AI in the Middle East: The Business School’s Role

• In the Middle East, the adoption of AI is led by the government, shaped by the drive for economic diversification, and influenced by cultural factors and spiritual beliefs.
• Ethical considerations regarding AI have arisen in financial service fields, smart city development, government regulations, and workforce automation.
• Business schools are responding by integrating AI ethics into the curriculum, collaborating with business and governmental leaders, and promoting thought leadership.

 
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way today’s companies operate, innovate, make decisions, interact with customers, drive efficiency, and seek competitive advantage. And that’s true in fields as diverse as healthcare, finance, and education.

However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the use of AI raises serious questions about how ethically it is being deployed. It is essential for global corporations to use AI in ways that ensure accuracy, respect privacy, avoid bias, and remain both accountable and transparent.

To make certain that tomorrow’s managers are prepared to lead in a tech-driven future, business schools around the world are integrating AI ethics into their curricula and research. That trend is particularly strong in the Middle East, where a rapid adoption of technological innovation means business schools must quickly respond with specialized programming.

A Regional Perspective

In the Middle East, the adoption of AI has been led by the government and shaped by the drive for economic diversification and national competitiveness. These factors have become more critical as the region transitions away from oil dependency. Initiatives such as AI Strategy 2031 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Vision 2030 plan from Saudi Arabia have provided roadmaps for how AI should be deployed.

At the same time, societal factors and deep-rooted traditions greatly influence how AI ethics are viewed in the Middle East. For instance, cultural expectations shape the way organizations in the region approach topics such as transparency, data privacy, and human rights. While people are developing more confidence in AI-driven decisions, they are still concerned that technology is sometimes overriding human judgment.

Finally, spiritual beliefs play a large part in shaping moral perspectives. For example, AI applications are expected to align with Islamic principles, which emphasize justice and accountability. This means that when Middle Eastern educators are teaching about ethics in AI, they must consider moral frameworks that are recognized globally and relevant regionally.

Ethical considerations are becoming even more urgent in the Middle East as more sectors adopt AI. In particular, issues are arising in four specific fields:

Financial services. Banks and fintech firms in the UAE and Saudi Arabia use AI to detect fraud, assess hazards, and calculate savings scores. If companies build AI on incomplete or biased data, they may unintentionally discriminate against certain demographic groups, limiting their access to money and deepening economic inequality.

Societal factors and deep-rooted traditions greatly influence how AI ethics are viewed in the Middle East, and spiritual beliefs play a large part in shaping moral perspectives.

Smart cities and surveillance. Middle Eastern city planners are relying heavily on AI for security, visitor management, and infrastructure development. Examples include projects such as Saudi Arabia’s Neom, a massive planned city in the desert, and Dubai’s smart city initiatives. While AI increases the efficiency of these efforts, it also introduces questions about mass surveillance, data privacy, and the ethics of AI-driven monitoring.

Government decision-making. Governmental agencies increasingly use AI for tasks such as automating visa processing and optimizing resource allocation. Without oversight, AI could succumb to implicit biases or create unintended limitations for residents and businesses.

Workforce automation. As automation reshapes industries ranging from manufacturing to client service, AI drives efficiency but raises concerns about job displacement and social instability. Companies can implement AI ethically only if they balance innovation with insurance policies designed to reskill workers and provide financial inclusivity.

For companies in the Middle East, AI is not simply a technological issue; it is a business imperative. The region is relying on the ethical adoption of AI to reshape its future.

The Business School Response

Business schools have a vital role to play in helping organizations integrate ethical frameworks into their AI strategies while fostering ongoing cultures of innovation. In the Middle East, many institutions are combining global best practices with regional insights to craft programs that highlight the importance of ethical AI. Here are some of the approaches they’re taking:

Integrating AI ethics into core curricula. Through courses on topics such as undergoing digital transformation and keeping AI accountable, schools are preparing students to navigate the ethical dilemmas they may face in their careers. And through courses that incorporate case studies and real-world examples, schools are showing students the societal impact of AI.

For example, the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE is embedding AI ethics into MBA and government teaching programs. Similarly, the Abu Dhabi School of Management is offering a module on AI and Business Ethics to explore the intersection of technology, morality, and organizational responsibility.

Collaborating with industry and government. Middle Eastern business schools are partnering with businesses and governmental agencies to make sure that their AI programming aligns with real-world needs. For instance, AUS collaborates with the UAE government and private sector companies on AI research and innovation. Through initiatives like the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP), AUS works on projects that develop AI applications in healthcare, renewable energy, and smart cities. These collaborations aim to ensure that local innovation follows global standards while addressing regional priorities.

Middle Eastern institutions are combining global best practices with regional insights to craft programs that highlight the importance of ethical AI.

Promoting research and thought leadership. Middle Eastern business schools are influencing the global conversation about AI ethics through their research into topics such as removing bias from AI algorithms and exploring the ethical implications of self-sustaining systems.

At AUS, academics collaborate with corporate leaders and government officials to create AI guidelines that inform regional policies. White papers from the university’s research center are impacting regulatory discussions on the use of AI, and professors are incorporating insights from these papers into their classroom teaching.

Similarly, the American University of Cairo (AUC) has launched an interdisciplinary effort to explore the effects AI has on social justice and economic development. The college works with international AI think tanks and research groups on policy-driven studies to ensure that its recommendations about AI align with the needs of emerging markets. Moreover, AUC integrates these findings into training programs that help organizations across a variety of industries adopt ethical AI frameworks.

Both universities also promote ethical AI through conferences and workshops. For instance, AUS co-hosts the Annual Middle East AI & Ethics Symposium, which brings together scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the evolving ethical landscape of AI. Likewise, AUC organizes the AI for Sustainable Development Forum, which examines how organizations can use AI to power innovation sustainably.

Fostering a culture of ethical leadership. In their AI programs, many Middle Eastern business schools seek to instill a sense of accountability in future business leaders, encouraging them to prioritize societal well-being over short-term financial gains.

For instance, the MENA Observatory on Responsible AI at AUC focuses on turning out leaders who can navigate the complexities of AI with integrity and foresight. Through mentorship programs and hands-on experiences, students are encouraged to act on their values and consider the broader impact of their decisions. The school also maintains a web page outlining AI Resources for Students.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite their experience in designing such initiatives, Middle Eastern universities still face challenges when it comes to incorporating ethical AI into their curricula:

The pace of change. Because AI evolves so rapidly, schools must continuously adapt their programs and teaching methods to keep pace, or their course content will quickly become outdated. Faculty may require ongoing education to keep them apprised of the latest trends in AI.

The lack of standardized regulations. The world is in the early stages of regulatory development when it comes to AI, and policies about AI vary widely by country. These facts create uncertainty for both companies and educators trying to establish ethical AI guidelines. Business students must learn how to balance regulatory compliance with ethical innovation.

By reaching out to policymakers, business leaders, and the surrounding community, business schools can help ensure that ethical AI practices extend beyond the classroom.

An emphasis on theory over practice. Business schools need to bridge this gap by integrating case studies, industry partnerships, and simulations into their programs.

The search for balance. As Middle Eastern nations invest heavily in tech-driven growth, they face increasing pressure to accelerate their adoption of AI. However, ethics should not be abandoned for the sake of progress. To prepare future leaders to deploy AI responsibly even as they promote innovation, business schools should pursue interdisciplinary collaborations with the departments of law, sociology, and psychology.

Their responsibility to the broader community. So much misinformation surrounds AI that universities must educate the public about the technology’s potential and pitfalls. If corporate leaders don’t understand how AI systems function, they could unknowingly contribute to unethical practices such as mishandling sensitive data or relying too heavily on computerized decision-making. By reaching out to policymakers, business leaders, and the surrounding community, business schools can help ensure that ethical AI practices extend beyond the classroom.

While these challenges are significant, they also present opportunities. Middle Eastern business schools can create ethics frameworks that incorporate global standards as well as region-specific elements related to cultural values, religious considerations, and regulatory requirements. Academics can work with business leaders and policymakers to design AI policies, and they can undertake ethics research that addresses issues of bias, fairness, and transparency. Professors can prepare future leaders by equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to use AI responsibly.

In these ways, Middle Eastern business schools can put themselves at the forefront of AI ethics education and enhance responsible AI practices on a global scale.

The Road Ahead

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of developing ethical guidelines for deploying AI in business settings. When business schools integrate ethics into their curricula, collaborate with the private and governmental sectors, and model responsible leadership, they do their part to prepare global leaders and contribute to the worldwide discourse on AI ethics.

In a world where science and morality are increasingly intertwined, the Middle East’s institutions are proving that ethical innovation is not simply a choice—it is a necessity for the digital age.