AI Radar: Banks (Middle East edition)

Summary

AI adoption in Middle Eastern banking is accelerating, with artificial intelligence now central to the modernization strategies of leading financial institutions across the GCC. This report, "AI Radar: Banks (Middle East edition)," examines how banks are moving beyond isolated pilots to enterprise-scale AI deployment, transforming workflows in risk management, compliance, customer onboarding, and operational control. It explores the progression from targeted functional AI use cases—such as fraud detection and customer service—to integrated workflow automation and, ultimately, to platform-led models that embed intelligence across the organization. The report profiles major banks including Mashreq Bank, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, Emirates NBD, Al Rajhi Bank, Kuwait Finance House, National Bank of Kuwait, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Bank Muscat, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Riyad Bank, and Commercial Bank of Qatar. Each case study details the business challenges faced, the AI-driven solutions implemented, and the operational domains impacted, from Shari’a advisory and KYC verification to enterprise workflow orchestration and predictive operations. Key questions addressed include: How are GCC banks leveraging AI to improve decision-making and customer experience? What infrastructure investments are enabling scalable AI deployment? In which banking functions is AI delivering the greatest operational impact? What distinguishes the region’s approach to AI transformation compared to global peers? The report also outlines strategic considerations for CXOs, focusing on the shift from fragmented experimentation to infrastructure-led AI maturity and the implications for future operating models in financial services.