In this episode, Amal Larhlid speaks with Ahmed Ameen Ashour from Microsoft about the path to a greener tech sector. They cover Microsoft’s carbon negative goal, the role of sustainable data centres, and how AI is improving energy efficiency. The discussion also highlights the challenges of legacy systems and the value of partnerships in driving meaningful change.
Amal Larhlid
Partner, Tax and Legal Services
EMEA Sustainability Leader for Governments
PwC Middle East
Amal is a partner at PwC Middle East and the EMEA Sustainability Leader for Governments. With over 20 years in public policy, she has worked with governments and international institutions on sustainable development. Amal has extensive experience in sustainability policy design and implementation, as well as ESG standards. She is delivering multi-disciplinary projects bringing together sustainability, economic development and AI.
Patricia Keating
Senior Manager, PwC Middle East
Patricia leads strategic market engagement at PwC Ventures, helping clients design, build, and scale high-impact ventures with world-class scaleups. She advises on startup ecosystems and innovation in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As an award-winning entrepreneur, she founded her own business in 2014 and launched Manchester's first privately funded tech incubator in 2017.
The Middle East's retail landscape is changing fast. In this episode, Roy Hintze, Partner at PwC Middle East, and Ayman Beydoun, CEO of Brands for Less, discuss how brands are navigating shifts in trust, data security, sustainability, and AI to meet evolving consumer expectations
What does effective ESG implementation look like in today’s business environment? In this episode, our host Patricia Keating is joined by Vijaypal Singh Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG at Emirates NBD. Together, they explore how companies are aligning sustainability targets with long-term business planning, and the role finance, policy, and technology are playing in achieving the region’s climate goals.
From satellites to geospatial data, space technology is reshaping industries across the Middle East. Oliver Menge, Director at PwC Middle East, joins us to discuss how SpaceTech advancements are driving innovation in telecommunications, finance, energy, and logistics, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the way
In this episode, Amal Larhlid speaks with Ahmed Ameen Ashour from Microsoft about the path to a greener tech sector. They cover Microsoft’s carbon negative goal, the role of sustainable data centres, and how AI is improving energy efficiency. The discussion also highlights the challenges of legacy systems and the value of partnerships in driving meaningful change.
What’s fueling GCC CEOs’ optimism amid global challenges? Stephen Anderson, Partner and Strategy Leader at PwC Middle East, joins us to explore the region’s growth outlook, business resilience, and how leaders are navigating risks like talent gaps and cybersecurity.
The construction sector makes up to 12% of GDP across the Middle East, yet digital adoption remains relatively limited.
This episode focuses on how to close that gap. Amal Larlhid speaks with Le Tilahun and Ahmed Khafagy to explore the structural blockers, the role of external players and how Agentic AI changes the game.
Oliver Menge
Director, PwC Middle East
Vijaypal Singh Bains
Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG, Emirates NBD
Ahmed Khafagy
Director, Data & Analytics Capital Projects & Infrastructure
Jeremy Prepscius
Managing Director, Asia Pacific Sustainable Supply Chain, PwC Hong Kong
Stephen Anderson
Partner and Strategy Leader, PwC Middle East
Ahmed Ameen Ashour
Chief Sustainability Commercial Officer, Microsoft
Roy Hintze
Partner, Middle East Consumer Markets, PwC Middle East
Ayman Beydoun
CEO, Brands For Less
Le Tilahun
Partner, Capital Projects,Technology, Innovation & Strategy
Melissa MacEwen
Director, Circular Economy Lead, PwC New Zealand
Regional investors show strong interest in transformative areas at a global level, such as advancements in electric mobility and AI-driven solutions for sustainability. But by directing a greater proportion of funds to homegrown innovation and across underfunded sectors, stakeholders have the opportunity to drive impactful change and advance the region's net zero goals
As part of an Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week dialogue, this white paper sets out the latest thinking from industry stakeholders on the critical role of local investment, policy incentives and collaboration in accelerating the adoption of climate technologies in the UAE.
Trust may be intangible, but it is a crucial motivation in consumer purchase decisions. Trust is not just a value; it is a strategic asset essential for business success. Consumers trust brands they love, value organisations that use their data responsibly and are loyal to businesses that address environmental concerns. With the rise of GenAI, trust is even more pivotal, as consumers need reassurance about data security and ethical AI usage. Trusted brands benefit from greater consumer engagement, enhanced personalisation in sales and strong brand advocacy.
بناء الثقة أمر بالغ الأهمية لتجار التجزئة في الأسواق الاستهلاكية سريعة التطور في المنطقة. من خلال إعطاء الأولوية للشفافية، وإظهار الاستدامة، واحتضان الابتكار، يمكن لتجار التجزئة إقامة علاقات دائمة مع المستهلكين، مما يحقق النجاح على المدى الطويل خاصة بوجود بيئة تنافسية ومتغيرة.
There has been much discussion about recent developments in the space sector, the democratisation and consumerisation of space industries, and the decreasing cost of manufacturing. However, it is important to note that space and technologies, particularly those related to digital and communication, should not be considered separately. They have inspired each other since the second half of the 20th century. SpaceTech is already a reality and the potential for innovation and economic growth resulting from the space and technology sectors is enormous.
CEOs in the Middle East are among the most confident globally about revenue growth in the year ahead. Yet, they remain acutely aware of the huge wave of disruptive change, primarily driven by AI, climate challenges and an intensifying competition over new domains of growth as industry lines blur. Our region’s CEOs are striking a difficult balance - capturing the significant market opportunities today while also reinventing their businesses for tomorrow.
