As the world accelerates into the AI-driven future, enterprises are seeking trusted partners who can help them innovate, stay resilient, and build sustainable digital foundations. In an exclusive conversation with the GITEX Press Office, Mounir Sarkis, General Manager UAE & Gulf at Logicom, highlights how the region’s leading systems integrator is empowering organisations through end-to-end digital transformation services—spanning consulting, infrastructure deployment, business software, cybersecurity, and managed services. Sarkis shares his insights on how AI is redefining business models and enabling companies to embrace new opportunities with confidence in the era of intelligent technology.
In what ways are AI technologies increasingly essential for maintaining national sovereignty and driving the economic competitiveness of the future?
AI is no longer a support function—it is becoming a strategic pillar for national sovereignty. Government bodies, including intelligence and defense institutions, are embedding AI into their core strategies and budgets, recognizing its role in driving autonomy, operational intelligence, and decision-making at scale. From cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience to citizen services, AI is powering the next generation of national systems.
Unlike traditional technologies, AI-powered platforms offer exponentially higher processing capabilities, enabling real-time analytics, automation, and predictive insights. This makes them indispensable for countries seeking to maintain digital sovereignty across their entire national ecosystem—digital, economic, and defense.
AI continues to be a key differentiator—and increasingly, an absolute necessity—for global economic competitiveness across sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, logistics, education, and public services. For a nation’s economy to thrive in the future, it must empower its industries, infrastructure, workforce, and overall, its citizens, especially their youth, with intelligent technologies.
Whether it is advanced manufacturing, digital healthcare, or smart logistics, the most competitive economies are most likely to be those that adopt and scale AI across sectors.
At Logicom, we are intrinsically aligned with this shift. Through our vendors’ technologies, regional expertise, and strong channel ecosystem, we support and enable the key pillars of the economy—governments and enterprises—to adopt AI technologies that not only drive innovation but also keep them increasingly resilient and future-ready, while safeguarding long-term national interests.
How does the UAE's approach to AI development and strategy compare with that of global leaders like the United States, China, and the European Union?
The UAE has established itself as a pioneer in AI through decisive, long-term action and a determined national vision. It was the first country in the world to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017, signaling a serious commitment to embedding AI at the heart of its national agenda.
Some of the key elements that set the UAE apart is the tangible commitment and consistency of the implementation of its AI strategy. AI is not viewed in isolation but is deeply integrated across government bodies, public institutions, and national strategies. Mandates across sectors—ranging from smart city planning and education to healthcare and infrastructure—are designed to embed AI in a structured, forward-thinking manner.
Strategic investments such as MBZUAI (the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence) and national initiatives like Stargate UAE, a high-capacity AI compute cluster, reflect the UAE’s determination to build foundational capabilities for the future.
What proprietary AI-powered technologies or platforms are you showcasing at GITEX GLOBAL, and how are these solutions transforming business operations or core industries?
As a leading technology distribution partner, one of our key missions is to enable and empower our channel ecosystem through access to our vendors’ latest AI innovations, building their technical competencies, and supporting them in delivering intelligent solutions to their customers. And while we do not develop proprietary AI platforms, we play a vital role in accelerating the adoption of AI-powered technologies across the region, and GITEX GLOBAL is one of the most compelling platforms to showcase, promote and create awareness around these technologies.
Internally, Logicom is investing in the development of a robust AI practice. This includes enhancing the skillset of our technical teams, onboarding AI specialists, adopting a “customer-zero” approach to deploy vendor solutions in our own operations, and creating demo environments for AI technologies. We are also in the process of designing a portfolio of AI-based services to further support our partners.
Could you elaborate on the significance of participating in GITEX GLOBAL for your organisation, and what aspects of the event most interest or excite you?
We consider GITEX GLOBAL to be a strategic platform that reflects the pace and direction of global technological innovation. For Logicom, participating in GITEX is not only significant, it is a natural necessity. As the technology landscape rapidly evolves, so must we. The event provides an opportunity to reconnect with all the fundamental pillars of our ecosystem — including our technology vendors, channel partners, end customers, and the rest of our stakeholders. It gives the chance to realign on strategic priorities, explore new areas of collaboration, and ensure we are collectively moving in step with the evolving needs of the market.
GITEX also mirrors our own transformation, as a business. With AI, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure redefining how industries operate, Logicom’s presence at GITEX represents our commitment to evolving alongside the technologies we represent and deliver. It is an opportunity to listen, learn, and lead.
What interests us most is the opportunity to connect and reconnect with our channel ecosystem, alongside the convergence of global and regional innovation under one roof. The diversity of thought leadership, emerging technologies, and strategic partnerships makes GITEX a unique space to engage with the future. It allows us to reinforce our role as a key enabler in the region, bridging global technology with local execution.
Our booth in Hall 2, Stand A10, is where that vision comes to life—and we look forward to welcoming everyone at GITEX GLOBAL 2025.
ABOUT THE COMPANY:
Logicom is a leading regional Distributor of Technology Solutions and Services, covering a wide area in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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