Keynote Panel:  Beyond the Cloud: Building AI-Ready Infrastructure in the Middle East 

As AI adoption accelerates across the Middle East, the demand for high-performance computing (HPC) is reshaping the data centre landscape. This panel explores how operators, governments, and hyperscalers are responding to the infrastructure, energy, and strategic challenges of building AI-ready facilities at scale. The panel discusses:  

• How are regional energy strategies and sustainability goals influencing the design and operation of HPC environments?  

• What role do partnerships between hyperscalers, governments, and local operators play in scaling AI infrastructure across the region? 

• How can the Middle East position itself as a global hub for AI and HPC innovation, and what are the risks of falling behind? 

• How can stakeholders ensure long-term ROI while navigating rapid technological change, regulatory pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty?