Summary

New customer segments, rapidly digitizing economies, and ambitious government-led modernization agendas are creating conditions where AI can fundamentally reshape financial services across the Middle East & Africa. The challenge now is how banks move beyond the structural headwinds they face to deploy AI at scale.

This session brought together Divyesh Vithlani (First Abu Dhabi Bank), Jörg Fischer (Standard Bank Group), Miguel Rio-Tinto (Emirates NBD) and Alexandra Mousavizadeh (Evident) to unpack the results of the first Evident AI Index for Banks in the Middle East & Africa and explore what the region’s frontrunners are doing differently.

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Key Discussion Topics

Enterprise-wide readiness is the foundation for AI adoption. Successful AI deployment depends on strong executive sponsorship, mature technology foundations, integrated operating models, and strategic partnerships with hyperscalers. 

Banks are shifting from AI activity to AI impact. The Index leaders emphasized that measuring success means having clear definitions of business outcomes and ROI rather than the number of AI use cases deployed.

Talent remains a critical differentiator. Attracting, retaining, and upskilling AI talent continues to be the essential ingredient to scaling AI across the enterprise and embedding it into day-to-day operations.

Regional AI ecosystems are creating competitive advantages. Supportive national AI strategies in markets such as the UAE and South Africa provide critical enablers of adoption, though close regulatory collaboration remains essential to scale AI responsibly across diverse markets.