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, says UK analytics firm GlobalData.

GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, Tech in 2035, examines industry applications and use cases for 15 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 UAE is already facing water scarcity, with predictions that water availability per capita in Mena will fall by 33% over the next 20-30 years.

“Meanwhile, natural disasters and extreme weather events will become more frequent, impacting urban areas. The loss of biodiversity alone will have a massive destabilising effect. We will likely see regulators in the Mena region rolling out emissions pricing to incentivise action, similar to the initiatives in the EU and China.”

The report forecasts a quantum revolution by 2035, which will catalyse 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 significantly in the Mena region, highlighting efforts such as Saudi Arabia’s Neom and The Line projects. Over the next decade, technologies like brain-computer interfaces, four-dimensional printing and electric vertical take-off and landing technology – which has been tested successfully in the region –will all reach commercialisation.

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 the key to succeeding in the new world and creating 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 neighbouring developments to reap the full benefits.”

READ THE SEPTEMBER 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

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Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the September 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes: