Artificial Intelligence Futures for the Arab Region: New Report Explores Strategic Pathways

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in collaboration with the Center for the Governance of Change at IE University, the Middle East Institute, the American University of Beirut, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has released a new report titled Artificial Intelligence Futures for the Arab Region.

Part of ESCWA’s Megatrends series, the report presents a forward-looking framework for how Artificial Intelligence can be developed and applied in ways that reflect the region’s unique needs, cultures, and development goals. It outlines three possible and complementary pathways:

• Pathway 1: Optimizing diverse AI technologies and partnerships for local priorities
  Focuses on adapting global AI innovations through strategic partnerships and open-source models to address country-specific development goals.

• Pathway 2: AI and identity in the Arab region
  Emphasizes the importance of Arabic-language AI models and the role of AI in preserving and promoting the region’s cultural and linguistic heritage.

• Pathway 3: AI and the Sustainable Development Goals in the Arab region
  Highlights the potential for AI to support and accelerate progress on the SDGs, especially where advancement is most urgently needed.

The report also underscores the need for robust infrastructure, inclusive policies, responsible governance, and investment in human capital to ensure AI becomes a positive force for transformation.

Read the full report here.