program reflects our commitment to responsible innovation and our aspiration to position Albania as a regional leader in the effective application of advanced technologies.”

Thomas Pramotedham, Chief Executive Officer of Presight, said: “With this program, Albania is undertaking one of Europe’s most ambitious smart nation transformations, and Presight is honored to be the AI partner of choice to deliver this critical infrastructure. This nationwide initiative will deploy AI-driven capabilities across 20 cities and 28 international border points, delivering more efficient public services, enhanced mobility, and an improved quality of life for citizens. Presight remains firmly committed to supporting Albania’s digital future with responsible, secure,

and impactful applied intelligence.”

This program underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing critical infrastructure and ensuring that communities across the country benefit from more connected and future ready environments. The deployment is designed to digitalise critical national infrastructure, integrate AI in government decision making, introduce greater efficiency across public services, reduce congestion, strengthen emergency response preparedness, and create long term improvements in national digital capability.

The program further highlights the strength of UAE-Albania relations.

With this smart nation program, Albania will become a model smart nation, demonstrating how AI can be responsibly applied at a national scale to deliver lasting benefits for institutions and citizens.

QUALYS SELECTS SECURITY MATTERZ AS FIRST MROC PARTNER FOR SAUDI ARABIA Qualys announced that Security Matterz has been selected to join its invite-only managed Risk Operations Center (mROC) Partner Alliance, becoming the first mROC partner in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic partnership marks a major milestone in advancing the Qualys ROC ecosystem within the Kingdom, empowering Saudi enterprises to scale cyber risk

management in alignment with national digital transformation goals and Saudi Vision 2030.

“We’re delighted to welcome Security Matterz as the first mROC partner in Saudi Arabia,” said Hadi Jaafarawi, regional vice president, Middle East and Africa at Qualys. “Their strong local expertise and commitment to advancing the Kingdom’s cybersecurity

ecosystem align perfectly with our vision of making risk management scalable, measurable, and actionable for businesses across the region.”

Security Matterz will deliver Qualys-powered managed risk services that bring measurable improvements in visibility, risk prioritisation, and response across critical sectors.

The collaboration will enable Saudi

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

18 NEWS organisations to overcome cybersecurity challenges such as fragmented tools, reactive security postures, and limited visibility — fostering a more proactive, business-aligned approach to risk management.

Built on the Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management Platform, the ROC framework consolidates risk signals across an organisation’s entire digital footprint into a single view. It enables Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), cyber risk quantification, and automated remediation — helping organisations translate cyber risk into business outcomes, strengthen compliance readiness, and enhance long-term resilience.

“Together with Qualys, we are committed to delivering innovation, trust, and resilience, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda and strengthening the region’s cybersecurity

Hadi Jaafarawi, Regional Vice President, Middle East and Africa at Qualys. readiness,” said Abdulrahman Alsanie, chief operations officer of Security Matterz. “This collaboration represents a new chapter in how enterprises in

Saudi Arabia can harness technology and intelligence to stay ahead of evolving threats and ensure secure digital growth.”

SENTINELONE AND RILIAN TECHNOLOGIES FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND AI-POWERED CYBERSECURITY SERVICES ACROSS MIDDLE EAST This partnership strengthens both companies’ commitment to delivering advanced cybersecurity capabilities and empowering organisations across the Middle East with modern, AI-driven protection.

SentinelOne, a leader in AI-native cybersecurity, has announced a strategic partnership with Rilian Technologies to accelerate the delivery of advanced cybersecurity operations and AI-driven defense capabilities across the Middle East. This collaboration combines SentinelOne’s industry-leading autonomous cybersecurity platform with Rilian’s mission to accelerate secure technology adoption, enabling governments, enterprises, and critical industries to deploy, operate, and optimise nextgeneration security programs at scale.

As digital transformation, AI adoption, and cloud modernisation continue across the Middle East, organisations face increasingly complex threats; from nation-state attacks to ransomware, supply-chain disruptions, and AI-enabled social engineering. Critical sectors such as

energy, transportation, finance, and government require modern protection models that deliver real-time detection, automated response, and sustained operational resilience. At the same time, new regulations, including Information Assurance and Data Protection laws in the UAE and national cybersecurity guidelines in Saudi Arabia and Qatar are reshaping compliance requirements for both public and private entities.

“As organisations across the Middle East modernise at speed, they need partners who can deliver both worldclass technology and deep regional services expertise,” said Meriam ElOuazzani, Regional Senior Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa at SentinelOne. “By combining SentinelOne’s AI-native cybersecurity platform with Rilian’s proven capabilities in accelerating OT technology adoption,

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

implementation, and regional delivery, we will help the region build autonomous, resilient cyber defense programs that stay ahead of emerging threats.”

SentinelOne and Rilian Technologies plan to deliver full-stack cybersecurity services, including advanced deployment, integration, SOC enablement, and operational technology (OT) security programs to help customers modernise and secure their platforms end-to-end.

The partnership also expands support for air-gapped and mission-critical environments, enabling operators of critical services can deploy advanced security controls without compromising isolation or operational continuity. Together, they align global innovation with regional priorities to enhance data control, strengthen regulatory compliance and protect

19 NEWS the critical infrastructure environments. The goal is to that underpins economic elevate regional capabilities diversification and long-term across cloud, identity, national competitiveness. endpoint, and OT domains; “We partnered with and help organisations SentinelOne to reinforce our transition from reactive ecosystem of autonomous cybersecurity operations to cybersecurity capabilities proactive, intelligence-driven that safeguard the world’s defense. most critical missions,” By combining SentinelOne’s said Christian Schnedler, innovation with the Rilian Co-Founder and CEO, Rilian Meriam ElOuazzani, Regional Senior Director, Middle platform’s ability to promote East, Turkey, and Africa at SentinelOne, and Christian Technologies. “SentinelOne’s secure technology adoption, Schnedler, Co-Founder and CEO, Rilian Technologies at AI-native solutions directly we believe this partnership the signing ceremony. support our mission to is set to accelerate the accelerate secure technology adoption Beyond technology deployment, the implementation of modern cybersecurity for governments, defense organisations partnership will also focus on building across the Middle East, ensuring and critical infrastructure operators. local expertise, expanding cybersecurity organisations have the capabilities, This collaboration reflects our shared skills, and enabling regional teams with support, and expertise required to commitment to fortifying digital the tools and training needed to operate protect their most critical assets against resilience across the Middle East.” autonomous, AI-powered security today’s rapidly evolving threats.

TECH MAHINDRA ACCELERATES ENTERPRISE AI TRANSFORMATION WITH GEMINI ENTERPRISE Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, announced that it plans to accelerate enterprise adoption of Gemini Enterprise using Google’s Gemini 2.5 multimodal models.

Through this collaboration, Tech Mahindra will empower customers to harness the full potential of Gemini Enterprise to drive measurable outcomes through responsible, human-centered AI. The collaboration combines Tech Mahindra’s extensive implementation experience, AI-first engineering talent, and proven Orion framework with Google Cloud’s advanced AI capabilities to help organisations design, deploy, and scale nextgeneration Agentic AI solutions.

Gemini Enterprise will also enable the creation of specialised AI agents, embed governance and safety guardrails, and integrate them seamlessly with Google Cloud’s ecosystem, including Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, Google BigQuery, and advanced data-to-AI pipelines.

Amol Phadke, Chief Transformation Officer, Tech Mahindra, said,

“As enterprises evolve from AI experimentation to AI-driven business transformation, they require secure, scalable, and enterprise-ready intelligence that can operate across diverse business environments.

Through our collaboration with Google Cloud and Gemini Enterprise, we are equipping organisations to embed AI into core operations with confidence, enabling intelligent, connected, and secure ecosystems powered by nextgeneration Agentic AI.” As a Google Cloud Premier Partner, Tech Mahindra brings strong implementation credentials aligned with its “AI Delivered Right” strategy. The AI adoption strategy emphasises four key pillars, including

Transformation Delivered, Productivity Delivered, Innovation Delivered, and Assurance Delivered, ensuring AI is embedded into enterprise processes with trust, governance, and business-aligned impact.

Victor Morales, Vice President, Global Systems Integrator Partnerships at Google Cloud, said, “Agentic AI offers a powerful opportunity to reshape business models and unlock greater efficiency across every enterprise.

By combining their deep industry expertise with Google Cloud’s leading AI solutions, Tech Mahindra helps businesses meet this opportunity and deploy powerful solutions to solve complex business challenges.”

Tech Mahindra has further strengthened its capabilities through dedicated Centers of Excellence, a portfolio of ready-to-deploy Agentic AI solutions, and a certified talent pool skilled in Google Cloud AI technologies.

Together, the organisations will enable enterprises to move confidently toward an Agentic AI-powered future, where connected, reasoning agents deliver business outcomes with speed, precision, and purpose.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

20 COVER STORY

2026 THE YEAR OF CHANNEL EXECUTION

AI moves into production and services take centre stage as the channel enters a high-pressure phase defined by accountability, sustainability, and outcome-driven delivery.

2

026 marks the year when execution replaces experimentation as organisations move from defining AI strategies to running them in production. The realities of compliance, cost control, and energy consumption are coming sharply into focus. The channel’s next phase will be shaped less by ambition and more by its ability to deliver under pressure.

Geoff Greenlaw, VP EMEA/ LatAm Channel at Pure Storage, says partners that succeed in 2026 will be those that align value creation with responsibility. Data sovereignty is rapidly becoming a boardroom priority, driven by tightening regulations and geopolitical uncertainty. Customers are demanding assurance that data is stored, managed, and governed within the right jurisdictions, pushing partners to build dedicated sovereignty and compliance practices across sovereign cloud, hybrid, and multiprovider environments.

Subscription models are also under

renewed scrutiny. The market has matured beyond the “as-a-service” label, with customers now drawing a clear distinction between recurring billing and genuine service delivery.

Credibility in 2026 will belong to partners that remain central to implementation, optimisation, and outcomes—rather than those offering financial flexibility without operational depth.

Outcome-led delivery will further eclipse product-led selling.

Enterprises are prioritising resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency over isolated tools, favouring integrated platforms that simplify management and unlock data value.

This shift creates opportunity for partners to differentiate through ecosystem alliances and end-toend solution design, particularly as virtualisation disruption forces customers to reassess architectures, platforms, and application strategies.

Sustainability will emerge as the defining constraint as AI and generative workloads drive

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

unprecedented energy demand, and partners will be expected to guide customers towards efficiency-first infrastructure choices, optimised GPU utilisation, and responsible lifecycle models. Success in 2026 will hinge on the channel’s ability to balance AI innovation with energy accountability—positioning partners not just as technology providers, but as trusted advisors shaping a more resilient and sustainable digital future.

21

The priorities shaping 2026 are already influencing how organisations across the region allocate technology budgets and assess return on investment. Boardroom focus has shifted decisively towards execution, accountability, and sustainability, driving spending away from standalone products and towards services that enable integration, optimisation, and long-term operational impact. This move from

technology ownership to deliveryled value is now clearly reflected in regional market data.

Grand View Research (GVR), a global market intelligence and consulting firm, says that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is entering a decisive, services-led growth phase in its IT sector, as enterprises and governments accelerate largescale digital transformation initiatives.

Investments in cloud computing,

artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, and cybersecurity are reshaping technology priorities, with implementation, integration, and managed services gaining prominence over traditional software-led models.

Industry analysis reveals that IT services currently account for around 21–22% of total IT spending across MENA, a share expected to rise to between 26 and 28% by the end of the decade.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

22 COVER STORY The region’s professional IT services market, valued at $33.9 billion (Dh124.5 billion) in 2024, is forecast to grow to nearly $58.3 billion (Dh214 billion) by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.5%.

Sourav Bhanja, Middle East Head of GVR, said: “Many B2B IT services firms in the region continue to underinvest in digital engagement. Professional platforms such as LinkedIn remain underutilised, while company websites often lack strong case studies, sector-specific storytelling, and clear positioning.”

Government-led digitalisation programmes, sovereign cloud deployments, smart city initiatives, and national data strategies, coupled with rising enterprise adoption across sectors such as banking and financial services, healthcare, energy, logistics, and public infrastructure, are driving this shift. As hyperscalers and global technology firms expand their regional footprint, demand for localised integration, migration, and managed services continues to accelerate.

Bhanja also emphasised the importance of leadership visibility in the region’s competitive IT market: “Technical capability alone is no longer enough. Firms that combine deep technical expertise with consistent marketing, strong leadership visibility, and clear communication of value are the ones most likely to succeed in the MENA market.”

Sourav Bhanja, Middle East Head, GVR.

The analysis highlights that with growing competition among IT services providers, market visibility and differentiation have emerged as critical growth drivers. Integrated, always-on digital marketing strategies are increasingly vital, as many B2B IT services firms underutilise channels such as LinkedIn, websites, thought

AS HYPERSCALERS AND GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY FIRMS EXPAND THEIR REGIONAL FOOTPRINT, DEMAND FOR LOCALISED INTEGRATION, MIGRATION, AND MANAGED SERVICES CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. SOURAV BHANJA, MIDDLE EAST HEAD OF GVR.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

leadership content, newsletters, blogs, infographics, and short-form video to engage decision-makers.

Market data also indicates a broader shift towards digital-first engagement.

Digital advertising spend in the Middle East, estimated at $32 billion (Dh117 billion) in 2024, is projected to rise sharply to $81.4 billion (Dh298.9 billion) by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.7%. In contrast, the regional events and conferences market is expected to expand at a more modest 7.1% CAGR, reflecting changing enterprise marketing priorities.

GVR sees IT services firms combining technical depth with strong market communication, data-driven marketing, and visible leadership will be best positioned to capture the next phase of growth across MENA.

23

2025 Channel Ecosystem in Review 2025 marked a decisive turning point for the Middle East and Africa’s technology channel. Across the year’s cover stories, a clear pattern emerged: distribution is no longer about scale alone, nor is innovation driven by technology in isolation. Instead, the channel matured into an ecosystemled, outcomes-driven model—where AI execution, people-first leadership, and regional relevance became the true differentiators.

From box moving to outcome orchestration One of the strongest themes of 2025 was the channel’s shift away from transactional distribution towards solution orchestration. Distributors increasingly positioned themselves as aggregators, integrators, and execution partners—bundling infrastructure, software, services, financing, and enablement into deployable offerings.

AI accelerated this transition. Rather than selling components, leading distributors focused on proof-ofvalue pilots, validated stacks, and repeatable use cases. The emphasis moved from “what technology to buy” to “what business outcome to achieve”, signalling a more consultative, accountable channel model.

AI moved from ambition to execution In 2025, AI stopped being a future promise and became an operational reality. Across distribution, infrastructure, and client computing, the focus shifted to AI readiness— ensuring data, platforms, security, and skills were aligned to support real deployments.

AI-first strategies centred on practical enablement: structured training, certifications, co-delivery projects, and AI-as-a-service models that reduced upfront risk. AI PCs, AI-ready infrastructure, and hybrid AI architectures gained traction as organisations sought to balance performance, cost, sovereignty, and sustainability. The channel’s role evolved into making AI accessible, scalable, and measurable across diverse markets.

CUSTOMERS ARE DEMANDING ASSURANCE THAT DATA IS STORED, MANAGED, AND GOVERNED WITHIN THE RIGHT JURISDICTIONS, PUSHING PARTNERS TO BUILD DEDICATED SOVEREIGNTY AND COMPLIANCE PRACTICES ACROSS SOVEREIGN CLOUD, HYBRID, AND MULTIPROVIDER ENVIRONMENTS. GEOFF GREENLAW, VP EMEA/LATAM CHANNEL AT PURE STORAGE.

Geoff Greenlaw, VP EMEA/LatAm Channel, Pure Storage.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

24 COVER STORY

Building Modern Channel Through 2025 October Edition People. Purpose. Partnerships. EVAD’s Formula for Cyber Success EVAD’s cover story put the spotlight back on the human core of the channel: empathy, culturefit hiring, and partnerships built on shared wins. It positioned cybersecurity distribution as an ecosystem business—where trust, consistency across markets, and tailored partner enablement matter as much as the technology stack. The narrative framed EVAD’s growth across the Middle East and Africa as proof that “people who care about people” can scale innovation without losing the heart of business.

September Edition Mindware charts bold path as AI aggregator across MEA Mindware’s edition captured distribution’s pivot from “moving boxes” to orchestrating outcomes, with AI as the catalyst. The story conveyed how the distributor is packaging AI into repeatable, scalable offers via its MAGIC platform—pairing infrastructure, software, services, enablement, and financing so partners can execute real deployments, not just talk about AI. It also underlined a defining channel message for the year: AI adoption will be won by those who make it reachable, repeatable, and sustainable.

August Edition ISSUE 329 | AUGUST 2025

www.tahawultech.com

Leading the charge into AI-first future This cover story traced the channel’s evolution into a collaborative, services-led engine for regional digital transformation—centred on AI readiness, cloud enablement, and partner empowerment. Through Mario M. Veljovic’s lens, it reinforced that modern distribution must deliver skills, platforms, and recurring models, while staying grounded in leadership values such as learning, integrity, and a people-first culture. The edition’s core takeaway: the future belongs to businesses that blend innovation with empathy and execution discipline.

SHAPING TOMORROW’S CHANNEL, TODAY VAD TECHNOLOGIES’ GENERAL MANAGER, MARIO M. VELJOVIC, SHARES HIS AI-FIRST VISION AND THREE DECADES OF CHANNEL LEADERSHIP.

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY DUBAI PRODUCTION CITY, DCCA

People and culture re-emerged as strategic assets Despite rapid technological change, 2025 reinforced a counterintuitive truth: people remained the channel’s most valuable currency. Leadership narratives consistently highlighted empathy, culture fit, succession planning, and trust-based partnerships as drivers of sustainable growth.

High-performing organisations invested deliberately in talent development, empowerment, and decentralised leadership—building businesses designed to scale beyond individuals. The most resilient ecosystems were those where teams,

partners, and vendors were aligned around shared success, not short-term wins.

Ecosystems replaced standalone partnerships The channel in 2025 operated less as a linear supply chain and more as a living ecosystem. Distributors curated portfolios around solution domains— security, infrastructure, cloud, AI—rather than individual products, simplifying complexity for partners and customers alike.

This ecosystem approach also enabled flexibility across markets with differing levels of digital maturity.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Advanced markets demanded largescale AI and cloud execution, while emerging economies benefitted from consumption-based models, local compliance expertise, and financing innovation. One size no longer fit all— and successful distributors designed for adaptability.

Sustainability became operational, not aspirational Sustainability quietly embedded itself into channel strategy in 2025—not as marketing rhetoric, but as an operational consideration. Energyefficient infrastructure, right-sized AI deployments, hybrid architectures, and

25

Building Modern Channel Through 2025 May Edition ISSUE 327 | MAY 2025

www.tahawultech.com

Dell drives AI-led growth across CEEMETA and META Dell’s cover package connected two fronts of transformation: AI-ready infrastructure and AI-enabled client computing. It conveyed how Dell is reshaping value-added distribution through AI Factory thinking—using assessments, use cases, partner tools, and ecosystem design to reduce adoption friction—while also reframing the PC era around AI PCs, simplified portfolios, manageability, and sustainability. The combined message positioned partners to monetise the refresh cycle and AI wave by selling outcomes, not devices.

DELL RESHAPES DISTRIBUTION AND CLIENT SOLUTIONS WITH AI SMARTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVICES TO FUEL PARTNER SUCCESS

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY DUBAI PRODUCTION CITY, DCCA

April Edition ISSUE 326 | MARCH/APRIL 2025 www.tahawultech.com

Mitsumi Distribution: Powering Africa’s digital leap with innovation, partnerships, and purpose Mitsumi’s story highlighted Africa’s digital acceleration as an opportunity built on infrastructure, local presence, and long-horizon commitment. It conveyed Mitsumi’s role as an enabler of inclusive growth—strengthening supply chains, expanding footprint, onboarding global brands, and backing partners with training and operational agility. The edition framed GITEX Africa as a rallying point for collaboration, with Mitsumi positioning itself as a bridge between global innovation and on-the-ground execution.

MITSUMI DISTRIBUTION

POWERS AFRICA’S From expanding infrastructure to enabling SMEs, Mitsumi Distribution reinforces its commitment to Africa’s ICT future through collaboration, cutting-edge tech, and regional empowerment at GITEX Africa 2025.

PUBLICATION LICENSED BY DUBAI PRODUCTION CITY, DCCA

January Edition The New Era of Distribution: 2.0 and Beyond The January cover presented distribution as a services-rooted, platform-driven model designed to enable transformation at scale. It conveyed Quantum Edge’s shift from service delivery heritage into value-added distribution leadership—built on certifications, always-on support, partner-first engagement, and a portfolio spanning technology segments, vertical solutions, and technical services. The overarching message was confidence in a modern channel blueprint: marketplaces, deep services, and disciplined execution that help SMEs and enterprises move faster in an increasingly digital regional economy. longer device lifecycles became part of solution design.

Customers increasingly evaluated partners on their ability to balance performance with responsibility, particularly as AI workloads intensified energy demand. The channel responded by aligning efficiency, cost control, and sustainability into a single business case rather than treating them as competing priorities.

Regional expansion followed execution capability Geographic growth across the Middle East and Africa continued, but expansion in 2025 was disciplined

rather than opportunistic. New markets were entered only where organisations could replicate governance, service quality, and partner support.

Africa, in particular, emerged as a strategic growth frontier— driven by infrastructure build-out, SME enablement, and increasing participation in global technology ecosystems. The year’s stories underscored that long-term commitment, local presence, and ecosystem investment mattered more than speed.

The channel’s identity was

rewritten By the end of 2025, the channel had clearly redefined itself. Distribution was no longer a support function in the technology economy—it became a strategic enabler of digital transformation. Success depended on blending AI execution with human leadership, platforms with partnerships, and global innovation with local relevance.

Taken together, the year’s cover stories captured a channel that grew up—more accountable, more collaborative, and more essential to how technology delivers real-world impact across the region.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

26 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // PURE STORAGE

PURE STORAGE POWERS CHANNEL ECOSYSTEM AND DUBAI’S RISE AS A GLOBAL TECH HUB Pure Storage underscores its commitment to enabling partners, empowering customers, and driving Dubai’s position as the world’s innovation gateway at GITEX Global 2025.

G

ITEX Global 2025 set the stage for Pure Storage to reinforce its leadership in driving digital transformation across the Middle East. The company continues to empower partners, enable customers, and strengthen Dubai’s standing as a global hub for innovation and technology excellence.

With the UAE now recognised as a launchpad for emerging technologies and a destination for global talent, Pure Storage is helping shape the region’s channel ecosystem through strategic alliances, partner enablement, and sustainable business growth.

Samer Semaan, Distribution & Alliances Director, META at Pure Storage, spoke to Sandhya D’Mello, Technology Editor, CPI Media Group, about the company’s commitment to partner development, Dubai’s evolving influence in the global tech landscape, and the growing adoption of subscription-based models that are transforming the future of data management.

How do events such as GITEX uplift the regional channel landscape, and how does Pure Storage contribute to that growth?

Dubai has become the hub of the future and GITEX acts as a gateway for new and emerging technologies, opening doors not only to the Middle East but also to Africa and the wider region. Every major tech company comes here to showcase the latest innovations, but what makes GITEX powerful is its ecosystem.

Our business model relies heavily on this—our distributors, partners, and alliances. For technology to reach customers effectively, it must be communicated and delivered correctly. At Pure Storage, we take this responsibility seriously. Our large presence at GITEX reflects our belief in the platform’s value.

We work closely with our partners, providing the right tools, training, and enablement programmes. It’s a two-way relationship—we learn from them, and they learn from us. This mutual growth ensures our ecosystem has the confidence and capability to take our solutions to market and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Global trends show that tech talent is increasingly moving toward Dubai. What are your thoughts on the city becoming a magnet for international professionals?

Dubai and the UAE are leading examples of countries that don’t just adopt technology—they embrace it early. Whether it’s artificial intelligence, smart-city initiatives, or sustainable innovation, some of the world’s most ambitious projects are happening here. The government’s commitment to digital transformation is unmatched. When you see this level of investment and ambition, it’s natural that global talent wants to be part of it. People recognise that innovation today often starts in Dubai before spreading to other markets. That’s why we’re seeing a steady inflow of professionals and entrepreneurs who view Dubai as the place to be.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Being at GITEX means being at the heart of global innovation.

What’s your personal take on this year’s event, which concluded on October 17?

GITEX is always special. I like to call it a “love–pain” relationship—we all love the energy, the opportunities, and the connections, but by the end of the day we’re completely exhausted! That said, it’s worth every bit of effort. GITEX gives us the chance to learn, collaborate, and exchange ideas with industry peers. What matters is that we follow up after the event—turning conversations into partnerships and opportunities. The key is to maintain the same energy and passion throughout the week.

Looking ahead to 2026, what will be Pure Storage’s top focus areas in terms of regional growth and technology?

Geographically, our main focus markets remain the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. We have strong on-ground teams and expanding operations in each. From a technology perspective, our top priority is driving awareness and adoption of our subscription-based business model. Subscription is the future—it offers customers flexibility, predictability, and peace of mind. With Pure’s model, customers pay only for what they use, enabling them to scale effortlessly. We believe this represents the future of technology consumption—simple, efficient, and aligned with how modern enterprises prefer to operate.

27

Samer Semaan, Distribution & Alliances Director, META, Pure Storage.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

28 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // VAD TECHNOLOGIES

VAD TECHNOLOGIES HIGHLIGHTS POWER OF CO-CREATION AND CYBER RESILIENCE IN AI ERA Mario M. Veljovic, General Manager of VAD Technologies, explains how co-creation, domain expertise, and human-centric cybersecurity are driving the region’s AI transformation and enabling businesses to build stronger digital resilience.

G

ITEX 2025 showcased a technology landscape undergoing rapid change, and VAD Technologies stood out as one of the key voices shaping that transformation.

In a conversation with Sandhya D’Mello, Technology Editor, Security Advisor Middle East, Mario M. Veljovic, General Manager of VAD Technologies, reflected on a year defined by heightened senior executive engagement, stronger government-led innovation agendas and a clear shift toward collaboration, cocreation and business resilience.

Veljovic noted that organisations were no longer merely exploring new technologies—they were seeking trusted partners with domain expertise who could guide them through complex AI decisions. As AI adoption accelerated and legacy environments were challenged, he stressed that true progress required cyber-resilient foundations, human awareness and long-term partnerships with system integrators who understood the customer’s business inside out.

From AI-infused cybersecurity solutions to the rise of domain-centric specialisation and the evolving expectations of regional enterprises, Veljovic provided an insider’s view of how the channel ecosystem was preparing for 2026. His message was clear: in the AI era, co-creation, focus and resilience would define the region’s digital future.

Interview Excerpts: What stood out to you at this year’s GITEX? Every edition of GITEX has its own

unique flavour, but this year the senior executive presence was particularly strong from day one. Government entities have clearly encouraged leadership teams to explore what’s new, understand future trends and educate themselves. Many visitors didn’t arrive with fixed requirements; they came to learn, co-create and engage in meaningful discussions. It has been inspiring to see so many great minds come together.

What did VAD Technologies showcase at the event this year?

Our booth was designed as a partner Executive Lounge. We dedicated the entire floor to meetings with our partner ecosystem. The goal is to create a space where customers and partners can explore ideas together, understand what’s needed for the new AI-driven world, and co-build solutions that deliver real value.

Customers want to lead in AI, yet many struggle with the transition. What have you observed?

AI has become easy to use but difficult to choose. Customers are overwhelmed by options and need proper guidance.

The partner ecosystem has never been more important – partners are now trusted advisors who understand the client’s business deeply. If you’re selling to aviation, for example, you must understand the aviation industry.

Customers expect partners who speak their language and guide them through digital transformation and AI adoption.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Are customers becoming more demanding?

In this region especially, customers expect vendors to be involved directly.

They don’t want to be “sold to”; they want to be part of a co-creation process. This requires attention, commitment and a deep understanding of the customer’s sector. The Middle East has become a unique and highly engaged customer landscape.

What trends do you see emerging in 2026 for the channel ecosystem?

AI will be everywhere. The fastestmoving use cases will likely be in cybersecurity, where vendors like Cohesity are already embedding AI engines. Instead of building their own AI tools, customers will adopt solutions that already incorporate AI elements. We will also see a reduction in human intervention in standard operations such as SOC tasks, with AI strengthening cyber resilience.

Do businesses need to spend more to build smarter cybersecurity infrastructures?

It’s not about adding more locks. The industry now recognises that 100% security does not exist. It’s about resilience. Attacks will happen – the key is recovering quickly. You need strong infrastructure, the ability to stand back up fast, and a focus on the human factor. Recently, we partnered with CyberX to enhance cybersecurity awareness because

29

Mario M. Veljovic, General Manager, VAD Technologies.

MY ADVICE IS TO WORK WITH A STRONG SYSTEM INTEGRATOR WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR BUSINESS, BUILD A LONG-TERM CYBERSECURITY JOURNEY AND ENSURE YOUR BUSINESS CAN SCALE ITS RESILIENCE.

often it’s one wrong click that creates a major incident. My advice is to work with a strong system integrator who understands your business, build a long-term cybersecurity journey and ensure your business can scale its resilience.

Is competition intensifying among system integrators?

Competition is always there, across

vendors, distributors and integrators.

What matters now is focus and specialisation. You cannot be everywhere. Choose your domain – aviation, oil & gas, SMB, logistics – and master it. Each vertical has unique needs that can only be addressed by true experts.

Does cyber resilience directly support business continuity?

Business continuity depends on how quickly an organisation can recover from an attack. The real damage is often reputational – if customers can’t reach you or worry about their data, the impact is significant. If you can bounce back fast enough that no one even notices downtime, that is true resilience. Today, protecting brand trust is as critical as restoring operations.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

30 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // PLANVIEW

PLANVIEW POWERS GROWTH WITH AI-DRIVEN TRANSFORMATION ACROSS MIDDLE EAST Stephen Fernandes, Chief Growth Officer and Head of Middle East at Planview, shares insights on the company’s regional investments, the evolution of GITEX, and how AI and localisation are shaping customer success.

G

ITEX Global 2025 marked another milestone for the region’s technology landscape, with Planview taking centre stage through its strategic focus on AI-driven transformation, localisation, and customer success. Leading these efforts is Stephen Fernandes, Chief Growth Officer and Head of Middle East at Planview, a veteran who has witnessed the evolution of GITEX for more than two decades.

Speaking to Reseller Middle East Fernandes discusses the region’s rise as a global technology leader and how Planview’s growing presence is empowering enterprises with data intelligence, innovation, and measurable outcomes.

How did it feel to be at GITEX this year?

I’ve been attending GITEX since 1997 — over 25 years now — and every year has been better than the last. It’s truly remarkable to see how the event has evolved. Ironically, this was final GITEX held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Having witnessed GITEX evolve for more than two decades, what’s the most striking change you noticed besides its multicultural diversity?

The pace of innovation and continuous

growth stood out and was inspiring to see how the UAE government has consistently supported technology, innovation, and exhibitors through this platform. Today, GITEX is arguably the number one technology event globally.

Watching Dubai transform from a desert landscape to a digital-first nation has been a phenomenal journey.

From your perspective as Planview’s Chief Growth Officer, how do you see the UAE and the wider Gulf region shaping the global technology landscape?

A couple of decades ago, the region was largely seen as a follower. Today, it has moved into a leadership position and, in many areas, has become a trendsetter. The world now looks to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for direction — whether it’s in innovation, technology, or futuristic development. Their alignment with national visions for the future has been a key driver of this transformation.

Congratulations on Planview’s growing presence in the region.

What can existing and new customers expect from your operations here?

Our focus is on driving localisation and personalisation. We’ve announced the establishment of a local data centre in Dubai, with another planned for Saudi

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Arabia in Q3 2026. We’ve also invested in a regional office, a dedicated team, and a customer success manager to enhance service quality. For new customers, this means a much closer relationship and 24/7 availability from our local team.

AI is reshaping business models globally. How is Planview integrating AI to create value for its customers?

At Planview, we specialise in integrating distributed data to deliver meaningful insights. Our AI engine, Planview Copilot, leverages conversational and agentic AI to help organisations identify risks in their strategic and portfolio programmes, mitigate challenges, and drive measurable outcomes. It’s all about transforming raw data into actionable intelligence.

Do you see a growing adoption of agentic AI across industries?

Absolutely. Adoption and consumption are the real challenges. Many organisations invest in transformation programmes but struggle to fully leverage them. That’s where our Planview Adopt framework comes in — helping customers maximise the tools they already have through capability assessments, adoption strategies, and measurable outcomes.

31

Stephen Fernandes, Chief Growth Officer and Head, Middle East, Planview.

SaaS-based solutions have become critical for scaling business operations. How is Planview helping clients make the most of these platforms?

Many of our clients use Planview’s SaaS solutions, but adoption and utilisation remain areas to improve.

We’ve launched capability assessment workshops to help clients evaluate their current state, define their future goals,

and create a roadmap to get there.

Additionally, Planview University offers certification programmes for upskilling and reskilling. This not only strengthens our clients’ internal teams but also builds an ecosystem of certified professionals across customers, partners, and Planview itself.

That’s a strong focus on growth

through skills and ecosystem development. Any final thoughts?

We’re excited about the journey ahead.

Our mission is to empower customers in the Middle East with localised, AI-driven solutions and a community of skilled professionals. With our investments in infrastructure, people, and partnerships, we aim to make a lasting impact in the region.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

32 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // D-LINK

D-LINK STRENGTHENS CONSUMER-FIRST VISION AS AI RESHAPES REGIONAL NETWORKING Sakkeer Hussain reflected on D-Link’s long-standing regional legacy, its AI-driven innovation strategy, and the future of secure, intelligent networking during GITEX 2025.

D

-Link’s presence at GITEX 2025 underscored the company’s enduring influence across the Middle East’s networking landscape. With more than 25 years in the region, the brand has built a reputation for early innovation—from pioneering cloud-enabled solutions to introducing AI-driven routers long before the market caught up. During the event, Sakkeer Hussain, Director – Sales and Marketing at D-Link Middle East & Africa, spoke with CNME Editor Mark Forker about the company’s evolving role in an increasingly digitalfirst economy, the rising demand for secure home and hybrid networks, and how D-Link is aligning its strategy with the region’s accelerating AI and infrastructure investments.

Could you summarise D-Link’s presence at GITEX 2025 and the key solutions you showcased?

During GITEX 2025, D-Link demonstrated its long-standing commitment to the region, where we have been active for more than 25 years. We highlighted our broad networking portfolio across consumer, SMB and entry-level enterprise segments. Our stand featured the latest cloud-enabled and AI-powered solutions, including next-generation Wi-Fi 7 and advanced securityled products designed for modern connected environments.

D-Link has maintained both legacy and relevance in a highly competitive market. How has the company continued to evolve?

Our legacy is built on decades of consistent innovation, but it also brings a responsibility to stay ahead. Over the years, we introduced technologies to the region long before they became mainstream. A key example is mydlink. com, our cloud platform launched in 2008—well ahead of competitors.

This ability to anticipate market shifts and launch future-ready solutions has helped us remain both relevant and trusted.

How significant has the mydlink. com platform been in shaping your innovation roadmap? mydlink.com was transformative as it enabled users to install and manage products themselves, removing complexity and improving security.

It also gave us a strong foundation to build our AI-enabled product lines. While the industry later moved towards app-enabled devices, we had already established a mature cloud ecosystem that set the standard.

D-Link introduced AI-driven routers years before AI became a mainstream buzzword. What motivated this early direction?

While many brands focused AI primarily on enterprise offerings, we believed AI should benefit everyday

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

users as well. With the Aquila Pro AI series, launched several years ago, we brought AI-driven optimisation, security and automation into the home—without subscription fees. This reinforced our mission of building networks for people and delivering innovation at consumerfriendly price points.

Home networks have become more complex since the pandemic. How is D-Link supporting modern digital households?

Today, the average home easily has 20 or more connected devices. Users need strong Wi-Fi performance but also robust security. Many cannot evaluate which products genuinely protect them. For this reason, our Aquila Pro AI and MIT-certified “Made in Taiwan” lines integrate AI-led security by default, they offer consumers reliable protection and peace of mind without requiring specialist installation or third-party support.

Hybrid work continues to reshape network requirements.

How is D-Link addressing this?

The shift to hybrid work has made secure home connectivity a business priority. Our cloud platform and AIdriven routers simplify configuration, enhance security and improve network performance. With the Aquila Pro family, we combine hardware and software intelligence to deliver

33

Sakkeer Hussain, Director – Sales and Marketing, D-Link Middle East & Africa.

efficient, secure and easy-to-manage solutions—ideal for both home offices and distributed teams.

The UAE and wider region continue to invest heavily in AI and digital infrastructure.

How does D-Link support these ambitions?

The region is accelerating towards a digital-first economy, and none of its aspirations can be achieved without a solid networking backbone. We are supporting this momentum with technologies such as Wi-Fi 7, which delivers over 10Gbps wirelessly, as well as advanced security integrations. Our philosophy is simple: speed matters,

but speed without intelligent control and security is meaningless. We ensure that both elements are embedded into our solutions.

Looking back at GITEX 2025, what value did the event deliver for D-Link?

GITEX once again proved to be an essential platform for us. It allowed us to meet customers, partners and industry peers directly, showcase our latest innovations and gather feedback first-hand. The event’s growth has been remarkable, and it remains one of the most valuable opportunities for the IT community to engage, collaborate and shape the future direction of

technology in the region.

Competition in networking is fierce. What message do you want to leave with consumers making purchasing decisions?

Price should never be the only consideration. Many low-cost products compromise security, exposing homes and businesses to serious vulnerabilities. When consumers choose purely on price, they often invite intruders into their network without realising it. D-Link guarantees quality and security backed by decades of experience. Our message is clear: protecting your digital life begins with choosing trusted, secure solutions.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

34 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // HITACHI VANTARA

HITACHI VANTARA DRIVES UAE’S AI AMBITIONS WITH SUSTAINABLE DATA INNOVATION AND CHANNEL EXCELLENCE Hitachi Vantara highlights how AI-ready infrastructure, responsible innovation, and a collaborative partner ecosystem are shaping the future of digital transformation across the Middle East.

H

itachi Vantara is strengthening the UAE’s position as a regional AI powerhouse through advanced infrastructure, sustainable data solutions, and trusted partnerships.

Wael Mustafa, leading Sales and Business Growth in the Gulf Region with IT Expertise at Hitachi Vantara, and Al Patel, Head of Distribution Sales & Technical Alliances EMEA and Channel Sales Director MEA, spoke to Sandhya D’Mello, Technology Editor, CPI Media Group, about how the company is bridging innovation and responsibility. From AI Factories and enablement programmes to ROI-focused deployments, their insights reveal how Hitachi Vantara is empowering enterprises and partners to embrace an intelligent, secure, and energy-efficient future.

How is Hitachi Vantara positioning its AI strategy to align with the UAE’s national AI vision and digital transformation roadmap showcased at GITEX Global 2025?

Hitachi Vantara is fully aligned with the UAE’s National AI Vision by

focusing on building robust AI-ready infrastructure and complementing it with practical use cases across industries. The company brings together four major business units, including GlobalLogic — its software development arm — to create a unified AI and data ecosystem. Hitachi Vantara’s infrastructure is designed to power industry-specific AI applications, from smart cities to data sovereignty and sustainability initiatives. We’ve witnessed a major shift since the launch of ChatGPT, which drove demand for scalable AI infrastructure, and we’re proud to say that 40% of our business in the past six months has been driven by AI-related use cases and infrastructure enablement.

What differentiates Hitachi’s approach to “responsible AI” compared to other global players, particularly in terms of governance, ethics, and realworld industrial applications?

Hitachi’s approach is rooted in its industrial heritage — spanning energy, rail, and manufacturing — which gives us a deep understanding of operational realities. Our AI strategy emphasises responsible innovation through governance, testing, and ROI

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

validation. We collaborate closely with NVIDIA to operate AI Factories in Europe, allowing customers to test and refine their AI use cases in a secure, controlled environment.

This setup helps organisations assess ROI before large-scale deployment.

We see this as a unique differentiator — not just selling AI infrastructure but partnering with clients to ensure ethical, measurable, and sustainable AI adoption.

With data infrastructure and sustainability taking centre stage at GITEX Global this year, how is Hitachi Vantara integrating AI and data intelligence to help regional enterprises achieve both growth and carbon neutrality?

Data remains the most critical asset for every organisation. As AI adoption grows, enterprises face two key challenges: managing data growth and ensuring sustainable operations. Hitachi Vantara addresses both by helping organisations scale infrastructure intelligently while minimising power consumption. Our expertise in energy efficiency, combined with advanced AI integration, enables data centres to operate with reduced energy

35

Wael Mustafa. requirements — even as they deploy GPU-intensive workloads. Additionally, cybersecurity remains a top priority. As AI becomes more pervasive, new risks emerge, and we are actively working with partners and regulators to design frameworks that protect AI-driven data environments from evolving cyber threats.

What are your key priorities for expanding AI-driven solutions and collaborations across the Middle East in 2025 and beyond?

The Middle East, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is becoming a global hub for AI innovation. We’re seeing

significant demand from enterprises eager to integrate AI into their operations. Our focus is to educate customers on developing ROI-driven AI strategies, helping them identify whether to build in-house models or adopt alternative approaches. Hitachi Vantara supports clients through every step — from feasibility studies and infrastructure readiness to deployment and long-term optimisation. We’re also expanding partnerships in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with plans to scale AI-driven transformation projects across the region through education, implementation, and secured innovation.

How is Hitachi Vantara evolving its regional channel ecosystem to empower partners with the AI and data solutions portfolio being highlighted at GITEX Global 2025?

Until recently, most AI projects focused on internal proof-of-concept use cases.

Now, we’re moving toward full-scale, end-user deployments. With more than a century of domain expertise across energy, transportation, manufacturing, and finance, Hitachi Vantara brings deep operational and IT knowledge to the table. We categorise partners into three groups — those already delivering AI use cases, those in

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

36

Al Patel. progress, and those just starting. For each, we provide tailored enablement programs. This includes helping advanced partners build AI-ready data centres and assisting newcomers through structured, hands-on engagement. Our goal is to ensure every partner can confidently deliver and scale AI use cases effectively.

What new initiatives or partner enablement programmes are you introducing to help distributors and system integrators accelerate enterprise transformation in the Middle East?

We’re 100% channel-driven in this region, and our new Fast Start Bundles (FSB) are designed to help partners tap into both enterprise and mid-

market opportunities. These scalable solutions — available in small, medium, and large configurations — allow organisations to start at 15 terabytes and scale up to over 900 terabytes while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability. Alongside this, our channel incentive programs include rebates and stacked incentives for acquiring new customers. We also offer comprehensive training and enablement resources so partners can accelerate deployment and profitability while maintaining consistent technology standards across all customer segments.

What opportunities does GITEX Global 2025 present for strengthening collaborations and identifying new regional

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

distribution models for Hitachi Vantara?

GITEX brings together every part of the ecosystem — from government and large enterprises to SMBs, vendors, and distributors. It’s the ideal environment to reconnect, exchange ideas, and explore collaborative models. The regional market is evolving rapidly, and no single player can deliver everything a customer needs. That’s why we’re fostering a more collaborative channel ecosystem, where partners work together to deliver integrated AI and data solutions. This year, our goal at GITEX is to build alliances that accelerate customer success, combining Hitachi’s global expertise with the agility and innovation of our regional partners.

2 - 4 DECEMBER 2025 MALHAM, SAUDI ARABIA

CYBERSECURITY’S GLOBAL STAGE

REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE PASS TODAY

38 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // REDINGTON

REDINGTON ACCELERATES PARTNER EMPOWERMENT WITH AI AND CLOUD-FIRST STRATEGIES Sayantan Dev, President & Global Business Unit Head at Redington, discusses the company’s global software solutions momentum, unveiling Port Hive—an AI community platform—and CQ 2.0, a next-gen cloud commerce marketplace built to drive agility, scale, and partner success across the region.

T

he Middle East channel ecosystem is entering a decisive phase, as AI, cloud, and software-led platforms redefine how partners create value for customers.

Distributors are no longer judged solely on scale and reach, but on their ability to enable skills, accelerate time-to-value, and orchestrate complex ecosystems spanning SaaS, security, and services.

Redington is sharpening its global software-led strategy to support partners navigating this shift.

Sayantan Dev, President & Global Business Unit Head at Redington, shares insights into the company’s evolving role in the channel, its investments in platforms, skills development, and communities, and how these initiatives are shaping the next phase of partner-led growth in the region.

Interview Excerpts You have witnessed the evolution of the regional technology ecosystem over many years. How would you describe the current momentum in the Middle East tech market?

The Middle East technology ecosystem continues to build strong

momentum, with enterprises and governments moving rapidly from experimentation to execution.

AI, cloud, and security are now integral to core business strategies rather than emerging add-ons. This shift is creating sustained demand for partners who can combine technology with real execution capability, making the channel more relevant than ever.

Redington has been expanding its software-led strategy globally. What are the key initiatives driving this transformation?

At the beginning of the year, we launched the Software Solutions Group as a dedicated global business unit, reflecting the growing importance of software, platforms, and recurring models. Two initiatives stand out. The first is Port Hive, a community platform that brings AI users together to exchange best practices and real-world experiences.

The second is CQ 2.0, the next generation of our cloud commerce and marketplace platform, which has been completely rearchitected to support scale, agility, and partner-led growth through a modular, API-first, whitelabel design.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

How have industry platforms such as GITEX Global 2025 helped shape conversations around these initiatives?

Platforms like GITEX Global 2025 play an important role in bringing the ecosystem together— partners, customers, innovators, and technology providers—around shared priorities. They help validate market readiness for initiatives such as AI communities, cloud marketplaces, and skills enablement, while also accelerating conversations around collaboration, trust, and execution across the channel.

As AI and cloud adoption accelerates, how is Redington helping partners unlock value while maintaining trust and resilience?

Our focus is on improving time-tovalue and enabling partners to deliver measurable business outcomes. This means investing in scalable platforms, building strong internal competencies, and taking those capabilities to market. Trust and resilience are essential as customers deploy AI and cloud at scale, and our role is to help partners address these challenges with confidence.

39

Sayantan Dev, President & Global Business Unit Head, Redington.

Skills development is becoming a critical differentiator for partners. How does the Redington Academy address this need?

The Redington Academy follows a hybrid approach, combining self-paced digital learning through an LMS with instructor-led and classroom-based programmes for advanced certifications.

While online learning provides flexibility, in-person training remains essential for hands-on experience, experimentation, and deeper engagement. The Academy is designed

to help partners scale skills faster across all regions where Redington operates.

Partnerships remain central to Redington’s strategy. What should the channel expect next?

We are continuing to expand our ecosystem across SaaS, cloud, and security—segments that are highly innovative and evolving rapidly.

Alongside onboarding new technology partners, we are also broadening our services portfolio and helping partners build competencies beyond traditional distribution. The goal is to

curate the right mix of technologies, services, and enablement to support sustainable partner growth.

Any closing perspective on Redington’s outlook for partners?

The opportunity for the channel is significant. Partners that invest in skills, platforms, and collaboration will be best positioned to succeed in an AI-driven market. At Redington, our focus remains on enabling that journey—by building ecosystems, accelerating capabilities, and helping partners scale with confidence.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

40 INTERVIEW // BMC HELIX

Salman Kazmi, Area Vice President, META, BMC Helix.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

41

BMC HELIX EMPOWERS ENTERPRISES IN SAUDI WITH AGENTIC AI AT RIYADH ROADSHOW BMC Helix accelerates AI-driven innovation and ServiceOps transformation, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 through local partnerships and next-generation automation.

B

MC Helix marked a significant milestone in its regional journey with the Customer and Partner Roadshow held at the InterContinental Riyadh on Wednesday, showcasing how its Agentic AI, HelixGPT, and AIOps capabilities are redefining IT service and operations management. The event brought together industry leaders, partners, and customers to experience first-hand how BMC Helix’s AI-powered solutions are enabling enterprises to turn intelligence into action—anticipating needs, automating solutions, and accelerating outcomes across ServiceOps. Salman Kazmi, Area Vice President, META, BMC Helix, shared insights into the company’s expanding footprint in Saudi Arabia with Reseller Middle East and its commitment to Vision 2030, and how Agentic AI is shaping the next era of enterprise intelligence and operational excellence.

BMC Helix hosted its customer and partner event in Riyadh.

What was the focus of this engagement?

The Riyadh event was part of a global series of Helix roadshows—this year, the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region was chosen for the main stage. We’ve previously hosted similar events in the UAE, and the decision to hold it in Saudi Arabia this time reflects the kingdom’s strong

transformation agenda. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are our core markets, but each has unique characteristics— different citizen dynamics, regulatory structures, and digital goals. We operate with dedicated country managers in both nations, ensuring our teams deliver value-driven outcomes tailored to local needs. It’s not about competition between markets—it’s about complementarity and shared ambition.

BMC Helix is now operating as an independent company.

How has this shift accelerated innovation?

BMC’s roots go back to 1980, but as technologies evolved, our business diversified into three areas— mainframe management, automation, and service operations. With the rise of AI, the Helix division needed more agility, which is why we became an independent entity. This autonomy allows us to innovate faster, with four major releases a year—something that wasn’t possible before. Whether customers run our solutions as SaaS or on-prem for data sovereignty, they now benefit from accelerated development cycles, deeper investment in AI, and faster time to value.

How is BMC Helix supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital goals?

We’ve operated in Saudi Arabia since 1998, so we’ve grown alongside the

kingdom’s transformation journey.

Our strategy aligns with Vision 2030 through localisation, co-innovation, and strategic partnerships. We cocreate AI-powered solutions with leading enterprises and government entities while investing in local talent development. For us, it’s not just about delivering software—it’s about cocreating the future of AI operations in the Saudi Arabia.

Tell us about your partner ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and how local collaborations strengthen customer success?

Partners are our lifeblood. We have one of BMC Helix’s strongest global partner networks in Saudi Arabia, including Al Moammar Information Systems (MIS), Magnoos (MDS Group), CyberMAK, and Fourth Dimension Systems (FDS). These collaborations drive localisation, co-development, and faster deployment for customers. We run partner enablement programmes, co-marketing initiatives, and joint innovation projects. It’s truly a global innovation model powered by local execution.

Could you clarify how data sovereignty is maintained in markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia?

Data sovereignty laws vary by country.

In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the key requirement is that data must remain within national borders, with

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

42 INTERVIEW // BMC HELIX no sub-processing abroad. We ensure full compliance through localised infrastructure—our UAE instance runs on Oracle Cloud (OCI), and our Saudi instance operates on Google Cloud. Each environment is managed separately and replicated locally. No customer data leaves the country or is visible to global BMC servers, ensuring complete separation and adherence to national policies.

Dubai has positioned itself as a Digital-First nation. How do you view the emirate’s progress in embracing next-gen technologies?

The best way to describe Dubai is that it never settles. The city constantly seeks the next efficiency paradigm and continues to push the boundaries of innovation. If you look at initiatives like DEWA’s paperless transformation, which began years ago, the results today are remarkable. Dubai and the UAE have not only embraced AI but are building frameworks around it, reflecting His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to make this the happiest and most future-ready nation. Today, e-services and banking initiatives in the UAE are ahead of many Western markets. The region’s fearless approach to adopting technology makes it a hub where global vendors can actually define what the future looks like, rather than waiting for others to set the standard.

Agentic AI is a major focus for BMC Helix. How do you define it, and how does it differ from traditional automation or generative AI? Traditional automation is rule-based—

“if this, then that.” Agentic AI, on the other hand, introduces autonomous digital teammates capable of reasoning and acting toward specific outcomes.

We call it Enterprise Intelligence—a system where digital assistants pursue goals proactively rather than reactively. We’ve developed purposebuilt agents such as Insight Finder for contextual decision support, Ops Swarmer for cross-team collaboration, and Best Action Planner for intelligent recommendations. The objective is to unlock human potential by letting AI handle operational complexity, so employees can focus on innovation and differentiating work.

How do you address the challenge of cultural and mindset shifts when introducing agentic AI? Change management is key. It’s a process of cultural education and demonstration—showing, not just telling. Our global leadership, including our CEO, actively demonstrates agentic use cases to customers. Once people experience how agentic AI delivers value, fear turns into curiosity, and curiosity turns into adoption.

How do HelixGPT, AIOps, and other capabilities work together to enhance IT service delivery?

HelixGPT forms our intelligence backbone. It enables natural language understanding, causal analysis, and code generation through reflex automation. AIOps complements it by offering deep observability and predictive analysis across hybrid environments—on-prem, cloud, or both. Together, they detect anomalies, correlate events, recommend resolutions, and even automate fixes in real time. It’s like moving from reactive IT operations to proactive, self-healing digital ecosystems.

ONCE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOW AGENTIC AI DELIVERS VALUE, FEAR TURNS INTO CURIOSITY, AND CURIOSITY TURNS INTO ADOPTION.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

What measurable benefits have customers seen from implementing AI-powered ServiceOps with BMC Helix?

Our customers report tangible improvements— 60% faster incident resolution, driven by AI-powered root-cause analysis and automated team assembly.

40% reduction in manual effort through intelligent scheduling and autonomous change management.

30% improvement in change success rates, as AI assesses dependencies before implementation.

For instance, Vodafone saw a 37% drop in service desk calls, while DNV accelerated deployment from design to production in just six weeks.

What are some best practices for responsible and successful generative AI adoption?

Adoption starts with purpose-built use cases and measurable goals.

Governance and guardrails are essential—AI initiatives must align with enterprise security and data privacy.

We follow a “bring your own model” approach, letting customers choose between Azure OpenAI, Google, or other LLMs, ensuring ownership and control. Equally important is hands-on engagement. Our “Airport Simulator” and “Farsight Activation” sessions let customers experience AI in action, which helps overcome resistance and fosters cultural change.

Looking ahead to 2026, how do you see the role of AI agents evolving in enterprise operations?

We’re moving from task automation to full-scale operational augmentation.

AI agents will become trusted digital teammates capable of reasoning, acting, and learning across enterprise environments. We’re expanding our Agent Builder capabilities so customers can create their own specialised agents.

Future innovation will focus on multiagent orchestration, bias-aware data governance, and conversational DevOps. The next challenge will be ensuring that these agents can talk to each other across systems—creating a unified agentic framework, and BMC Helix will play a major role in that evolution.

HOSTED BY

OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT CYBERSECURITY PARTNER

OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED BY

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA’S LARGEST CYBERSECURITY EVENT

SCAN HERE

ENQUIRE FOR 2026!

#gisecglobal

gisec@dwtc.com

44 GITEX GLOBAL INTERVIEW // NOKIA

Roque Lozano, Senior Vice President of Network Infrastructure, Middle East and Africa, Nokia.

NOKIA POWERS MIDDLE EAST’S DIGITAL BACKBONE WITH SECURE, OPEN, AND SUSTAINABLE NETWORKS Roque Lozano, Senior Vice President of Network Infrastructure, Middle East and Africa at Nokia, shares how the company is driving sovereign, AI-ready infrastructure, advancing quantum-safe security, and shaping the region’s digital future in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s AI Strategy 2031. www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

45

M

iddle East digital transformation is accelerating, and network infrastructure has become the invisible backbone of national progress. From smart cities and AI-driven industries to sovereign data and mission-critical services, the region’s connectivity ambitions demand reliability, scale, security, and sustainability—delivered without compromise.

Roque Lozano, Senior VicePresident of Network Infrastructure, Middle East and Africa, Nokia, spoke to Sandhya D’Mello, Technology Editor of Reseller Middle East on how Nokia is advancing open, interoperable networks, preparing for quantum-safe security, and enabling sovereign, AI-ready data centres aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s AI Strategy 2031.

How is Nokia ensuring that its network infrastructure continues to deliver reliability and ROI for governments and enterprises in the Middle East, especially as demand for highcapacity, always-on services grows?

Networks are the invisible backbone of the digital economy, powering cities, industries, and governments. At Nokia, we focus on making that foundation secure, scalable, and sustainable so that service providers, enterprises, and public entities can rely on it without interruption. Nokia supports networks serving over 6.6 billion subscriptions worldwide, with technology underpinning critical infrastructure across the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, we deployed the first 25G PON neutral-host fibre network, setting new benchmarks for performance. In the UAE, our AI-powered Wavesuite trial with du halved optical network planning time and cut costs by 30%. These innovations prove that performance and efficiency go hand in hand.

Can you explain what “open by design” means in practice, and how Nokia’s approach is helping Middle East operators

and enterprises embrace growth with agility?

The future of networking is open.

Closed, single-vendor systems are history — customers now demand agility, interoperability, and innovation freedom. Nokia’s “open by design” approach delivers modular, standardsaligned infrastructure that evolves with technology. As a founding member of the Telecom Infra Project and the O-RAN Alliance, we are shaping the frameworks that make true openness possible. The result is agility and efficiency. Our Open Optical Line Systems and NetOps automation tools enable faster deployment and lower ownership costs. Across the GCC, this openness underpins national broadband, smart cities, and private enterprise networks — transforming openness from a technical feature into a business advantage.

Why is quantum-safe networking such a critical issue for the region, and how is Nokia working with governments and operators to get ahead of the “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” risk?

Quantum computing will transform industries — and cybersecurity. Data encrypted today could be captured and decrypted later once quantum systems mature — the “harvest now, decrypt later” risk. Gartner predicts that by 2029, traditional cryptography will be unsafe, making the shift to post-quantum cryptography urgent.

At Nokia, quantum-safe networking is central to our security strategy.

In collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution to protect data from optical networks to the application layer. For the Middle East, this safeguards national data and supports long-term resilience in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s National Innovation Strategy.

How is Nokia enabling sovereign, AI-ready data centres, and what role does this play in national digital agendas like Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s innovation strategy?

Across the Gulf, data centres are the new power plants, driving AI innovation and digital governments.

As AI workloads rise, nations are prioritising sovereign cloud and AI-ready infrastructure to process and secure data locally. IDC projects global data centre energy use will more than double between 2023 and 2028, making efficiency crucial.

Nokia addresses this through highperformance, secure, and scalable interconnect solutions that meet both performance and compliance needs.

Our network-cloud continuum links national clouds, edge sites, and core networks into one intelligent ecosystem — ensuring sovereign control, lower latency, and energy efficiency. This aligns with regional strategies like Saudi Arabia’s Cloud First Policy and the UAE’s AI Strategy 2031, supporting security, sustainability, and innovation leadership. what do you see as the most pressing priorities for the region’s critical infrastructure providers, and how is Nokia positioned to remain a trusted partner in their digital transformation journeys?

The future can be defined by three words — resilience, security, and sustainability. Networks must scale for growing data, stay cyber-resilient, and support the region’s sustainability goals across every layer — from subsea cables to data centres and edge networks — to enable a secure, endto-end digital experience. According to GSMA, 5G will become a key driver of economic growth across MENA, transforming sectors like manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare, and smart cities. But this growth must be energy-efficient — our optical and broadband solutions reduce power consumption by up to 60%. Looking ahead, Nokia is shaping 6G standards globally, integrating AI, sensing, and ultra-low latency into one intelligent network fabric. Our strength lies in listening first — aligning with each customer’s national or industrial vision, then applying Nokia’s innovation across infrastructure, cloud, and mobile networks to power the Middle East’s digital future.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

46 APPOINTMENT // KYNDRYL

KYNDRYL STRENGTHENS REGIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH APPOINTMENT OF ADIB KILZIE

Industry veteran to drive Kyndryl Consult’s advisory growth across the Middle East and Africa

K

yndryl has announced the appointment of Adib Kilzie as Kyndryl Consult Leader for the Middle East and Africa (MEA), underscoring the company’s commitment to strengthening its advisory capabilities across the region. Based in Riyadh, Kilzie will lead strategic engagements with both public and private sector organisations, helping them modernise mission-critical systems, accelerate digital transformation, and achieve sustainable growth.

With more than 25 years of IT consulting experience across Canada, Europe, and the GCC, Kilzie brings deep expertise in customer experience, cloud transformation, and large-scale digital programmes.

He joins Kyndryl from KPMG, where he served as Partner and Head of Customer Experience Solutions and Cloud, and previously held senior roles at IBM and Saudi Business Machines.

Kilzie has earned recognition for driving innovation and leading complex transformation initiatives.

His leadership approach focuses on fostering collaboration, empowering diverse teams, and translating strategic vision into measurable outcomes.

“I am honoured to join Kyndryl at such a pivotal time for the region’s transformation,” said Kilzie. “My priority is to work closely with customers to turn ambition into action by embracing hybrid IT, unlocking the value of data and AI, and building secure, future-ready platforms.”

Kilzie holds a degree in Business

Adib Kilzie.

Administration from Seneca Polytechnic in Canada and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Leicester in the UK. Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, supports thousands of customers across more than 60 countries. The company specialises in designing, building, and managing missioncritical information systems that

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

power global enterprise operations.

Pieter Bil, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Kyndryl MEA, added: “Adib’s appointment underscores Kyndryl’s commitment to empowering organisations in the region with advanced technology services and strategic expertise.

His experience in leading complex transformations will help customers innovate, modernise critical systems, and strengthen resiliency.”

47 CONFLUENT // APPOINTMENT

CONFLUENT NAMES KARIM AZAR AS AREA VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE MIDDLE EAST Industry veteran to accelerate Confluent’s regional growth and drive adoption of data streaming technologies

Karim Azar, Area Vice President and General Manager – Middle East, Confluent.

C

onfluent, the data streaming pioneer, has announced the appointment of Karim Azar as Area Vice President and General Manager for the Middle East. In his new role, Azar will be responsible for steering Confluent’s regional strategy, deepening customer and partner

engagement, and driving the adoption of real-time data streaming across key industries.

Welcoming the appointment, Kamal Brar, Senior Vice President, Partners & Technology Group at Confluent, said: “We are delighted to welcome Karim. His deep understanding of the region’s digital priorities, customerfirst mindset, and ability to foster

trusted partnerships make him the ideal leader for the Middle East.

Karim’s leadership will help customers put real-time data to work, driving intelligent operations, exceptional customer experiences, and real-world AI.” With more than two decades of experience in technology leadership and business development, Azar brings a strong track record of driving growth in the enterprise software space. He joins Confluent from Cloudera, where he served as Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Turkey, leading strategic initiatives and key client engagements. Prior to that, he held several senior roles at BMC Software, including Territory Manager for the Middle East and North Africa, where he supported organisations in implementing IT service management and automation solutions.

Commenting on his appointment, Azar said: “I am delighted to join Confluent at such a transformative time for our Middle East customers.

The region is leading the charge in digital innovation, as organisations tap into the value of real-time data to drive faster and smarter decisions. I look forward to working closely with our teams, customers, and partners to help shape the next era of intelligent, datadriven business in the Middle East.”

Azar will make his first public appearance in his new role at Confluent’s Data Streaming World Tour in Dubai on Thursday, 13 November 2025, where he is expected to outline Confluent’s vision for enabling real-time data architectures across regional enterprises.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

48 APPOINTMENT // ABFC

ABFC NAMES VALERY HURYNOVICH CEO TO DRIVE SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH The appointment underscores Arab Basalt Fiber Company’s commitment to innovation and advancing the UAE’s green industrial vision.

Valery Hurynovich.

T

he Arab Basalt Fiber Company (ABFC), a subsidiary of the Arab Mining Company–Fujairah (AMCF), has appointed Valery Hurynovich as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to advance sustainable industrial materials and composite technologies.

Hurynovich’s appointment comes as ABFC accelerates its efforts to expand

its global footprint and align with the UAE’s vision for an advanced, lowcarbon industrial economy. A seasoned executive with more than 20 years of international experience, he previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO, overseeing operations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East in the fields of advanced manufacturing and sustainable innovation.

H.E. Eng. Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Shehhi, Chairman of the

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Board of Directors of the Arab Mining Company and Managing Director of ABFC, said: “Mr Valery’s appointment marks an important step in the company’s journey toward sustainable growth and expanded industrial presence across regional and global markets.

Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and professionalism, and we are confident in his ability to strengthen ABFC’s position as one of the region’s foremost producers of advanced composite materials.”

Under Hurynovich’s leadership, ABFC aims to reinforce its expertise in continuous basalt fibre (CBF) and basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP) rebars — eco-efficient alternatives to traditional steel and glass fibre used across construction, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Speaking on his new role, Hurynovich said: “It is an honour to lead Arab Basalt Fiber Company at such a pivotal stage in its evolution.

Together with our talented team, we will continue to expand our production capabilities, strengthen our global partnerships, and develop innovative solutions that accelerate the transition toward more sustainable and efficient industrial materials.”

ABFC operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Fujairah equipped with world-class melting and fibre-drawing technologies.

The company’s portfolio spans assembled and direct rovings, chopped strands, woven fabrics, and BFRP rebars — all developed with a focus on sustainability, local talent development, and regional industrial integration.

49 IFS // APPOINTMENT

IFS NAMES ROBI GONE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Former Shell executive to drive global IT transformation and strengthen IFS’s digital backbone Robi Gone, Chief Information Officer, IFS.

I

FS has announced the appointment of Robi Gone as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), tasked with leading the company’s global IT strategy and driving its next phase of technology transformation. Gone

succeeds Helena Nimmo, who is retiring after a distinguished tenure at the enterprise software leader.

Bringing over 20 years of experience in enterprise IT and transformation, Gone joins IFS from Shell, where he spent more than

a decade in senior IT leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Global IT General Manager for Finance, spearheading Shell’s digital transformation through the deployment of next-generation ERP systems. His remit included major global programmes across finance platforms, enterprise performance management, and SaaS implementations.

Prior to his tenure at Shell, Gone held consulting positions with Deloitte and Accenture, where he built extensive expertise in large-scale digital transformation and operational excellence. At IFS, he will report directly to CEO Mark Moffat and will serve on the company’s Executive Board.

Commenting on the appointment, Moffat said: “I am delighted to welcome Robi to IFS. His expertise in leading enterprise transformation at Shell and building large-scale digital platforms will be instrumental as we continue to modernise and scale our global IT landscape. Robi brings exactly the expertise we need at this stage of our growth.”

Moffat also extended his gratitude to outgoing CIO Helena Nimmo, praising her contributions to the company’s IT strategy, security, and AI adoption, as well as her advocacy for diversity and inclusion.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Gone said: “I am excited to be joining IFS at such a pivotal moment. IFS has established itself as the undisputed global leader in Industrial AI and I look forward to ensuring our own technology foundation exemplifies that same innovation — enabling us to scale efficiently while delivering excellence for our people and our customers.”

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

50 RESEARCH // IBM

UAE BUSINESSES LEAD EMEA IN AI-DRIVEN PRODUCTIVITY GAINS, FINDS NEW IBM STUDY UAE enterprises outpace the region in turning AI ambition into measurable returns, redefining productivity and workforce transformation.

Shukri Eid, General Manager, IBM Gulf, Levant and Pakistan.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

51

E

nterprises across the UAE are reporting some of the strongest productivity gains from AI in the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, with many expecting returns on their investments (ROI) within the next year, reveals a new study from IBM .

“The Race for ROI,” a new IBM report produced in partnership with Censuswide, surveyed 3,500 senior executives across ten countries, including 500 in the UAE. The findings show that 77% of UAE respondents said their organisations have achieved significant operational productivity improvements using AI, well above the regional average of 66%.

In addition, approximately one in five respondents said their organisation has already realised ROI goals from AI-driven productivity initiatives, with a over 44% on average expecting to achieve ROI within 12 months across cost reduction (40%); time savings (49%); increased revenue (41%); employee satisfaction (47%) and increased Net Promoter Score (43%).

Further productivity benefits are expected from the introduction of AI Agents, with 93% of UAE leaders expecting that agentic AI will deliver measurable ROI within two years.

According to the study, business areas achieving the biggest AI-driven productivity gains in the UAE are software development and IT (34%), advertising and marketing (33%), account management (30%), customer service (28%) and procurement (29%).

At the same time, executives reported the top three benefits of enhanced

productivity as greater operational efficiency (55%), enhanced decisionmaking (56%), and augmented workforce capabilities such as automating repetitive tasks (55%).

AI Transforming Business Models Across the UAE, the data shows that leaders are increasingly using AI to enable strategic business transformation. Of those who reported significant productivity gains, nearly a quarter (26%) credit AI with fundamentally changing their business models. Around a third of respondents are already using AI to change their operations in ways such as accelerating innovation timelines (36%); shifting to continuous AI-driven decision-making instead of periodic planning cycles (29%); and redesigning value streams around AI rather than automating existing steps (33%), while a further 2 in 5 intend to do so across all these areas.

More than half of all senior leaders surveyed (55%) said that AI is augmenting workforce capabilities.

For example, with the time saved from greater productivity, executives said employees are spending more time on developing new ideas (44%), upskilling and professional development (44%), improving sustainability and advancing ESG initiatives (43%), strategic decision-making and planning (41%), and engaging in creative work (37%).

A greater proportion of senior leaders in UAE (47%) said they are prioritising inclusive AI workforce transformation: e.g. ensuring upskilling programs are accessible to all employees regardless of role, age, or technical proficiency to build an AIenabled workforce, compared to EMEA average (36.5%).

Shukri Eid, General Manager, IBM Gulf, Levant and Pakistan,

BUSINESSES IN THE UAE ARE PROVING THAT WHEN AI IS EMBEDDED RESPONSIBLY — ACROSS PEOPLE, PROCESSES AND PLATFORMS — IT BECOMES A GROWTH ENGINE.

said: “Across the UAE, we’re seeing clients move from experimentation to execution with AI and what stands out in this study by IBM is how leaders in the UAE are linking AI directly to measurable productivity, faster ROI and workforce transformation. Businesses in the UAE are proving that when AI is embedded responsibly — across people, processes and platforms — it becomes a growth engine. The nation is setting a strong benchmark for AI adoption and innovation among the countries surveyed in the EMEA region.”

Prioritisation for Open Systems, Interoperability and Choice The study found that openness, interoperability, and choice are critical priorities for organisations adopting AI. In the UAE, 77% emphasised the importance of transparency in AI systems and models ensuring that the technology operates ethically and responsibly. Similarly, 78% stressed the need for interoperability, enabling seamless integration of AI tools into IT systems to maximise efficiency and adaptability.

A further 80% said they valued flexibility to choose and adapt AI solutions or providers as needs evolve, underscoring strong demand for technological autonomy.

Overcoming Risk, Data Fragmentation and Complexity While the findings suggest companies are progressing towards greater ROI from AI, UAE respondents also identified the following as top barriers to scaling successful AI pilots: inadequate data infrastructure or data fragmentation (67%), security, privacy, and ethical concerns (65%), IT complexity challenges (64%), high upfront costs and reluctance to invest in AI and automation initiatives (63%).

To accelerate ROI from AI, the report outlines five priorities for enterprise leaders: establishing an effective AI operating model; cultivating AI literacy and a culture of innovation; embracing rapid change; understanding risk through strong governance; and creating a cross-company “AI Board” to oversee ethical use.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

52 RESEARCH // GARTNER

GARTNER IDENTIFIES TOP STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY TRENDS FOR 2026

The Top Strategic Technology Trends Identified for 2026 reflect the realities of an AI-powered, hyperconnected world

Karim Azar, Area Vice President and General Manager – Middle East, Confluent.

G

artner, Inc., a business and technology insights company, today announced its list of top strategic technology trends that organisations need to explore in 2026.

“Technology leaders face a pivotal year in 2026, where disruption, innovation, and risk are expanding at unprecedented speed,” said Gene Alvarez, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. “The top strategic technology trends identified for 2026 are tightly interwoven and reflect the realities of an AI-powered, hyperconnected world where organisations must drive responsible innovation, operational excellence, and digital trust.”

“These trends represent more than

technology shifts; they are catalysts for business transformation,” said Tori Paulman, VP Analyst at Gartner. “What feels different this year is the pace.

We’ve seen more innovations emerge in a single year than ever before.

Because the next wave of innovation isn’t years away, organisations that act now will not only weather volatility but shape their industries for decades to come.”

The top strategic technology trends for 2026 are: AI Super Computing Platform AI supercomputing platforms integrate CPUs, GPUs, AI ASICs, neuromorphic and alternative computing paradigms, enabling organisations to orchestrate complex workloads while unlocking

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

new levels of performance, efficiency and innovation. These systems combine powerful processors, massive memory, specialised hardware, and orchestration software to tackle data-intensive workloads in areas like machine learning, simulation, and analytics.

By 2028, Gartner predicts that over 40% of leading enterprises will have adopted hybrid computing paradigm architectures into critical business workflows, up from the current eight percent.

“This capability is already driving innovation across a diverse range of industries,” said Paulman. “For example, in healthcare and biotech, companies are modeling new drugs in weeks instead of years. In financial services, organisations are simulating global markets to reduce portfolio risk, while utility providers are modeling extreme weather to optimise grid performance.”

Multiagent Systems Multiagent systems (MAS) are collections of AI agents that interact to achieve individual or shared complex goals. Agents may be delivered in a single environment or developed and deployed independently across distributed environments.

“Adopting multiagent systems gives organisations a practical way to automate complex business processes, upskill teams, and create new ways for people and AI agents to work together,” said Alvarez. “Modular, specialised agents can boost efficiency, speed up delivery, and reduce risk by reusing proven solutions across workflows.

This approach also makes it easier to

53 scale operations and adapt quickly to changing needs.”

Domain-Specific Language Models (DSLMs) CIOs and CEOs are demanding more business value from AI, but generic large language models (LLMs) often fall short for specialised tasks.

Domain-specific language models (DSLMs) fill this gap with higher accuracy, lower costs, and better compliance. DSLMs are language models trained or fine-tuned on specialised data for a particular industry, function, or process. Unlike general-purpose models, DSLMs deliver higher accuracy, reliability, and compliance for targeted business needs.

By 2028, Gartner predicts that over half of the GenAI models used by enterprises will be domain-specific.

“Context is emerging as one of the most critical differentiators for successful agent deployments,” said Paulman. “AI agents unpinned by DSLMs can interpret industry-specific context to make sound decisions even in unfamiliar scenarios, excelling in accuracy, explainability and sound decision-making.”

with the same level of developers they have today. Leading organisations are creating tiny platform teams to allow non-technical domain experts to produce software themselves, with security and governance guardrails in place.

Gartner predicts that by 2030, AI-native development platforms will result in 80% of organisations evolving large software engineering teams into smaller, more nimble teams augmented

by AI. Confidential Computing Confidential computing changes how organisations handle sensitive data. By isolating workloads inside hardwarebased trusted execution environments (TEEs), it keeps content and workloads private even from infrastructure owners, cloud providers, or anyone with physical access to the hardware.

This is especially valuable for regulated industries and global operations facing geopolitical and compliance risks and for cross-competitor collaboration.

By 2029, Gartner predicts more than 75% of operations processed in untrusted infrastructure will be secured in-use by confidential computing.

AI Security Platforms AI security platforms provide a unified way to secure third-party and custombuilt AI applications. They centralise visibility, enforce usage policies, and protect against AI-specific risks such as prompt injection, data leakage, and rogue agent actions. These platforms help CIOs enforce use policies, monitor AI activity, and apply consistent guardrails across AI. By 2028, Gartner predicts that over 50% of enterprises will use AI security platforms to protect their AI investments.

Physical AI Physical AI brings intelligence into the real world by powering machines and devices that sense, decide, and act, such as robots, drones, and smart equipment. It brings measurable gains in industries where automation, adaptability, and safety are priorities.

As adoption grows, organisations need new skills that bridge IT, operations, and engineering. This shift creates opportunities for upskilling and collaboration but may also raise job concerns and require careful change management.

AI-Native Development Platforms AI-native development platforms use GenAI to create software faster and easier than was previously possible.

Software engineers embedded in the business, acting as “forward-deployed engineers,” can use these platforms to work together with domain experts to develop applications. Organisations can have tiny teams of people paired with AI to create more applications

Preemptive Cybersecurity Preemptive cybersecurity is trending as organisations face an exponential rise in threats targeting networks, data, and connected systems. Gartner forecasts that by 2030, preemptive solutions will account for half of all security spending, as CIOs shift from reactive defense to proactive protection.

“Preemptive cybersecurity is about acting before attackers strike using

AI-powered SecOps, programmatic denial and deception,” said Paulman.

“This is a world where prediction is protection.”

Digital Provenance As organisations rely more on thirdparty software, open-source code, and AI-generated content, verifying digital provenance has become essential.

Digital provenance refers to the ability to verify the origin, ownership, and integrity of software, data, media, and processes. New tools such as software bills of materials (SBoM), attestation databases, and digital watermarking offer organisations the means to validate and track digital assets across the supply chain.

Gartner predicts that by 2029, those who failed to adequately invest in digital provenance capabilities will be open to sanction risks potentially running into the billions of dollars.

Geopatriation Geopatriation means moving company data and applications out of global public clouds and into local options such as sovereign clouds, regional cloud providers, or an organisation’s own data centers due to perceived geopolitical risk. Cloud sovereignty, once limited to banks and governments, now affects a wide range of organisations as global instability increases.

“Shifting workloads to providers with an increased sovereignty posture can help CIOs gain more control over data residency, compliance and governance,” said Alvarez. “This greater control may improve alignment with local regulations and build trust with customers who are concerned about data privacy or national interests.”

Gartner predicts that by 2030, more than 75% of European and Middle Eastern enterprises will geopatriate their virtual workloads into solutions designed to reduce geopolitical risk, up from less than 5% in 2025.

This year’s top strategic technology trends highlight those trends that will drive significant disruption and opportunity for CIOs, IT and high tech leaders within the next five years.

Gartner clients can read more in the Gartner Special Report “Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2026.”

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

54 SURVEY // AMAZON ALEXA

ARABIC-FIRST VOICE ASSISTANTS TRANSFORM DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT IN UAE AND KSA Amazon Alexa survey reveals growing preference for Khaleeji Arabic and strong ties between AI adoption and national strategies

Dr Raf Fatani, Regional General Manager, Alexa MENA.

V

oice technology is fast becoming woven into daily life across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to new research commissioned by Amazon Alexa. The survey found that 85% of respondents in both countries have used a voice assistant, with nearly half

(43%) engaging with them regularly.

The findings underscore a growing appetite for Arabic-first digital experiences and the role of national AI strategies in accelerating this trend. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents said they are aware of their country’s National AI Strategy, suggesting that government-led

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

innovation agendas are shaping the adoption of emerging technologies at home.

Language authenticity has emerged as a defining factor in this shift. Sixtyfive per cent of those surveyed said they prefer using Arabic as their main language for voice assistants, with Khaleeji Arabic identified as the most

55

popular dialect. More than half (56%) of respondents stressed the importance of assistants that can understand regional accents and local expressions — a sign of the deep cultural

expectations driving engagement.

Beyond convenience, Arabic-first voice assistants are helping to bridge generational and cultural divides.

Half of the respondents believe that Arabic-speaking voice assistants support younger family members in maintaining or improving their language skills, while 48% said they help older relatives feel more confident using technology.

BY FOCUSING ON AUTHENTIC ARABIC DIALECTS AND CULTURAL CONTEXT, WE’RE BUILDING A PRODUCT THAT TRULY BELONGS IN PEOPLE’S HOMES. DR RAF FATANI, ALEXA MENA

“We’re humbled by these survey results,” said Dr Raf Fatani, Regional General Manager, Alexa MENA. “Seeing how quickly voice technology is becoming a part of everyday life in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is a testament to the hard work of our local teams. It reinforces our belief that by focusing on authentic Arabic dialects and cultural context, we’re building a product that truly belongs in people’s homes.”

While information-seeking remains the most common use of voice assistants (42%), the survey also points to rising demand for personalised Arabic experiences. These include educational content (39%), integration with local services (33%), smart home controls, and even religious support — highlighting the expanding role of voice technology in everyday life across the region.

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

56 INNOVATION // SAMSUNG

SAMSUNG TO UNVEIL NEW AICONNECTED LIVING LINEUP AT CES 2026 Company introduces AI-powered appliances designed to deliver smarter living by enhancing fabric care, air conditioning and cleaning

S

amsung Electronics has announced its upcoming showcase at CES 2026, taking place from January 6–9 in Las Vegas, where it will unveil a new wave of AI-powered home innovations designed to deliver more personalised, intuitive, and efficient living experiences. The company’s latest Bespoke AI lineup combines advanced hardware with AI-driven customisation, enabling appliances to adapt seamlessly to individual lifestyles.

This year’s showcase features upgraded versions of the Bespoke AI AirDresser, Bespoke AI Laundry Combo, Bespoke AI WindFree Pro Air Conditioner, and the flagship Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra robot vacuum.

Together, these devices highlight Samsung’s vision of connected home living built around smarter care, energy efficiency, and ease of use.

“This year, to enhance the living experience, we are unveiling our upgraded AirDresser, Laundry Combo and WindFree Air Conditioner, developed by integrating valuable customer feedback and leveraging the

R&D expertise we have accumulated over the years,” said Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head of the R&D Team for the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through our continuous innovation, we are elevating how users interact with their appliances on a day-to-day basis.”

Following its debut in 2024, the 2026 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo introduces faster wash-to-dry cycles and improved drying performance.

A new Super Speed cycle uses highpressure Speed Spray technology to enhance detergent penetration and rinsing, while a Booster Heat Exchanger improves drying efficiency.

The Auto Open Door+ feature automatically opens the door and circulates air after wash-only cycles to prevent musty odours.

The upgraded AI Wash & Dry+ system uses multiple sensors to detect load weight, identify up to five fabric types—including Denim and Outdoor wear—and monitor soil levels in real time. A redesigned Wide Lint Filter with a dual-layer structure improves lint capture and simplifies maintenance. To address varying customer needs, Samsung is also introducing a more affordable variant with a 2.8-inch LCD screen and jog dial, alongside the original 7-inch display model.

Samsung’s refreshed Bespoke AI AirDresser returns with enhanced

www.tahawultech.com // Reseller Middle East // NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

garment care and convenience. The new Auto Wrinkle Care function leverages Dual AirWash and Dual JetSteam technology to smooth wrinkles quickly, while hightemperature steam helps reduce 99.9% of certain viruses and bacteria and 99% of odours. An intelligent drying course adjusts time based on load size, protecting fabric quality.

Seamless integration with the Laundry Combo enables Auto Cycle Link to recommend and synchronise drying courses, creating a continuous garment-care experience. A redesigned One Body Door and 2.8-inch LCD screen further enhance usability.

The Bespoke AI WindFree Pro Air Conditioner introduces triple-blade airflow and seven tailored wind modes, including Max Wind, Surround Wind, and Long Reach Wind. Radar-based AI Direct and Indirect Wind modes detect user presence to optimise comfort, while AI Fast & Comfort Cooling adjusts performance based on room conditions. AI Energy Mode helps reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.

Rounding out the lineup, the Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra features advanced AI object and liquid recognition powered by a Qualcomm Dragonwing processor. The robot vacuum can identify people, pets, obstacles, and spills, while upgraded Easy Pass Wheels allow it to climb thresholds up to 2.4 inches—delivering smarter, more autonomous cleaning with minimal user intervention.