Digital Infra Leaders Summit - Middle East Follow Up Session - Invitation only

From connectivity corridor to regional AI hub: Reassessing strategy and priorities in a changing geopolitical context 

In March 2026, digital infrastructure CXOs, capital providers, hyperscalers and industry leaders came together in Dubai to discuss the actions required for the Middle East to realise its ambition to evolve from a transit market into a regional AI hub. The message was clear: without a timely unified industry position and a genuinely regional approach, the Middle East stands to lose out. A follow up session was agreed to put concrete steps in place to address some of the key challenges. Since then, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically - raising further questions for the group. In Cannes we will reconvene the Middle Eastern Digital Infra Leaders' Summit to define action points in light of evolving geopolitical challenges.  

Key areas for discussion: 

• Recalibrating the regional ambition: in view of recent geopolitical events, how have ambitions, objectives and appetite for investment changed, and what does that mean for the "regional AI hub" ambition? 

• Supply chains, technology dependency and sources of capital: How will the value chain be redrawn? 

• Addressing the interconnection challenge: As the number 1 blocker, what concrete steps must be taken? 

• Regional cooperation: To what extent should this be stepped up and how should industry engage with governments? 

• How can industry actors influence regulators develop and implement a more harmonized regulatory environment?