Huawei and SAMENA Council Drive Advanced 5G and AI Monetization at Dubai Technology Leaders Forum
Huawei, in partnership with the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, hosted the “5G-A Forum” in Dubai on the sidelines of the Telecom Leaders Summit. Held under the theme “Exploring Monetization of AI and Advanced 5G Experiences to Create New Value,” the event gathered leading telecom experts to explore business transformation opportunities powered by next-generation 5G (5G-A) and artificial intelligence (AI).
The forum drew participation from ICT experts, telecom operators, technology providers, regulatory bodies, and ecosystem partners across the region. It focused on how telecom operators can unlock new revenue streams and enhance operational efficiency through advanced network capabilities, including ultra-low latency, massive capacity, and high-speed connectivity.
Opening the forum, Engineer Saif bin Ghalita, Executive Director of Technology Development at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), highlighted the UAE’s commitment to digital transformation. He emphasized the critical role of advanced 5G and AI in enabling economic and societal progress, stressing the need for balanced regulatory policies that support innovation while ensuring fairness and transparency.
Huawei executives, including James Chen, President of the Carrier Business Group, and Alex Xu, President of the Carrier Business Group for the Middle East and Central Asia, presented the company’s vision for transforming traditional telecom operators (Telcos) into technology communications companies (TechCos). Chen reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to supporting regional operators with cutting-edge technologies and local talent development.
Xu detailed how AI-native 5G-A and autonomous network (SA) technologies can enable telecom operators to deliver smart, self-evolving networks and new business models. He emphasized the need for ecosystem collaboration to realize the full potential of 5G-A and mobile AI applications.
A key highlight of the forum was the expert panel discussion titled “Advanced 5G Based on Native AI for Smart Grids and New Business Models,” moderated by Dr. Mohamed Madkour, Huawei’s Vice President of ICT Strategy and Marketing. Panelists from Omantel, Nokia, Ericsson, and Huawei shared insights into commercializing AI-powered 5G networks and developing innovative service offerings.
GSMA’s Tair Ismailov stressed the role of standardization and collaboration in advancing 5G adoption, while representatives from du, China Mobile International, and iFlytek showcased successful AI-5G business cases and smart technology deployments.
Abdul Muqit Mohammed, Senior Director at China Mobile International, emphasized the tangible societal impact of integrating IoT and advanced 5G. Meanwhile, Nicolas Yuan, President of iFlytek MENA, highlighted the company’s breakthrough in real-time multilingual translation technology powered by 5G infrastructure, enabling seamless cross-cultural communication.
The forum also spotlighted the role of industry organizations such as the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and the World Broadband Association (WBBA) in driving best practices and accelerating next-gen tech deployment across the region.
As part of the “2025 Annual Marketing Campaign for the Best Advanced 5G Specifications” in the Middle East and Central Asia, the event reinforced the region’s leadership in telecom innovation and commitment to building smarter, more connected digital ecosystems.
