Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming economies, societies, and governance. In GCC this transformation is being accelerated  through ambitious national visions,
state-led investment, and an insatiable drive for innovation. In this context, universities are not only called upon to drive AI research and education, but also to serve as trusted stewards of ethical, inclusive, and culturally aligned technology development.

This panel brings together presidents of leading universities in the GCC region to explore how higher education can shape AI’s future both regionally and globally.
Topics will include: strengthening regional research ecosystems, building AI talent pipelines, contributing to national and international AI policy, and reinforcing public trust in emerging technologies.

In addition to that, the discussion will examine how universities in the region are navigating the dual imperative of global relevance and local responsibility and how they can play a leading role in defining AI governance frameworks that align with regional values, needs, and ambitions to gain public trust.