Kudo Advisory warns Middle East AI spend is outpacing execution

By AI, Created 5:20 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Dubai-based Kudo Advisory says many regional organizations are still trapped in AI pilots and weak governance, even as enterprise investment accelerates. The firm is positioning itself as an advisor for turning AI ambition into measurable operational results across the UAE and wider Middle East.

Why it matters: - Middle East organizations are spending more on AI, but many are not turning that investment into measurable business performance. - PwC has said artificial intelligence could contribute up to US$320 billion to the Middle East economy by 2030, raising the stakes for companies that need to show returns. - The pressure is shifting from experimentation to execution, governance, and operational scale.

What happened: - Dubai-based Kudo Advisory said many organizations in the region are struggling to move from AI pilots to enterprise-wide results. - Founder Vijay Jaswal said the next phase of AI maturity will depend less on access to technology and more on execution discipline. - Kudo Advisory recently launched in the UAE. - The firm says it helps organizations with AI strategy, governance, operating model design, use case prioritization, and programme delivery assurance.

The details: - Many organizations are still stuck in fragmented pilot initiatives, unclear governance structures, and isolated use cases that do not scale into sustained business value. - Jaswal said many businesses are approaching AI through disconnected pilots without a clear operating model, governance framework, or delivery structure. - Kudo Advisory says it works with organizations that are unsure where to start with AI or are struggling to extract measurable value from existing initiatives. - The firm says its approach focuses on where AI can improve operational performance while establishing governance and guardrails for sustainable adoption. - Kudo Advisory is headquartered in Dubai and serves organizations across the UAE and broader Middle East. - The firm works across industrials, logistics, telecommunications, enterprise services, and energy. - The name “Kudo” comes from the Japanese word 駆動, meaning drive or propulsion. - Kudo Advisory is a Dubai-based AI advisory and consultancy firm that works with CEOs, CIOs, and leadership teams to move from AI ambition to measurable outcomes. - The company website is More information. - The company’s LinkedIn profile is the founder’s LinkedIn profile. - Contact email: info@kudoadvisory.com.

Between the lines: - The announcement reflects a broader regional shift in AI priorities from proof-of-concept projects to accountable deployment. - Jaswal said AI is becoming a board-level discussion, which suggests executive teams are now tying AI to governance, regulation, and business value rather than novelty. - Kudo Advisory is staking out a market around execution support, not just AI strategy.

What’s next: - Boards and executive teams are likely to face more pressure to link AI projects to operational outcomes. - Companies that cannot define use cases, governance, and delivery structures may struggle to scale AI beyond isolated experiments. - Kudo Advisory is positioning itself to support that transition across the UAE and wider Middle East.

The bottom line: - In the Middle East, the AI challenge is shifting from adoption to execution, and measurable results are becoming the new benchmark.