Summit DayTuesday, 13 October 2026 - GT (Gulf Time, GMT+04:00)

Why is data and technology sovereignty becoming a strategic priority for governments and investors globally? How are countries approaching sovereignty in practice, from regulation and data localisation to infrastructure and control over digital ecosystems? How is the Middle East positioning itself between global technology blocs, and what does this mean for partnerships, capital flows, and long-term strategy? From an investor perspective, how does the push for sovereignty reshape where and how capital is deployed across technology platforms?

A fast-paced deep dive into what Anthropic, OpenAI, A16z, Kleiner Perkins, and other top AI leaders are saying about where AI is headed and where to invest.

Where is AI genuinely creating value today across industries, and how can investors distinguish real impact from hype? As AI is embedded into businesses, which parts of the value chain are most at risk, and which are most defensible? How is AI changing the way private markets investors source opportunities, assess value, and make decisions in practice?

In a more disciplined fundraising environment, how are investors reassessing risk, from valuation discipline to path to profitability and portfolio construction? To what extent is the traditional VC fund model fit for purpose in emerging ecosystems, and does the Middle East require a fundamentally different approach to timelines and returns? As venture activity expands beyond Series A, how are investors approaching both early-stage opportunities and the emerging gap in growth-stage capital across the Middle East? With VC exits becoming more complex and less predictable, how are venture investors rethinking liquidity, from M&A and secondaries to new pathways for realising returns?

As innovation shifts from software to deep and advanced technologies such as semiconductors, robotics, and quantum computing, where are the most compelling opportunities emerging globally and in the Middle East? In a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, supply chain constraints, and strategic competition, how are governments and investors positioning themselves around critical technologies such as chips and advanced tech infrastructure? As next-generation technologies move closer to real-world deployment, how should investors think about risk, from capital intensity and long timelines to cybersecurity and system vulnerability?