Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Gulf and Beyond: Turning Regulation into Advantage

Join us for an interactive roundtable seminar exploring how businesses across the Gulf can move from AI compliance to competitive advantage.

Hosted by Squire Patton Boggs, this half-day session brings together legal, compliance and business leaders from across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and beyond to unpack how new regulatory frameworks are shaping AI deployment, as well as how organisations can prepare for what’s next.

Against the backdrop of rapid regulatory development, from the UAE’s evolving data protection landscape and Dubai’s AI Seal initiative, to Saudi Arabia’s localisation-first model under Vision 2030, we’ll explore what “responsible AI” looks like in practice, how to operationalise compliance and how to position for growth in this fast-moving space. We’ll also look outward, examining how global frameworks such as the EU AI Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are influencing local strategies, shaping expectations for Gulf-based projects and redefining what good governance looks like across borders.

Why Attend — What You’ll Take Away

• The Gulf rule map – What the UAE and Saudi frameworks actually require, from the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and DIFC Regulation 10 to the Saudi PDPL and SDAIA localisation policies.

• Responsible AI in action – How the Dubai AI Seal and similar initiatives are reshaping procurement and setting expectations for transparency and governance.

• Building trust in AI systems – Practical steps for structuring oversight, managing data and risk and building accountability across teams and vendors.

• Cross-border reality check – How to navigate data flows and compliance where Gulf, EU and UK frameworks meet.

• A global perspective – How developments under the GDPR and EU AI Act are setting the bar for AI governance worldwide and what that means for organisations operating in, or from the Gulf.

Expect an afternoon of practical insight, lively discussion and cross-border perspective, followed by networking, drinks and canapés.