The challenge is no longer about testing artificial intelligence capabilities, but about transforming these experiments into large-scale applications that enhance resilience and deliver real, tangible value to organizations.
Article index:
- Strategic participation and the transition toward comprehensive deployment
- Findings from the state of enterprise AI report
- Three pillars shaping the next phase
- Executive leadership vision and the leaders platform agenda
- Interactive events and live podcast
- Frequently asked questions
Strategic participation and the transition toward comprehensive deployment
Deloitte Middle East is participating in LEAP 2026 for the fourth consecutive year in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, which stands out as one of the world’s premier technology and innovation events attracting industry leaders and pioneers. Deloitte’s program this year focuses on addressing a pivotal challenge facing organizations in the Middle East: the necessity of moving beyond initial pilot phases and making a decisive leap toward applying artificial intelligence technologies at an enterprise-wide scale to achieve measurable returns and sustainable business value.
In 2026, discussions around artificial intelligence have moved past exploring potential and initial adoption to focus entirely on full-scale deployment and expansion mechanisms. Organizations are prioritizing the measurement of financial and operational impact, strengthening resilience against changes, and building digital trust to apply these solutions across various business sectors.
Findings from the state of enterprise AI report
The findings of Deloitte’s annual report titled “State of Enterprise AI 2026” confirm this structural shift. The survey showed that only 34 percent of companies use artificial intelligence to fundamentally transform their core products, operations, or business models. Conversely, 37 percent of organizations remain focused on narrow improvements limited to individual productivity without driving fundamental changes in operational processes.
The report highlights the phenomenon of many companies remaining trapped in a “proof of concept loop,” continually launching pilot projects sequentially without being able to scale them enterprise-wide due to challenges associated with legacy system integration, governance complexities, and limited digital infrastructure.
Three pillars shaping the next phase
During the conference, Deloitte is showcasing key trends reshaping enterprise artificial intelligence through three main pillars: the first is “the reality of intelligent agents,” keeping pace with the evolution of artificial intelligence from interactive question-answering to autonomous task execution across integrated workflows. The second is “artificial intelligence in the physical world,” achieved through direct integration with robotics, Internet of Things systems, and critical infrastructure.
The third pillar is “the trust equation,” which obligates organizations to establish strict governance frameworks and apply ethics and digital sovereignty principles to ensure responsible and secure use of artificial intelligence during scaling.
Executive leadership vision and the leaders platform agenda
Mutasem Dajani, CEO of Deloitte Middle East, stated: “Organizations across the Middle East have moved very quickly from exploring artificial intelligence capabilities to testing them across various business areas. Today’s challenge lies in moving these experiments into actual, large-scale deployment.” He added: “Success in scaling requires achieving clear value, enhancing enterprise resilience, and cementing governance and trust frameworks, which is what we will work on discussing practically with partners and clients at the LEAP conference.”
On September 2, Deloitte is leading the “AI Leaders Platform” events at the conference, featuring company leadership and elite partners to discuss cybersecurity resilience, governance, and trusted deployment. The sessions include representatives from prominent entities, such as Riyadh Expo 2030, Saudi Awwal Bank, and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), alongside major global companies like Oracle, Dell, Amazon Web Services, IBM, and NVIDIA.
Interactive events and live podcast
Deloitte’s participation includes a dedicated interactive pavilion offering live technology demos and client advisory sessions, alongside a live podcast recording studio. The “The Deloitte Meridian” studio is hosting a series of live interview sessions over two days to bring the insights and ideas presented at the conference to a wider regional and international audience.
The company’s activities also extend to a presence in strategic partner pavilions and organizing a private dinner for senior executives and decision-makers, helping organizations translate their digital strategies and ambitions into practical, large-scale projects.
Frequently asked questions
Question: What is the main focus of Deloitte Middle East’s participation in LEAP 2026?
Answer: The program focuses on empowering organizations to move past initial pilot phases and apply artificial intelligence on a broad and sustainable scale.
Question: What is the proof of concept loop phenomenon revealed by Deloitte’s report?
Answer: It is the state of companies getting stuck testing repetitive pilot projects without being able to integrate and scale them due to governance and infrastructure barriers.
Question: What are the three pillars relied upon by the AI Leaders Platform?
Answer: The platform relies on three main pillars: delivering tangible value, enhancing operational resilience, and establishing trust and governance frameworks.
