The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is set to undergo a profound technological shift by 2035 as artificial superintelligence emerges as the defining breakthrough of the century. Driven by climate pressures, demographic change, and geopolitical uncertainty, the region will see quantum computing, brain-computer interfaces, polyfunctional robots, and smart cities reshape industries, offering both exceptional opportunities and significant risks, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, “Tech in 2035,” examines industry applications and use cases for 15 most transformative technologies, offering projections outlining their development trajectories leading up to 2035.
Xander Hartley, Associate Analyst, Strategic Intelligence at GlobalData, comments: “The MENA region will experience profound changes by 2035. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is already facing water scarcity, with predictions that water availability per capita in MENA will fall by 33% over the next 20 to 30 years.
“Meanwhile, natural disasters and extreme weather events will become more frequent, impacting urban areas. The loss of biodiversity alone will have a massive destabilizing effect. We will likely see regulators in the MENA region rolling out emissions pricing to incentivize action, similar to the initiatives in the EU and China.”
The report forecasts a quantum revolution by 2035, which will catalyze significant advancements in drug discovery and complex financial modelling, vital for the region’s healthcare and financial sectors.
Additionally, the report posits that the concept of smart cities will evolve dramatically in the MENA region, highlighting the efforts like Saudi Arabia’s Project Neom and The Line. Over the next decade, technologies like brain-computer interfaces, 4D printing, and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology—which has been tested successfully in the region—will all reach commercialization.
Opportunities are exceptional, but so are the risks
While the MENA region stands to benefit from a gold rush to adopt new technologies and embrace innovation, obstacles and risks lie ahead. Effectively mitigating these will be key to succeed in the new world and create lasting improvements.
Sophie Gallagher, Associate Analyst, Strategic Intelligence at GlobalData, comments: “Data privacy and security are two major concerns, especially for healthcare technologies like brain-computer interfaces. They will need protection from a new generation of cyberattacks, as innovations in fields like quantum and artificial intelligence increase hackers’ capabilities.
“For instance, while artificial superintelligence could be the key to solving our biggest problems, there is a risk that bad actors use it to develop destructive weaponry. This may drive a new era of conflict.”
Gallagher concludes: “Businesses in the MENA region should also be aware that many of these technologies are dependent on others. The promise of urban air mobility, for instance, relies heavily on breakthroughs in battery technology. They will need to invest strategically and keep track of the neighboring developments to reap the full benefits.”
