A new global study by the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value revealed that enterprise AI strategy is evolving rapidly, as organizations across the Middle East and Africa aim to scale AI across their business. The study reported that Chief Data Officers (CDOs) are leading this transformation, yet many say their data is not ready to fully unlock AI’s potential.

The research, based on insights from 1,700 CDOs worldwide, highlighted a widening gap between AI ambition and readiness. While 76% of surveyed MEA CDOs reported their organization’s data strategy is integrated with technology roadmaps and infrastructure investments, only 25% said they are confident their data can support new AI-enabled revenue streams. Barriers such as data accessibility, completeness, integrity, accuracy, and consistency were reported as key challenges preventing organizations from fully leveraging enterprise data for AI.

Saad Toma, General Manager at IBM Middle East and Africa, explained, “Leaders are moving fast from AI pilots to business outcomes. The winning organizations are intentionally powering AI with trusted, accessible data. A modern, open data foundation with strong governance, clear measures of value, and a culture that empowers teams is essential.”

The study revealed several trends among MEA CDOs:

• 90% say focusing on business outcomes is critical, yet only 28% strongly agree they can clearly convey how data drives results.
• Deploying data for competitive advantage is now the top priority, with 78% reporting their unique data products provide significant advantages.
• 77% prioritize investments that accelerate AI capabilities, but only 27% are confident they can use unstructured data effectively.

The research also noted challenges in building a data-driven culture. While 72% said data democratization helps organizations move faster, 54% reported attracting and retaining advanced data talent as a top concern, up from 28% in 2023. Additionally, 79% said they struggle to fill key data roles.

Despite these challenges, the study found optimism about AI deployment. About 75% of MEA respondents said the benefits of deploying AI agents outweigh the risks, and 70% are comfortable relying on outcomes from AI agents.

The full IBM study can be viewed here.

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