MENA Regulator Academy 2025: A Collaborative Approach to AI Governance
The 2025 MENA Regulator Academy emphasizes collaborative efforts in AI governance and policy development.
Key Points
- • The Academy focused on AI, digital transformation, and regulatory innovation.
- • Debbie Weinstein highlighted public-private partnerships as key to effective AI policies.
- • Cloud technology is seen as essential for economic growth and digital transformation.
- • The Artificial Intelligence Readiness Toolkit was introduced for benchmarking national AI readiness.
The 2025 MENA Regulator Academy, held at Google's London offices, showcased a commitment to responsible AI governance amid the region's rapid digital transformation. Senior policymakers and regulators gathered to discuss the integral role of public-private partnerships in shaping effective AI policies, as emphasized by Debbie Weinstein, President of Google EMEA. She stated, "Our responsibility is to build AI that reflects the values and aspirations of every community it serves," asserting the potential for AI adoption to unlock a $2 trillion opportunity.
Key highlights from the event included over 30 sessions focused on cloud technology and trust in digital ecosystems. The Cloud Track underlined cloud tech as a crucial driver for economic growth, advocating for alignment across sectors to facilitate secure and scalable digital environments. Meanwhile, the Content Track stressed the necessity of building trust in digital platforms, focusing on information reliability and the importance of maintaining safe online spaces.
Research presented by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government called for regional collaboration and ethical standards in AI governance, while the Digital Cooperation Organization introduced its AI-REAL Toolkit, designed to help countries assess their readiness for AI implementation. The Academy emphasized that the MENA region is not just adopting AI but is actively defining its future, setting the stage for ongoing partnerships and innovative principles in AI governance moving forward into 2026.