Siemens Study Shows Middle East Accelerating AI-Driven Infrastructure Transformation
Siemens’ latest release, the 2026 Middle East Infrastructure Transition Monitor, paints a picture of a region racing ahead of global peers in building autonomous, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure.
The report, drawn from surveys of 400 senior executives across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Oman, reveals a strong regional commitment to the clean‑energy transition and a keen embrace of industrial artificial intelligence (AI) to modernise critical assets.
Titled Powering Transformation: How a new generation of infrastructure assets is reshaping the Middle East, the study blends quantitative findings with in‑depth interviews. It shows that 66 % of executives believe the global energy transition must accelerate, a higher proportion than the 57 % expressed worldwide. Meanwhile, 70 % have already set targets for direct and indirect emissions, outpacing the global average of 58 %. Digitalisation is seen as an essential enabler by 68 % of respondents, and 65 % say businesses and governments are working closely on energy‑system policy.
Industrial AI emerges as the main engine of operational change. Sixty‑two per cent of executives expect AI to reshape infrastructure operations within the next three years. Readiness to adopt automation is high: 56 % are prepared to implement autonomous systems in buildings, and 57 % plan significant investments in the coming year. The demand for sophisticated data‑integration solutions is equally strong, with 69 % of organisations stating they need more advanced tools and the same percentage planning to increase spending on such technologies.
Resilience tops the agenda. Sixty‑one per cent of organisations report that industrial AI is already making their critical infrastructure more resilient. Grid modernisation is central to the region’s clean‑energy strategy: 64 % identify smart grids and grid software as crucial enablers, and 66 % support the integration of electricity, gas, hydrogen and transportation into a single, coordinated platform. The report also notes that the Middle East is investing in cross‑border interconnections and regional power‑trading arrangements to improve reliability and response capabilities during outages or extreme weather.
Sustainability by design is evident in the data. Decarbonisation is the leading priority for regional organisations, and the study shows that 70 % have set emissions targets. Digitalisation is recognised as the key driver for achieving these goals, with 68 % considering it essential. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is stronger than the global average, with 65 % of respondents confirming close cooperation.
"The 2026 Middle East Infrastructure Transition Monitor highlights a significant shift across the Middle East, as infrastructure evolves into a strategic driver of competitiveness, resilience and sustainable growth," said Hakan Ozdemir, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure in the Middle East and Siemens Qatar. "As energy systems grow more complex and demand continues to rise, success will depend on the ability to connect data, intelligence and physical infrastructure at scale."
The full report is available for download at www.siemens.com/itm2026-me. It outlines how organisations can accelerate their infrastructure transition journey through investment, policy alignment and technology adoption. The study confirms that the Middle East is positioned to translate ambition into lasting impact, with resilience, digital intelligence and adaptability identified as critical for sustaining long‑term growth and competitiveness.
