Doha, Qatar: As Qatar diversifies its economy and leverages digital transformation, artificial intelligence will be a strategic driving force in the success of the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030.
According to Statista, a data analysis platform, the value of the Artificial Intelligence market in Qatar is projected to reach $220m in 2023. It is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2030) of 16.66%, resulting in a market volume of $646m by 2030.
In an interview with The Peninsula, SAS Analytics and Solutions Regional Director – Middle East and Africa (MEA) Growth Markets, Zafir Junaid, said SAS places significant emphasis on the Qatari market, banking on the country’s leadership ushering in a bright future with rapid digital transformation and several strategies centred on sustainable development.
“SAS is dedicated to supporting the country on its journey to becoming a sustainable and advanced digital economy,” Junaid told The Peninsula.
“We see AI as a strategic enabler of the Qatar National Vision 2030, and through our ongoing partnership with government agencies, private organisations, and other stakeholders, we can assist Qatari organisations in taking bold steps ahead by sorting through complex data, accelerating time to value, and making smart decisions,” he added.
SAS, a leading analytics firm, employs innovative software and services to transform data into intelligence. According to Junaid, SAS has committed to investing $1bn in cloud-first analytics solutions tailored to specific industries globally over the next three years, with the Qatari market in line to benefit.
He added that with the importance of AI and innovation in a rapidly changing world, it has become necessary to implement AI technologies to solve existing and emerging problems in transforming business operations, identifying new approaches to gathering and using data, and discovering creative ways to apply analytical insights.
“We see analytics as an enabler and driver of innovation, advancing society, improving decisions and increasing agility. Organisations are looking to accelerate time to value and to help them easily align with this strategy. We will bring the SAS Cloud to the Qatari market. From machine learning to computer vision, natural language processing, forecasting and optimisation, SAS solutions with embedded AI technologies are already enhancing creativity to unlock new possibilities and revolutionise entire industries in Qatar and the wider region,” Junaid stressed.
While transformation and diversification of the economy are a substantial focus for the government, sustainable growth and resilience are also paramount to development. Hence, businesses prioritise environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. Organisations rely more on analytics and tech solutions as eco-friendly/green business strategies are developed using innovative management models to reduce environmental impacts. Junaid noted that there are numerous ways AI and advanced analytics are making a difference.
“Using advanced analytics, organisations can also monitor their key ESG metrics, improve sustainability projects, and observe their path to net zero,” he added.
Junaid disclosed that SAS supports several government agencies in Qatar with the most reliable solutions that enable them to extract value from their data facilitating a better, faster, and more cost-effective decision-making process. He added that SAS supports Qatari organisations with effectively managing their fraud, anti-money laundering, security intelligence, and risk management solutions.
Commenting on the dangers of AI to jobs and livelihoods, Junaid stressed that the purpose of AI is not to eliminate jobs but to make work more efficient, productive, sustainable, and financially rewarding. He added that while the rise of new and advanced technologies will undoubtedly impact some jobs, it also demands the generation of new and advanced skills. “SAS strives to meet that demand by helping people worldwide skill up to take advantage of the analytics and AI economy. We are currently undertaking several initiatives with Qatar to advance the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy targets. The SAS “Qatari Minds” initiative is a bright example of how SAS will provide Qatari government employees and students with certified AI and Analytics training to help them in the job market and prime them with future-proof skills in the data-driven age,” he added.
