The Future IT Summit 2025 convened today at the prestigious Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai, bringing together a distinguished assembly of AI experts, government officials, and industry leaders to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across various sectors.
Inauguration and Booth Visit
The summit commenced with an inauguration ceremony and booth visit from. Esteemed dignitaries, including Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Essa Al Mutawa, Chief AI Officer & Head of Monitoring & Inspection Department at Dubai Civil Defence H.Q; Nasser Matar Alneyadi, Head of Digital Security Department at the Ministry of Interior, UAE; and Hussain Alharthi, Data Platforms Director at the Department of Government Enablement; graced the event with their presence.
Keynote Addresses
The series of keynote speeches began with an opening address by Ronak Samantaray, CEO & Co-Founder of GEC, followed by an editor’s note from Jeevan Thankappan, Managing Editor of GEC, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Essa Al Mutawa delivered the VIP opening keynote, emphasizing the critical role of AI in enhancing public safety and operational efficiency within Dubai’s civil defense framework.
Vendor Insights
Industry perspectives were shared through vendor keynotes, starting Charbel Zreiby, Regional Director and Channel Data Center Specialist at Dell Technologies, discussing advancements in AI-driven data center solutions. Following this, a Ezgi Selcuk, Business Development Manager at LimonCloud IT Services FZE, highlighted innovative cloud-based AI services.
Awards and Recognitions
The summit honored excellence in AI with the GovernAI Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to AI governance and implementation. This was followed by the Badge of Honor Awards, celebrating individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional commitment to AI innovation.
Panel Discussions
A series of panel discussions provided deep insights into AI’s impact across industries:
- AI-Driven Digital Transformation: Moderated by Linoy Kidd, CIO – Markets & Securities Services MENAT at HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, the panel featured experts like Awad Ahmed Ali El-Sidiq, Head of Artificial Intelligence & Analytics at ADNOC Distribution; Vishal Anand, Head of Digital Excellence at Sinyar Hospitality; and Muhammad Azam, Digital Transformation Manager at Abu Dhabi National Takaful Co. PSC. Discussions centered on how AI is reshaping digital transformation, key challenges, and future trajectories.
- Preparing for Tomorrow’s Technology Trends: Led by moderator Srinivasa Narasimhaiah, IT Director at Julphar Gulf Pharmaceuticals, the panel included Loubna Imenchal, VP Head at Logitech; Harsh Daftary, Head of Cloud Security and Compliance at a leading UAE bank; Harsh Daftary, Head of Cloud Security and Compliance, Leading Bank in UAE; Ali Katkhada, Group CIO, Depa Group and Ahmed Nabil Mahmoud, Head of Information Security Engineering at a leading international UAE bank. The discussion explored emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, cloud computing, IoT, and blockchain.
- The Cloud Revolution and the Rise of Hybrid Solutions: Moderated by Ammara Aftab, Founder & President of PRO AI Global, the panel featured Dr. Abrar Abdulnabi, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Saal.ai; and Salman Ikram, CEO of Future AI. Discussions focused on cloud, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments, emphasizing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Vendor Panel Discussion
A vendor panel discussion titled “The AI Vendor’s Role: Technology Provider or Strategic Partner?” was moderated by Jeevan Thankappan, Managing Editor of GEC. Esteemed panelists included P. Sathyamurthy, Sales Director at IDM Technologies, and Ahmed Mahmud, Founder and CEO of Dxwand. The dialogue delved into the evolving role of AI vendors in today’s technology landscape.
Awards Ceremony
The event culminated with the Catalyst Awards from, followed by the AI Catalyst Awards from recognizing trailblazers and innovators in the AI domain.
The Future IT Summit 2025 successfully fostered meaningful discussions, showcased cutting-edge AI applications, and celebrated significant achievements, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation.
Below is the list of our visionary awardees:
| Awards Category | Name | Organization | Designation |
| Catalyst Marketing | Dharmendra Parmar | AmiViz | VP Marketing |
| Catalyst Marketing | Tamara Zbibo | Zero&One | Marketing Specialist |
| Catalyst Marketing | Sonali Basu Roy | Bulwark Technologies | Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Faraz Khan | ASBIS Middle East | Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Kiara Israni | Secureworks | Field and Channel Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Ignatius Emanuel | Rittal FZE | Regional Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Dolly Lakhani | Tech First Gulf | Regional Marketing Head |
| Catalyst Marketing | Suresh Venkataraman | Paessler GmbH | Regional Channel Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Hima Renandranadhan | SUDO Consultants | Head of Sales and Marketing |
| Catalyst Marketing | Dalia Mansour | Sprinklr | Head of Marketing ANZ, ASEAN & MEA |
| Catalyst Marketing | Alexander Kim | Cloud Networks Solutions DMCC | CMO |
| Catalyst Marketing | Muhammad Ghanim, Shaikh | Jabra | Marketing Manager ME |
| Catalyst Marketing | Amira, Hussein | IDM Technologies | Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Maram, Bader | Seclore | Regional Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Sirin Akrouk | Pure Storage | Marketing Leader |
| Catalyst Marketing | Dalia Reda | Dell Technologies | Marketing Manager |
| Catalyst Marketing | Keyur joshi | EVIDEN | Regional Director, META |
| Catalyst Award sales leaders | Sapan Agarwal | Honeywell | Principal Sales-Enterprise & Channels -MEA |
| Catalyst Awards – Business Leader | Charbel Zreiby | Dell Technologies | Regional Director, Channel Data Center Specialists, CEEMETA |
| Catalyst Awards – Business Leader | Loubna Imenchal | Logitech | VP Head |
| Catalyst Award Visionary Business Leader |
Sudhanshu Saroha | Tech First Gulf FZ LLC | Founder & Director |
CIO Awards
| NAME | DESIGNATION | ORGANIZATION | INDUSTRY | Catalyst CIO |
| Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Essa Al Mutawa | Chief AI Officer & Head of Monitoring & Inspection Department | Dubai Civil Defence H.Q | Government | Top Government Champion |
| Nasser Matar Alneyadi | Head of Digital Security Department | MOI | Government | Top Government Champion |
| Hussain Alharthi | Data Platforms Director | Department of Government Enablement | Government | Top Government Champion |
| Awad Ahmed Ali El-Sidiq | Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer | ADNOC Distribution | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – ORGANIZATION | |
| Linoy Kidd | CIO | Markets & Securities Services MENAT | HSBC Bank Middle East Limited | CIO in Banking and Finance | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Dr. Haroun Dharsey | CIO & Operations | Deem Finance | CIO in Banking and Finance | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Dr. Abrar Abdulnabi | Director of Artificial Intelligence | Saal.ai | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – INDIVIDUAL | |
| Aditya Kaushik | Director of ICT | Zakher Marine International | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Kevin, Neogy | The Kanoo Group | Group Head of Digital Transformation & AI | WINNER – CATALYST CIO | |
| Linesh Kanan | CIO | Western Intl Grop | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Mohammed Arshad Kuttubudin | Group Head of IT | Alserkal Group | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Fayaz Badubhai | GROUP IT DIRECTOR | Al Yousuf Group | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Mohammed Feroz Khan | Head of IT | Total Energies | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Sana Qureshi | Group HR Head | Midstar | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Jacob Mathew | Head of IT | Government Entity | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR / WINNER – CATALYST CIO | |
| Jayaraj Perumalswamy | General Manager – Group Digital, Information & Technology | Barakat | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR / WINNER – CATALYST CIO | |
| Zakir Malik | CHRO | NOBLE GROUP | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Shailesh Mani | GROUP IT HEAD | DBMSC Group | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Yousif Odeh | Information Technology Manager | EDI | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Aanchal Choubey | GROUP HEAD OF IT AND PROJECTS | LIFE CARE INTERNATIONAL | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Somy Varghese | Head of Digital Transformation and Technology | Etoile Group | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR | |
| Adam Docrat | Head of IT | Chemist Warehouse UAE | CIO in Retail | WINNER -BADGE OF HONOR |
| Padam Sundar, Kafle | Head of IT and Automations | Aster hospitals UAE and Oman | CIO in Healthcare | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Eyad, Kashkash | Head of Business Applications and Government Strategic Projects | Department of Culture and Tourism | Government CIO | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Tony, Issac | Senior Manager – Information Technology | Petrochem Middle East | CIO in Oil and Gas | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Muhammad Irfan Ali | Head of IT and Security | CAFU | CIO in Oil and Gas | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Dr. Shaikha, Abdool | Head of Data Science and Informatics Section | Ministry of Health and Prevention | CIO in Healthcare | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| HITESH LODHI | IT SECURITY MANAGER | ADGM | CIO in Services | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Samit, Tibrewala | IT Director | Converge | CIO in Conglomerate | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| AMJED, JOUDEH | IT DIRECTOR | DEPARTMENT OF TOWN PLANNING AND SURVEY | Government CIO | WINNER – CATALYST CIO / WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – ORGANIZATION |
| Alveena, Abrar | Multidisciplinary Educational leader | Paramount education | CIO in Education | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Shanaka, Perera | Head of IT | Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority | CIO in Hospitality | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Aslam, Kherawala | Head of Information Technology | Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group | CIO in Entertainment | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Ali, Katkhada | Group CIO | Depa United Group | CIO in Real Estate and Construction | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Arun Kumar Mohta | Group IT Head | FJ Group | CIO in Manufacturing | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Salahuddin, Almohammadi | Group IT Director | HSA Group | CIO in Conglomerate | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Sunil Kumar, Nair | Chief Information Security Officer | Data Protection Officer | McCoin Virtual Assets | CIO in Banking and Finance | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Mohannad, Hennawi | Group IT Manager | NAFFCO | CIO in Manufacturing | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Wael Omar | Director of IT | TAALEEM | CIO in Education | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| HAREESH, RS | HEAD OF IT | LM EXCHANGE | CIO in Banking and Finance | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Feroz, Patel | Information & Technology Head | IMG Worlds of Adventure | CIO in Entertainment | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Meshal Abdulla Binhussain | CIO/Chief Ai Officer | Ministry of Finance | Government CIO | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Abdulazez, AlAmim | Head of Information Technology | National Library and Archives UAE | Government CIO | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Waqas, Butt | Group Head Of ICT & AI | Alpha Dhabi Holding PJSC | CIO in Capital Markets and Investments | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Aliakbar Patwa | Head of IT | Arabian Gulf Steel Industries LLC | CIO in Manufacturing | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Eng. Isha, Aljasmi | IT Director | Ministry of Energy & infrastructure | Government CIO | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Pradeep, Kumar | Head of IT Operations and ERP | Al Ahli Holding Group | CIO in Conglomerate | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Steve Budden | Head of IT & Business Technology | Gulf Cryo | CIO in Oil and Gas | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Amna Saleh Al Dhaheri | Head of Digital Transformation | Transport Authority – Ajman | CIO in Transporation & Logistics | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| NOMAN, EJAZ | DEPUTY DIRECTOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND PRODUCT ENGINEERING | Tatweer Middle East and Africa LLC | CIO in Services | WINNER – CATALYST CIO / AI CATALYST – INDIVIDUAL |
| Dr. Alya, Harbi | Director of the Statistics and Research Center | Ministry Of Health | CIO in Healthcare | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Abdulrahman, Khaiwi | Head of IT Department | Emirates National Schools | CIO in Education | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Sultan Al Mansoori | Information Security Director | Abu Dhabi Media Network | CIO in Media and Broadcasting | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| ASLAM ABDUL KADER | HEAD – IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES | GULFTAINER COMPANY LIMITED | CIO in Services | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| ALAN, BROUARD | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER | ETIHAD AIRPORT SERVICES | CIO in Avaiation | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Dr. Ziad Saraireh | AI Expert | RTA | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – INDIVIDUAL | |
| Her Excellency Mubaraka Ibrahim | Emirates Health Services | CEO of AI and CIO | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – INDIVIDUAL | |
| Tamara Nasr Akhras | Digital Transformation Leader | AMSI | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – INDIVIDUAL | |
| Syed Mohammad Ali Naqvi | Chief Operations and Technology Officer | Raqami Islamic Digital Bank | CIO in Banking and Finance | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Ali, Jumaily | Group CIO | Alnaboodah | CIO in Conglomerate | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Kenneth, Lindegaard | CIO | Space42 | CIO in Telecom | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
| Ammara Aftab | CEO | PRO AI GLOBAL | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – ORGANIZATION | |
| Mohammad Alkhatib | Sr. Lead Data Hub Dev & Support | Abu Dhabi Customs | WINNER – AI CATALYST AWARD – ORGANIZATION | |
| Aamir Khan | Head of Enterprise and Data Architecture | ATG | WINNER – CATALYST CIO | |
| Gigi Mathew, Thomas | Group Director – IT & Digital Transformation | Ittihad International Investment LLC | WINNER – CATALYST CIO | |
| Ahmad, Hafez | Corporate Director IT | Jannah Hotels & Resorts | CIO in Hospitality | WINNER – BADGE OF HONOR |
| Yanal, AlKhasoneh | Division Director – Information Technology | Abu Dhabi Customs | Government CIO | WINNER – CATALYST CIO |
