A new IBM Institute for Business Value study shows something familiar across the Middle East and Africa: companies are talking aggressively about AI, but their data foundations haven’t caught up. The study — built on responses from 1,700 senior data and analytics leaders — captures a region racing ahead on strategy while struggling with the basics needed to make AI useful at scale. IBM Study_ Middle East and Afri…
It fits into a broader pattern we’ve covered before, including how IBM is positioning itself in the AI race in Generative AI: IBM bets big on watsonx to drive transformation. Ambition isn’t the problem. The gap between vision and operational reality is.
The CDO Role Has Evolved — But Organisations Still Can’t Prove Data’s Value
IBM’s study highlights a shift: 90% of MEA CDOs say they’re expected to deliver business outcomes, not just manage data infrastructure. But the confidence isn’t there. Fewer than a third believe they can clearly show how data drives results — and only 27% have reliable measures to quantify the value of data-led initiatives. IBM Study_ Middle East and Afri…
It’s a contradiction many businesses will recognise: leaders want data-driven decision-making, but the systems, governance and metrics needed to make that meaningful still lag behind.
Even so, organisations are becoming more intentional. Seventy-eight percent say their proprietary data already gives them a competitive advantage, and 67% see it as a strategic differentiator. It’s a sign that enterprises in the region are moving beyond experimentation and trying to build genuine, defensible edges. IBM Study_ Middle East and Afri…
AI Investment Is High — But the Data Reality Isn’t
The enthusiasm is unmistakable:
- 77% of MEA CDOs are prioritising investments that accelerate AI
- 75% are experimenting with bringing AI to data rather than consolidating it
- 70% say they’re comfortable relying on outcomes from AI agents
But only 25% believe their data is ready to support new AI revenue streams. And just 27% feel confident their organisations can get real value from unstructured data. IBM Study_ Middle East and Afri…
So the hype continues, but the maturity gap is becoming harder to ignore. Leaders know what they want AI to do. Their data, meanwhile, still needs the boring, unglamorous work: access, cleanliness, governance, integration and consistency.
Skills and Culture Are Becoming the Breaking Point
MEA leaders overwhelmingly agree that locked-away data slows organisations down — and 72% say democratised access helps teams move faster. But building that culture is proving complex. IBM Study_ Middle East and Afri…
The skills shortage is even more concerning.
Fifty-four percent now cite advanced data skills as a top challenge — double the reported number from last year. And nearly eight in ten organisations are struggling to fill critical data roles. Only half say their recruitment and retention strategies match the skills they need. IBM Study_ Middle East and Afri…
This isn’t a side issue. Talent is the constraint that will shape whether AI strategies actually land or remain stuck in slide decks.
The Bottom Line
The study paints a clear picture: MEA organisations know exactly what they want from AI, but many are still building the conditions required to get there. The ambition isn’t the issue. The infrastructure, readiness and talent are.
The full IBM study is available here:
https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/2025-cdo