Middle East leads global push for agentic and generative AI as data sovereignty emerges key to success

Enterprises in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are at the forefront of the global adoption of sovereign AI, according to new research released by EnterpriseDB (EDB), a leading sovereign AI and data company.

The report, Sovereignty Matters: A Global Blueprint for Sovereign, Agentic and Generative AI, highlights that 17% of enterprises in the UAE and KSA are “deeply committed” to sovereign AI adoption—significantly higher than the global average of 13%. These organisations are achieving up to five times greater return on investment from AI compared to their peers.

Sovereign AI adoption ensures enterprises can localise, secure, and fully control their data and AI systems. By deciding where data is stored, how it is processed, and which technologies are deployed, organisations mitigate dependency on foreign infrastructure, enhance compliance with regulations, and build greater trust.

This leadership aligns with national strategies such as the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, both of which position AI as central to long-term economic transformation.

Kevin Dallas, CEO of EDB, said:
“Our research is clear: sovereignty over AI and data is the single biggest predictor of success with generative and agentic AI. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are showing the world what happens when enterprises make sovereignty mission-critical. They are not just experimenting with AI – they are scaling it, securing it, and reaping transformational returns.”

Supporting Quote from Georgi Dimitrov, CEO at Fantasy AI:

“Without sovereignty, generative AI becomes a black box you can't truly trust,” said Georgi Dimitrov, CEO at Fantasy AI. “Enterprises that control their data and infrastructure aren't just building smarter systems — they’re building resilient, future-proof AI ecosystems.”

Kash Rafique, General Manager – MEA at EDB, added:
“The region’s leadership is no accident. Government initiatives such as the UAE National AI Strategy 2031 have created an environment where sovereignty is seen as a foundation for growth, not a barrier. Enterprises here understand that to innovate with confidence – whether in banking, energy, healthcare, or logistics – they must own and control their AI and data platforms. EDB is proud to partner with organisations in the Middle East to help them build sovereign AI platforms that are secure, compliant and future-ready.”

The study, based on 2,050 interviews with executives across 13 countries, including 175 in the UAE and KSA, found that while 95% of enterprises plan to establish their own AI and data platforms within the next three years, only 13% globally have achieved this today. The “deeply committed” leaders are deploying twice as many mainstream AI applications and are 2.5 times more confident in their ability to lead their industries, compared to lagging enterprises constrained by siloed data and fragmented infrastructure.