AI could generate $1 trillion across MENA by 2030, WEF reports

Artificial intelligence could generate more than $1 trillion in economic and sustainability value across the Middle East and North Africa by 2030, according to two World Economic Forum reports published on 14 October 2026. The projections are contingent on infrastructure investment in energy, water and digital systems to support AI deployment at scale.

Projected value breakdown across five sectors#

The WEF analysis, developed with Bain & Company, identifies potential value distributed across five areas: the financial sector could enable $200 billion in sustainable financing, the public sector could facilitate $370 billion in sustainable investment flows, $250 billion in long-term asset losses could be avoided, the energy sector could see $90 billion in increased valuation through improved sustainability performance, and cross-sector partnerships could launch $100 billion in sustainable projects. The reports were released during the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders in Dubai, running from 13 to 15 October 2026. Maroun Kairouz, managing director at the WEF, stated that the region has the resources, investment capacity and ambition to become a major centre of AI-led growth.

Implementation gap between potential and adoption#

A survey of sustainability leaders by the MENA Chief Sustainability Officers Network found 89 percent see high or very high potential for AI to advance sustainability goals, but between 40 and 55 percent report their sustainable AI use cases have reached piloting or scaled status, with the range reflecting variation by use case type. The second WEF report, developed with Saudi Research and Media Group, frames AI infrastructure as a systems challenge requiring integrated planning of energy, water and digital infrastructure for gigawatt-scale deployment. Christophe De Vusser, worldwide managing partner at Bain & Company, stated that AI presents a different mix of opportunities and challenges in each region.

Grid connection timelines and data centre cooling#

New data centres in MENA could achieve grid connection in two to five years, a timeline the WEF analysis contrasts with mature markets where the process exceeds ten years. Data centre cooling, which consumes large amounts of water, was identified as a priority area for innovation and sustainable methods, given the region's extreme heat and water scarcity. The reports state that achieving the projected value requires faster grid connections alongside effective management of increasing energy and water consumption. Nedaa Almubarak, managing director of SRMG Think, stated that MENA is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of digital infrastructure by bringing together its energy capabilities, investment capacity and technological ambition.