WEF and Bain Report Projects AI Could Unlock $1 Trillion Across MENA

A report by the World Economic Forum and Bain & Company projects artificial intelligence could unlock over $1 trillion in economic and sustainability value across MENA by 2030. The valuation encompasses sustainable finance, public investment flows, avoided asset losses, and energy-sector gains. While 89 percent of regional sustainability leaders acknowledge AI's high potential, active implementation remains limited to between 40 and 55 percent.

Published October 16, 2026 Source: Gulf Business Contains forecasts

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Artificial intelligence could unlock more than $1 trillion in economic and sustainability value across the Middle East and North Africa by 2030, according to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) produced in collaboration with Bain & Company. Titled "Unlocking Value: AI for Resilient Growth in MENA," the study specifies that the projected total reflects financing flows, valuation gains, and avoided losses rather than direct contributions to regional GDP.

The report breaks down the $1 trillion potential across five key areas: up to $200 billion in sustainable financing, $370 billion in public sector-enabled sustainable investment flows, and $250 billion in avoided long-term asset losses. It also projects $90 billion in increased energy-sector valuations driven by improved sustainability performance and $100 billion in sustainable projects initiated through cross-sector partnerships.

The findings draw on case studies and five functional AI prototypes developed in coordination with regional institutions, including First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Bahrain's Ministry of Sustainable Development, and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Economy and Planning. These prototypes address sustainable finance, climate hazards, sustainability performance, SME financing, and cross-sector collaboration.

Despite the scale of the opportunity, the report highlights an implementation gap across the region. A survey by the MENA Chief Sustainability Officers Network cited in the research indicates that while 89 percent of respondents consider AI to have high or very high potential for their organisations, only 40 to 55 percent of organisations are actively piloting or scaling sustainable AI use cases, facing hurdles such as execution constraints and institutional capacity limits.