As we step into 2026, one truth is unmistakable: Technology is no longer something organisations adopt, it is something they operate within. Looking back at 2025, the inflection point becomes clear. Tech stopped behaving like a standalone sector and began functioning as national infrastructure. Across the UAE, AI moved from pilots to production, cloud became a utility, and digital platforms embedded themselves into government, finance, mobility, and energy. Our cover story explores this shift in depth, how tech dissolved into systems, and why 2026 marks the beginning of an era defined by invisible, execution-led technology.
This edition brings together the forces shaping that reality. We examine Dubai’s accelerated march toward a cashless economy, unpack why global technology leaders increasingly choose the UAE as their base, and explore how the nation is building an AI-led workforce fit for a systems driven future. From Abu Dhabi’s large-scale AI deployments to Digital Dubai’s predictive, citizen-centric services, and the growing importance of AI ethics and governance, these stories reflect a region where ambition is matched by operational depth.
Our external insights extend the lens further. We delve into the evolution of SME credit infrastructure, analyse the implicationsof global AI spending crossing $2.5 trillion, and assess what 2026 holds for enterprise AI and output quality. Together, these perspectives reinforce a powerful message: the future of technology is not louder, flashier, or more visible, it is more foundational, trusted, and consequential. As 2026 unfolds and the horizon beyond comes into view, the UAE stands not just as a consumer of technology, but as an architect of how modern digital economies are built.