Writing

The EU Council adopted a negotiating position on March 13 that pushes high-risk AI system deadlines to late 2027 and 2028. For organizations operating across the EU–MENA corridor, the change requires a careful reading, not a sigh of relief.

The EU AI Act is the world's first comprehensive AI regulation, and its extraterritorial reach makes it directly relevant to organizations operating in MENA markets. Here is what cross-border exposure looks like and how to think about it.

Most organizations now have an AI policy. Fewer have AI governance. The distinction matters — and the gap between them is where regulatory risk, reputational damage, and operational failures accumulate.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Morocco are each developing distinct approaches to AI governance. Understanding how these frameworks are structured — and where they converge and diverge — is essential for organizations operating across the region.