Artificial intelligence could unlock more than $1 trillion (Dh3.67 trillion) in economic and sustainability value across the Middle East and North Africa by 2030, but achieving that potential will depend on faster electricity grid connections and better management of energy and water demand, according to two new World Economic Forum reports.
The reports, published on Wednesday, examine how the region can translate growing investment in AI into economic gains while developing the infrastructure needed to support large-scale deployment.
“Mena has the resources, investment capacity and ambition to become a major centre of AI-led growth,” said Maroun Kairouz, managing director at the WEF. He said progress would require innovation in data centres, energy and water systems, alongside wider use of AI to support sustainability.
The report Unlocking Value: AI for Resilient Growth in MENA, developed with Bain & Company, estimates the potential benefits across five areas. These include up to $200 billion in sustainable financing through the financial sector, $370 billion in sustainable investment flows enabled by the public sector and $250 billion in long-term asset losses avoided.
The remaining opportunities include a $90 billion increase in energy sector valuations through improved sustainability performance and $100 billion in sustainable projects launched through cross-sector partnerships.
Christophe De Vusser, worldwide managing partner at Bain & Company, said AI presented different opportunities and challenges across regions, including economic growth, energy supply and costs, and risk management.
The second report, Optimising Hyperscale Data Centre Infrastructure in Mena, was developed with Saudi Research and Media Group. It focuses on the infrastructure required to support growing demand for AI computing.
The report argues that large-scale data centre development must be treated as a coordinated infrastructure challenge involving electricity, water and digital networks, rather than simply a technology investment.
One potential advantage for Mena is the speed at which new data centres could be connected to electricity grids. The report estimates that the region could complete connections within two to five years, compared with more than 10 years in mature markets.
Nedaa Almubarak, managing director of SRMG Think, said the region could benefit from combining its energy resources, investment capacity and technological ambitions with more efficient resource management.
However, the reports highlight a gap between expectations for AI and its current adoption. Among sustainability leaders surveyed by the Mena Chief Sustainability Officers Network, 89% said AI had high or very high potential to advance their organisations’ sustainability goals. Yet only 40% to 55% said they were piloting or had scaled sustainable AI applications, depending on the use case.
Energy and water consumption remain significant concerns. Cooling can account for more than 40% of electricity consumption in data centres globally, while the region’s extreme temperatures make efficient cooling particularly important.
AI workloads can also cause sudden fluctuations in electricity demand, potentially placing pressure on power and water systems.
The reports recommend improved facility design, AI-driven operations, advanced cooling technologies and updated regulation to manage these pressures.
The findings were released during the inaugural Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders 2026 in Dubai, running from October 13 to 15. The meeting brings together more than 400 leaders and experts, with discussions expected to inform the WEF’s wider work and its 2027 Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters.
