Data Sovereignty in MEA is emerging as a key priority for enterprises as organizations across the region strengthen governance, security, and operational control to support trusted artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, according to new research from Veeam Software.

The study found that organizations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are taking a disciplined approach to AI deployment while placing data sovereignty at the center of their digital transformation strategies. The research surveyed enterprise IT, data, and security decision-makers across Turkey, Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya as part of a broader EMEA-wide study.

According to the findings, 60% of organizations in the region consider data sovereignty a top strategic priority over the next 24 months. This is higher than the global average of 56.6%.

Moreover, MEA organizations lead the EMEA region in executing data sovereignty strategies. The study revealed that 60% of respondents have fully defined and operationalized their data sovereignty frameworks, compared with the EMEA average of 52.7%.

The primary drivers behind these initiatives include gaining greater control over data, cited by 41.8% of respondents. In addition, 37.8% highlighted reducing the risk of data breaches, while the same percentage identified protection from foreign government access as a major factor.

Furthermore, organizations view operational control and cross-border data governance as critical components of their sovereignty strategies. Around 30.4% identified operational control as the most important element, while 30% emphasized managing data flows across international borders.

However, the research also highlighted visibility challenges. More than one-third (37.6%) of respondents said third-party vendors and service providers represent their biggest obstacle in understanding where data is stored, processed, or accessed.

Meanwhile, AI adoption continues to advance across the region. Nearly half (44.8%) of surveyed organizations reported using a hybrid AI approach that combines local AI models for sensitive workloads with global AI platforms for broader business applications.

Security and privacy considerations remain central to AI investment decisions. The study found that 38.8% of organizations are motivated by security concerns when developing custom AI capabilities. Privacy requirements were cited by 38.4%, followed by cost optimization at 37.2% and sovereignty requirements at 36.4%.

Executive accountability is also increasing. According to the research, 58.4% of respondents said C-level executives now carry personal legal responsibility for cyber resilience outcomes. At the same time, 41.6% reported that growing accountability has increased stress and anxiety among leadership teams.

Additionally, confidence in regulatory preparedness remains strong. The survey found that 93.6% of organizations expect to meet the requirements of the EU AI Act, reflecting the influence of global AI governance frameworks on enterprises across the region.

“MOrganizations across the Middle East and Africa increasingly recognize that data sovereignty is not simply a compliance exercise. It is a strategic enabler for building trust in AI and driving secure digital transformation,” said Mena Migally, Regional Vice President, EMEA East at Veeam.

Migally added that while the region has demonstrated strong maturity in operationalizing data sovereignty strategies, organizations must continue improving visibility and control across increasingly complex ecosystems that include cloud environments, AI platforms, and third-party providers.

The findings also suggest that maintaining oversight of data location, movement across borders, and access permissions will become increasingly important as organizations expand their use of AI, cloud services, and external partnerships.

The research was commissioned by Veeam Software and conducted by Censuswide. It surveyed 1,000 enterprise IT, data, and security decision-makers from organizations with at least 500 employees across the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Middle East and Africa. Data collection took place between April 21 and April 27, 2026.

As enterprises continue investing in AI and digital transformation initiatives, Data Sovereignty in MEA is expected to play a central role in building trust, resilience, and long-term governance frameworks for future AI deployments.

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