How SMEs can practically and affordably implement AI
I have spent a good part of the last year speaking with dozens of SMEs across the Middle East. From small business owners expanding their Riyadh‑based restaurant franchises to import‑export firms in Sharjah, and from real estate agencies in Dubai to business‑setup companies in Business Bay, almost without exception they lament the hours lost to repetitive tasks, routine shipping and billing status enquiries, manual paperwork and endless follow‑ups.
When I demonstrate how a simple AI‑powered assistant can take on these tasks via WhatsApp or an AI tool, their scepticism dissolves into genuine excitement. What once felt prohibitively complex and costly now sits within reach of any enterprise, however modest its resources. Here's how SME's can practically and affordably implement AI:
Policymakers across the Gulf and North Africa recognise that small and medium‑sized enterprises are the backbone of their economies and must be brought into the digital fold.
The UAE's National AI Strategy 2031 commits to transforming the country into a global AI powerhouse, with dedicated funding for smaller businesses. In Abu Dhabi, Hub 71 and Dubai Future Accelerators provide cloud credits, technical mentorship and pilot funding, while Saudi Arabia's SDAIA runs parallel initiatives under Vision 2030.
These schemes have created an environment in which AI adoption for SMEs is not merely possible, but essential to maintaining a competitive edge.
The most successful AI adopters I have worked with tackle a single, concrete challenge rather than embarking on an all‑encompassing technological overhaul. I recently supported a real‑estate agency in Dubai by deploying a WhatsApp chatbot that schedules viewings, sends property brochures and follows up on hot leads, freeing agents to focus on negotiation and client relations.
I have also seen a business‑setup consultancy automate its company‑formation paperwork, generating draft documents in seconds instead of hours, and a marketing and social‑media firm use AI to monitor engagement metrics across Instagram and LinkedIn, granting the team time to craft richer creative campaigns and experiment rapidly.
Affordably implementing AI
Contrary to lingering myths, implementing AI does not demand hefty infrastructure investments. Today's market offers a range of accessible solutions that make it affordable on an SME budget. Cloud‑based AI‑as‑a‑service platforms hosted in regional data centres operate on pay‑as‑you‑go pricing that scales with usage.
Open‑source solutions such as TensorFlow and PyTorch boast active regional developer communities and steady support for Arabic‑language processing.
A thriving network of local start‑ups specialises in region‑specific applications, from customs‑document summarisation to sentiment analysis on social media, often at price points far more accessible than international enterprise licences.
Crucially, government‑backed programmes, from Dubai Future Accelerators to Hub 71 and SDAIA's SME grants, underwrite cloud credits, mentorship and pilot funding designed to de‑risk early experimentation.
Yet technology alone is only half the equation. The true differentiator lies in empowering people to embrace change.
Upskill existing teams
Rather than competing for scarce AI specialists, SMEs can upskill existing teams through short, intensive workshops and regional training programmes.
Initiatives such as One Million Arab Coders and many online courses equip staff with the fundamentals of conversational AI, prompt engineering, data analysis and model building. Partnerships with technology hubs in Cairo, Jeddah and Dubai enable companies to draw on seasoned mentors on demand, avoiding the overhead of large in‑house teams while still accessing critical expertise.
Embedding ethical and regulatory compliance from the outset is equally important. As the UAE finalises its AI Ethics Guidelines and Saudi Arabia prepares a similar framework, SMEs enjoy the advantage of building responsible practices from scratch. A commitment to data minimisation, collecting only what is strictly necessary, paired with transparent communication about how customer information is used, lays the foundation for lasting trust.
Regular audits of AI outputs ensure fair treatment across languages, genders and backgrounds, while simple feedback mechanisms foster an ongoing dialogue that strengthens both the technology and the brand.
A deliberate, phased approach to AI should never lose sight of measurable outcomes. I encourage business owners to launch an eight to ten‑week pilot with a modest budget, focused on metrics such as enquiry response times, improved customer service or the accuracy of shipment‑delay forecasts.
Weekly reviews and small course corrections keep teams accountable and maintain momentum. When these pilots yield improvements, it is vital to celebrate success internally by sharing stories in newsletters, on LinkedIn and at regional events.
Ultimately, AI in the Middle East is not a futuristic aspiration but a strategic necessity that SMEs can implement today. By concentrating on practical applications, exploiting accessible technologies, investing in people and upholding ethical standards, small businesses can transform AI from a buzzword into an everyday driver of efficiency, growth and customer delight.
The real winners will not be those who deploy the most advanced algorithms, but those who integrate AI most intelligently, one step at a time, guided by clear objectives and genuine business needs.
By Abrar Siddiqui, CEO & Co-founder, SarahAI
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